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M62 motorway
Length: 107 mi[1] (172 km)
Formed: 1960-1976
West end: Knotty Ash
Major
junctions:		 10 - M6 motorway
12 - M60 motorway
18 - M60 motorway
29 - M1 motorway
32a - A1(M) motorway
East end: North Cave
Counties: Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, East Yorkshire
Major cities: Warrington, Manchester, Huddersfield, Halifax, Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, Goole

The M62 motorway is a west-east trans-Pennine motorway in northern England, connecting the cities of Liverpool and Hull, and passing the cities of Salford, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield. The road also forms part of the unsigned Euroroutes E20 (Shannon to Saint Petersburg) and E22 (Holyhead to Ishim). On Saddleworth Moor, it reaches the highest point of any motorway in Britain (53°37′47″N 2°01′07″W / 53.62982, -2.018561 (Saddleworth Moor)), at 1221 feet (372 m) above sea level.[2] The road runs for 107 miles[1]; however, for several miles, it shares its route with the M60 motorway around Manchester.

Contents

History

The concept for the motorway was first proposed in the 1930s. Construction began in 1960 in Eccles, and finished sixteen years later near Tarbock. Adjusted for inflation to 2007, the motorway cost approximately GB£765 million to build.[3]

Origin of the road

The origins of the M62 date back to the 1930s, where the need for a route between Lancashire and Yorkshire had been agreed after discussion by the respective highway authorities of the counties.[4] At the same time, it was envisaged that a route between Liverpool and Hull was also needed, connecting the two ports to industrial Yorkshire.[5]

Some years later, after World War II, the Minister of Transport appointed engineers to inspect road standards between the A580 road in Swinton and the A1 road near Selby.[5] In 1949, that year's Road Plan for South Lancashire specified the need for the dualling and grade separation of the A580 road, and bypasses of both Huyton and Cadishead,[6] and in 1952, the route for a trans-Pennine motorway, known as The Lancashire-Yorkshire Motorway, was laid down, with Ferrybridge chosen as the eastern terminus rather than Selby.[5] By the 1960s, however, the proposed dualling of the A580 in Lancashire was considered inadequate, and there was "an urgent need" to link Liverpool to the motorway network.[6] The route of the Lancashire-Yorkshire motorway was also considered inadequate as it failed to cater for several industrial towns in Yorkshire.[5] When James Drake visited the United States in 1962, his experience with the Interstate Highway system led him to conclude that the Merseyside Expressway planned only to run between Liverpool and the M6, would need extending to the Stretford-Eccles Bypass, thus creating a continuous motorway between Liverpool and Ferrybridge (a link between Ferrybridge and Hull was not considered until 1964).[7] Initially these plans were unpopular and unsupported by the Ministry of Transport, but nevertheless the scheme was added to the Road Plan in 1963.[6]

Construction

West of Manchester

Originally, the section of the M62 west of Manchester was intended to be a separate motorway linking Liverpool with Salford, but a continuous motorway between Leeds and Liverpool was deemed to be more feasible,[8][9] known as the M52. Construction of the motorway between Liverpool and Manchester started in 1971, with the construction of a link between the M57 and the M6 motorway.[6] Concurrently, a contract to link the M6 with Manchester was under way, which required the removal of unsuitable material and drainage of the land. This section was completed in August 1974, creating a continuous link between Ferrybridge and Tarbock.

The section between Tarbock and Liverpool was the last section of the motorway to be completed, in 1976, due to the difficulties of building an urban motorway. In total, two viaducts, ten bridges and seven underpasses had to be constructed to secure the structural integrity of the surrounding residential area. The motorway, however, reached only as far as Queen's Drive (Junction 4), leaving the first three junctions unbuilt.[6]

In Greater Manchester

The M62 near Irlam, the original eastern terminus, in the early hours of the morning.
The M62 near Irlam, the original eastern terminus, in the early hours of the morning.
See also: M60 motorway
See also: M63 motorway
See also: M602 motorway

The first part of the M62 to be built was the Stretford-Eccles Bypass, which now covers junctions 7 to 13 of the M60.[10] Construction started in 1957, and opened in 1960.[11]

As stated earlier, two separate motorways were planned, with the M52 running from Liverpool into Salford; the other, the M62, would link Pole Moor with the Stretford-Eccles Bypass.[8] The section between the interchange with the Stretford-Eccles Bypass and Salford is now occupied by the M602 motorway.

