The motorway runs from Denny to Airth in the Falkirk council area, forming an approach road to the Kincardine Bridge.

The road is 8 miles (13 km) long.

It begins by turning off junction 8 (formerly junction 5 until 2011) of the M80 and bypasses Falkirk and Stenhousemuir.

It is one of only three motorways in the UK which form a concurrency with another motorway, the M9, which it then leaves again and continues for 1 mile (1.6 km) before becoming the A876.

As part of the works, the terminal Bowtrees Roundabout was replaced with a grade separated junction, and the A876 beyond the junction was upgraded to dual carriageway standard.