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M62 motorway
Maintained by Highways Agency
Length: 107 mi (172 km)
7 miles are part of the M60 motorway
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, North Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire
Major cities: Warrington, Manchester, Huddersfield, Halifax, Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, Goole
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

The M62 motorway is a west-east trans-Pennine motorway in northern England, connecting the cities of Liverpool and Hull. The road also forms part of the unsigned Euroroutes E20 (Shannon to Saint Petersburg) and E22 (Holyhead to Ishim). The road is 107 miles long; however, for seven[1] miles, it shares its route with the M60 motorway around Manchester.

The motorway, which was first proposed in the 1930s, and originally conceived as two separate routes, was built in stages between 1971 and 1976, with construction beginning at Pole Moor and finishing in Tarbock. The motorway also absorbed part of the Stretford-Eccles bypass, which was built between 1957 and 1960. Adjusted for inflation to 2007, the motorway cost approximately GB£765 million to build.[2] The motorway is relatively busy, with a average daily traffic flow of 100,000 cars in Yorkshire, and has several areas prone to gridlock, in particular, between Leeds and Halifax in West Yorkshire.

The road passes the cities of Salford, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield. Between Liverpool and Manchester, and east of Leeds, the terrain of the road is relatively flat, while between Manchester and Leeds, the road crosses the hilly Pennines to its highest point on Saddleworth Moor (53°37′47″N 2°01′07″W / 53.62982, -2.018561 (Saddleworth Moor)), which is also the highest point of any motorway in Britain, at 1221 feet (372 m) above sea level.[3]

Contents

History

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. At the same time, it was envisaged that a route between Liverpool and Hull was also needed, connecting the two ports to industrial Yorkshire.

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. 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 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. 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. The route of the Lancashire-Yorkshire motorway was also considered inadequate as it failed to cater for several industrial towns in Yorkshire. 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). Initially these plans were unpopular and unsupported by the Ministry of Transport, but nevertheless the scheme was added to the Road Plan in 1963.

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,[4][5] 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. 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.

In Greater Manchester

See also: M60 motorway
See also: M602 motorway
See also: M63 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.[6] Construction started in 1957, and opened in 1960.

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.[4] 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.[7] 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.

Between Saddleworth and Lofthouse

The first section of the Yorkshire section of the motorway was completed in 1970, between the county boundary on Saddleworth Moor and Outlane. 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.[8] 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,[9] which carries a B road 120 feet above the motorway. The mile-long section between Pole Moor and Outlane suffered fewer problems, with the summer weather being satisfactory.Concurrently, a section of the motorway was being built between Gildersome and Lofthouse, 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. 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 and built. 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"[10] and a partial collapse of the framework, caused by bolts joining a cross-beam to a trestle shearing. The problems with the Ouse Bridge pushed the opening of the whole section east of Goole back to May 1976.

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[11]. 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.[12], while in January 2006, Junction 32a was opened, to link the motorway with the recently upgraded A1(M)[13]. 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,[14], while a proposal to widen the motorway to four lanes between Junctions 25 and 28 to reduce congestion is in the planning stage.[15]

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.[16]

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.

Stott Hall Farm

Stott Hall Farm, viewed from the westbound carriageway.
Stott Hall Farm, viewed from the westbound carriageway.

On Windy Hill, near the highest point of the motorway, the road divides into two 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[8][17][18]. 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[8]. Due to its remoteness in the Pennines, the farm is often nicknamed as "the Little House on the Prairie", and is often used as an unofficial service station for stranded motorists[8][19]. The farm, which was occupied by Ken and Beth Wild at the time of the motorway's opening[17], is now owned by Paul Thorp.[8] Due to its unusualness, it is one of the ten best-known sights from the motorway network[20] and one of the best-known sights in West Yorkshire[19].

Impact upon culture

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[21]. "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, and also suggests the A628 as another alternative[22].

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 in the "grim North", in addition to the motorway itself[23]. Doves named a song after the M62 on their 2002 album The Last Broadcast, which is stated to have been recorded "under the M62 flyover at Northenden"[24][25]. "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 to those of the inhabitants of the farm[26], while Williams uses the urban legend of the owner's refusal to sell the farm as an example of tradition[27].