The Eccles-Pole Moor section was opened in 1971.[12][13] Of this, the first section to be built was a one-mile extension of the Stretford-Eccles Bypass to Worsley. Between Eccles and Pole Moor, sixty-seven crossings of the motorway were required, including seven viaducts and eight junctions.[4]

Between Saddleworth and Lofthouse

The M62 passes Scammonden Water in West Yorkshire.
The M62 passes Scammonden Water in West Yorkshire.

The first section of the Yorkshire section of the motorway was completed in 1970, between the county boundary on Saddleworth Moor and Outlane.[1][14] The construction of the section between Saddleworth and Pole Moor was a difficult task, given the inhospitable hilly terrain, numerous peat bogs, and undesirable weather conditions. To build this section of motorway, twelve million cubic yards of material was moved, eight million of which were solid rock. 650,000 cubic yards of this material was peat, which had to be cut from the rock strata and was eventually deposited on hillsides adjacent to the motorway. In addition to the problems caused by removal of the material, the geology of the moors resulted in the engineers needing to split the carriageways for three-quarters of a mile in the middle of this section, sparing Stott Hall Farm from demolition.[14][15] Two notable bridge constructions were the bridge carrying the Pennine Way, which is curved downwards with 85 foot long cantilevers, and Scammonden Bridge, often called the longest single-span non-suspension bridge in Britain,[16] which carries a B road 120 feet above the motorway.[14] The mile-long section between Pole Moor and Outlane suffered fewer problems, with the summer weather being satisfactory.[17] Concurrently, a section of the motorway was being built between Gildersome and Lofthouse,[1] resulting in the demolition of a significant proportion of the village of Tingley to build the eponymous interchange.

Between the M1 and A1

Two contracts were awarded for the section of the M62 between Lofthouse and Ferrybridge in 1972, and both were completed in 1974.[18][19] On the first contract, care was needed at the crossing of the River Calder due to the alluvial bedrock, while, on the second, precautions were taken as the length was built on old coal mine workings.

East of Ferrybridge

The Ouse bridge, from the floodplain adjacent to the river.
The Ouse bridge, from the floodplain adjacent to the river.

The sections between Ferrybridge and North Cave were of the last sections of the motorway to be conceived[7] and built.[12] One of the most notable features is the bridge crossing the River Ouse west of Goole, a structure nearly one mile long, rising to thirty meters above ground level, which commenced construction in January 1973.

The bridge was delayed due to "steel supplies [being] a chronic headache"[20] and a partial collapse of the framework, caused by bolts joining a cross-beam to a trestle shearing.[7] The problems with the Ouse Bridge pushed the opening of the whole section east of Goole back to May 1976.[12][7]

Incidents

Coach bombing

Main article: M62 coach bombing

On 4 February 1974, a bomb was detonated on a coach containing off duty army personnel and family members, between Chain Bar (Junction 26) and Gildersome (Junction 27), resulting in the deaths of 12 people and injuries in 38 other people. The Provisional Irish Republican Army were deemed responsible for the attacks.[21]

Rail crash

Main article: Selby rail crash

On 28 February 2001, at 06:13 GMT, Gary Hart, a sleep-deprived driver, swerved off the M62 onto the East Coast Main Line near Selby. While Hart was calling the emergency services, a GNER southbound train collided with Hart's Land Rover, and subsequently derailed into the path of an oncoming freight train. 10 people, including the train drivers, were killed, and a further 82 were injured.

Development after opening

Junction 32a during construction in September 2005.
Junction 32a during construction in September 2005.

After its completion, the M62 experienced no major changes until 2000, when the section of the M62 between Eccles Interchange and Simister Interchange (junctions 12 to 18) was renamed to the M60[22]. Since then, two new junctions were opened - in December 2002, the previously missing Junction 8 was opened to allow access to the A574 and a new retail park.[23], while in January 2006, Junction 32a was opened, to link the motorway with the recently upgraded A1(M)[24]. The UK's first car-sharing lane on a motorway is planned to be opened at Junction 26, allowing any eastbound traffic from the M606 with more than one occupant to use the lane,[25], while a proposal to widen the motorway to four lanes between Junctions 25 and 28 to reduce congestion is in the planning stage.[26]

Stott Hall Farm

On Windy Hill, near the highest point of the motorway, the road divides into two to negotiate the hilly terrain, and Stott Hall Farm (53°38′30″N 1°57′08″W / 53.641599, -1.952222 (Stott Hall Farm)), and its 18th-century cottage, is situated in between the two halves.[15][27][28]. The road forks around the farm for engineering reasons, though a local myth persists that the road had to be split because the owners refused to sell the land during its construction.[15] The farm is often nicknamed as "the Little House on the Prairie".[15]

The previous tenants, Ken and Beth Wild, lived and worked there since 1971.[27] The farm is now occupied by Paul Thorp.[15]

References in music

The M62 motorway is mentioned in a number of songs. One of the earliest songs is "Driving Away From Home (Jim's Tune)" by It's Immaterial, a 1986 song which described the motorway as a way of getting to Manchester from the band's hometown of Liverpool. "The Snake", a song from the album Secrets by The Human League, discusses the road as an alternative route to Hyde from the Snake Pass, the main subject of the song. It suggests the A628 as another alternative.

More generally, "It's Grim Up North", by The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, released in 1991, consisted of a list of towns and cities on or near the M62 in the "grim North", in addition to the motorway itself. Doves named a song after the M62 on their 2002 album The Last Broadcast, which is stated in the sleeve notes to be written "under the M62 flyover at Northenden". "The Man Who Lives On The M62" by John Shuttleworth and "Tradition" by Kathryn Williams refer not to the motorway itself but to Stott Hall Farm. Shuttleworth compares his emotions of sorrow and loneliness to those of the inhabitants of the farm, while Williams uses the urban legend of the owner's refusal to sell the farm as an example of tradition.

Traffic

1999-2006 traffic flow graph.

The M62, in 2006, had a average daily traffic flow of 100,000 cars east of the Pennines, and 78,000 cars west of the Pennines.[29] The border between the two areas is defined to be the West Yorkshire/Lancashire border at Junction 22. For comparison, the statistics for 1999 were 90,000 and 70,000 respectively,[30] and the 2006 average daily traffic flow for the busiest stretch of motorway in the United Kingdom, the western M25 motorway (that is, between junctions 7 and 23), was 144,000 cars.[29] Due to the high traffic flow in the area, the M62 between Halifax and Gildersome is one of the most congested roads in Britain,[31] slowing to regular gridlock at Junction 27.[32]

Route

M62 motorway
Westbound exits Junction Eastbound exits
A5080 from Liverpool becomes M62
No access 4
(53°24′22″N 2°53′46″W / 53.405977, -2.896099 (Junction 4))		 Start of Motorway
A5080: Huyton, Knotty Ash 5 A5080: Huyton
A5300: Liverpool
A5080: Huyton
M57: Southport		 6 M57: Prescot
A5300: Runcorn
A57: Prescot
A570: St. Helens
A557: Widnes		 7 A57: Prescot
A570: St. Helens
A557: Widnes
(A574): Warrington (West), Burtonwood 8 (A574): Warrington (West), Burtonwood
Burtonwood Services
A49: Warrington (Central), Newton 9 A49: Warrington (Central), Newton
M6: Birmingham, Preston, Chester 10
(53°25′34″N 2°33′22″W / 53.426024, -2.55614 (Junction 10))		 M6: Preston, Birmingham, Manchester Airport
A574: Warrington (East), Birchwood 11 A574: Warrington (East), Birchwood
M62 leaves concurrency with M60 12
(53°29′15″N 2°22′36″W / 53.487591, -2.3767 (Junction 12))		 M60: Ring Road, Bolton, Bury, Leeds
M602: Salford, Manchester
Motorway is signposted as the M60 from Junctions 12 to 18 (see original route)
M60: Ring Road
M66: Bury, Blackburn		 18
(53°32′59″N 2°15′38″W / 53.549801, -2.26055 (Junction 18))		 M62 leaves concurrency with M60
Birch Services
A6046: Heywood, Middleton 19 A6046: Middleton, Heywood
A627(M): Rochdale, Oldham 20 A627(M): Rochdale, Oldham, Ashton
A640: Milnrow, Shaw 21 A640: Milnrow, Shaw
A672: Saddleworth 22 A672: Ripponden, Sowerby Bridge
No access 23 A640: Huddersfield
A629: Huddersfield, Halifax 24 A629: Huddersfield, Halifax
A644: Brighouse, Halifax 25 A644: Brighouse, Dewsbury
Hartshead Services
M606: Bradford
A58: Halifax		 26
(53°44′12″N 1°43′34″W / 53.736671, -1.726181 (Junction 26))		 M606: Bradford
A638: Cleckheaton
M621: Leeds
A62: Bradford		 27 M621: Leeds
A62: Batley
A650: Morley
A653: Leeds, Dewsbury, Leeds Bradford International Airport 28 A653: Leeds, Dewsbury
M1: London, Leeds, Wakefield 29
(53°43′51″N 1°30′43″W / 53.730811, -1.511929 (Junction 29))		 M1: London, Wakefield, The NORTH
A642: Rothwell, Wakefield 30 A642: Rothwell, Wakefield
A655: Normanton, Castleford 31 A655: Normanton, Castleford
A639: Pontefract, Castleford 32 A639: Pontefract, Castleford
A1(M): The NORTH, Wetherby 32a
(53°42′40″N 1°17′27″W / 53.711174, -1.290832 (Junction 32a))		 A1(M): The NORTH, Wetherby
The SOUTH, Doncaster
A162: The SOUTH, Doncaster (A1)
Pontefract, Ferrybridge		 33
(53°41′45″N 1°16′03″W / 53.695714, -1.267566 (Junction 33))		 A162: Knottingley, Ferrybridge
Ferrybridge Services
A19: Selby, Doncaster 34 A19: Selby, Doncaster
M18: The SOUTH, Doncaster 35 M18: The SOUTH, Doncaster
A614: Goole 36 A614: Goole
A614: Howden 37 A614: Howden, Bridlington
Start of Motorway 38
(53°46′16″N 0°41′07″W / 53.771087, -0.685205 (Junction 38))		 B1230: North Cave, Gilberdyke
Motorway becomes A63 and continues into Hull