In addition to music, rugby league is a popular sport in northern England - so much so that a 1994 survey revealed that sixty percent of regularly attending rugby league fans lived in only four postal districts along the M62[28]. Teams that play in towns near the M62 include the Huddersfield Giants, whose stadium is signposted from the motorway, the Bradford Bulls and St Helens RFC.

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

The M62's route in relation to the four major cities it serves: Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Hull.
The M62's route in relation to the four major cities it serves: Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Hull.

In addition to passing Warrington, Manchester, Huddersfield, Halifax, Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield, the towns of Huyton, St Helens, Widnes, Bury, Rochdale, Dewsbury, Pontefract, Selby and Goole are designated as primary destinations along the road. The road is a terminus to two motorways: the M57 motorway near Prescot and the M18 motorway near Rawcliffe; and has four spur routes: the M602 motorway, which serves Manchester, the A627(M) motorway, which serves Oldham, the M606 motorway, which serves Bradford, and the M621 motorway, which serves Leeds. Despite Hull being listed as a primary destination[33], the motorway downgrades near North Cave, sixteen miles west[34].

The motorway starts on Queen's Drive, on Liverpool's middle ring road. From there it travels eastward to Liverpool's outer ring road, the M57. The route has three exits for Warrington: Junction 8, which also houses Ikea[35], Junction 9, which interchanges with the A49 road, originally intended to be a motorway itself[36], and Junction 11. Between these is Junction 10, which is a cloverstack interchange with the M6 motorway.

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.

The road then crosses Chat Moss before interchanging with the M60 motorway[37]. Due to original plans being to extend the section of the motorway into Manchester, motorists must turn off to stay on the route into Yorkshire.

The motorway then shares its next six junctions with the M60 motorway. Junction 13, which is signposted for Swinton, is situated only half a mile from Junction 12, leaving exiting motorists the hazard of crossing the still-merging M62 traffic.[38]After this, there are two junctions that are inter-linked – Junction 14, which serves the A580 road and is only accessible westbound, and the M61 motorway, which travels to Preston.

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

At Junction 18, it leaves its multiplex with the M60. After Junction 21, the motorway gains a lane to climb Windy Hill.[37] It then crosses the border into Yorkshire and interchanges with the rural A672 road, reaching the highest point of any motorway in England on the bridge. There is then a seven-mile travel through the Pennines to the next junction, passing Scammonden Water and Stott Hall Farm. The next junction is Junction 23, which is only accessible for westbound traffic. After this, the road dips through a valley to Junction 24[39] and drops slowly before interchanging with the A644 road at Junction 25[40]. Between Junctions 22 and 25, the road is used as a border between the metropolitan boroughs of Calderdale and Kirklees.[41]

At Junction 26, named Chain Bar, the motorway interchanges with several roads: the M606 motorway, a spur into Bradford, the A58 road, which travels between Prescot and Wetherby, and the A638 road, which travels to Doncaster. The next junction also serves a spur route: the M621 motorway, before travelling south of Leeds to the interchange with the M1 motorway, Lofthouse Interchange, at Junction 29.

East of Leeds, the motorway serves Wakefield at Junction 30. It is then crossed by the River Calder. At Junction 32a, the road is crossed by the A1(M) motorway, which also runs parallel to it for a short distance. The next junction serves the A162 road, previously the A1, and Ferrybridge service station.

After Junction 34, the land becomes flatter. Junction 35 is a three-way interchange with the M18 motorway. After Junction 36, the road crosses the river Ouse on a mile-long bridge. For approximately ten miles after, the road travels towards Hull, serving Howden and North Cave, before downgrading to the A63 road.