References

  1. ^ a b c d M62 motorway. Motorway Database. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
  2. ^ Spencer Stokes (2006-12-01). More than a road.... BBC.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
  3. ^ David Simmons consultancy. "Case Study:M62 motorway". Retrieved on 2007-05-30. "CEC (1987) estimated that the capital cost of the motorway was "of the order of £412 million at 1985 prices"." The inflation rates are taken from historical CPI figures.
  4. ^ a b M62: Eccles to county boundary. The Motorway Archive. Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
  5. ^ a b c d M62 in West Yorkshire. The Motorway Archive. Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
  6. ^ a b c d e M62: Queens Drive to Eccles. Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
  7. ^ a b c d M62: Goole - Ouse Bridge. The Motorway Archive. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  8. ^ a b M52 Liverpool to Manchester. Pathetic Motorways. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  9. ^ M602 Motorway. Motorway Database. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  10. ^ M62 Stretford-Eccles Bypass. Pathetic Motorways. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  11. ^ M63 (now M60) Stretford-Eccles Bypass and Carrington Spur. The Motorway Archive. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  12. ^ a b c M62 - Timeline. Motorway Database. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  13. ^ M60 - Timeline. Motorway Database. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  14. ^ a b c M62: Boundary to Pole Moor. The Motorway Archive. Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Farming in the fast lane", BBC, 2007-02-02. Retrieved on 2007-05-19. 
  16. ^ M62. Motorway Simulator. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
  17. ^ M62: Pole Moor to Outlane. The Motorway Archive. Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
  18. ^ M62: Lofthouse to Hopetown. The Motorway Archive. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  19. ^ M62: Hopetown to Ferrybridge. The Motorway Archive. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  20. ^ Hayward, David (1975-08-14), New Civil Engineer 
  21. ^ "Miscarriages of justice", Guardian Unlimited, 2002-01-15. Retrieved on 2007-05-29. 
  22. ^ M60. Motorway Database. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  23. ^ M62 junction completion raises region's economic prospects. Costain Group (2003). Retrieved on 2007-08-05.
  24. ^ A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor open to Traffic - January 2006. Highways Agency (2005). Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  25. ^ "First car-share lane to be built", BBC News, 2006-03-20. Retrieved on 2007-05-28. 
  26. ^ M1 and M62 Motorway Improvements in Yorkshire. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
  27. ^ a b "Life in the Fast Lane", BBC West Yorkshire, 2002-05-24. Retrieved on 2007-08-02. 
  28. ^ Motorways M60 to M69 - Most viewed. Photo gallery. SABRE. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
  29. ^ a b Road traffic data tables (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet). Road Statistics 2006: Traffic, Speeds and Congestion. Department for Transport (2007-07-26). Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
  30. ^ Road Traffic Statistics: 2003 (PDF) 17. Department for Transport (2004-08-12). Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
  31. ^ "M62 Junctions 24 to 27", In Depth: Traffic Congestion. Retrieved on 2007-05-30. 
  32. ^ M62-M621-A650. Bad Junctions. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.

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