Exit list

County Location Mile # Destinations Notes
Merseyside Knotty Ash 0 4 A5080 No westbound access, Start of motorway
53°24′22″N 2°53′46″W / 53.405977, -2.896099 (Junction 4)
Huyton 1 5 A5080 Huyton, Knotty Ash
Tarbock 4 6 M57, A5080, A5300 Prescot, Runcorn, Southport
Rainhill 7 7 A57, A557, A568, A570 St. Helens, Widnes
Cheshire Burtonwood 11 8 (A574) Warrington, Burtonwood
Burtonwood Services
Winwick 13 9 A49 Warrington, Newton
Croft 15 10 M6 Birmingham, Preston, Chester, Manchester Airport 53°25′34″N 2°33′22″W / 53.426024, -2.55614 (Junction 10)
Risley 17 11 A574 Warrington, Birchwood
Greater Manchester Eccles 24 12 M60, M602 Ring Road, Salford, Manchester
Westbound only: Warrington, Liverpool, Birmingham
Eastbound only: Bolton, Bury, Leeds		 Motorway enters multiplex with M60.
Motorists must turn off to stay on the route.
53°29′15″N 2°22′36″W / 53.487591, -2.3767 (Junction 12)
Worsley 25 13 A572, A575 Swinton, Worsley, Leigh
Swinton 27 14 A580 St. Helens, Leigh No eastbound access
15 M61 Bolton, Wigan, Preston
27 16 A666 Salford, Pendlebury, Kearsley No eastbound access
Whitefield 29 17 A56 Whitefield, Prestwich
Simister 31 18 M60, M66 Leeds, Bury, Blackburn, Burnley, Ashton-under-Lyne Motorway leaves multiplex with M60.
53°32′59″N 2°15′38″W / 53.549801, -2.26055 (Junction 18)
Birch 33 Birch Services
Heywood 34 19 A6046 Heywood, Middleton
Castleton 36 20 A627(M) Rochdale, Oldham, Ashton
Milnrow 38 21 A640 Milnrow, Shaw
West Yorkshire Saddleworth Moor 42 22 A672 Ripponden, Saddleworth, Sowerby Bridge
Outlane 49 23 A640, A643 Huddersfield No westbound access
Ainley Top 51 24 A629 Huddersfield, Halifax, West Yorkshire
Brighouse 55 25 A644 Brighouse, Halifax
Clifton 56 Hartshead services
Scholes 58 26 M606, A58, A638 Bradford, Halidax, Cleckheaton
Gildersome 62 27 M621, A62, A650 Leeds, Bradford, Batley, Morley
Tingley 65 28 A653 Leeds, Dewsbury, Leeds Bradford International Airport
Lofthouse 68 29 M1 London, Leeds, Wakefield, The NORTH 53°43′51″N 1°30′43″W / 53.730811, -1.511929 (Junction 29)
Bottom Boat 70 30 A652 Rothwell, Wakefield
Normanton 73 31 A655 Normanton, Castleford
Glasshoughton 76 32 A639 Pontefract, Castleford
Ferrybridge 78 32A A1(M) The NORTH, the SOUTH, Wetherby, Doncaster 53°42′40″N 1°17′27″W / 53.711174, -1.290832 (Junction 32A)
79 33 A162 The SOUTH, Doncaster, Pontefract, Ferrybridge, Knottingley
Ferrybridge Services
North Yorkshire Eggborough 84 34 A19 Selby, Doncaster
East Riding of Yorkshire Rawcliffe 92 35 M18 The SOUTH, Doncaster
Goole 95 36 A614 Goole
Howden 98 37 A614, A63 Howden, Bridlington A63 exits multiplex with A614 and enters multiplex with M62
North Cave 107 38 B1230 North Cave, Gilberdyke End of motorway; M62 downgrades to A63
53°46′16″N 0°41′07″W / 53.771087, -0.685205 (Junction 38)

References

  1. ^ M1-M898 waypoints. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Spencer Stokes (2006-12-01). More than a road.... BBC.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
  4. ^ a b M52 Liverpool to Manchester. Pathetic Motorways. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  5. ^ M602 Motorway. Motorway Database. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  6. ^ M62 Stretford-Eccles Bypass. Pathetic Motorways. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  7. ^ M60 - Timeline. Motorway Database. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Farming in the fast lane", BBC, 2007-02-02. Retrieved on 2007-05-19. 
  9. ^ M62. Motorway Simulator. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
  10. ^ Hayward, David (1975-08-14), New Civil Engineer 
  11. ^ M60. Motorway Database. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  12. ^ M62 junction completion raises region's economic prospects. Costain Group (2003). Retrieved on 2007-08-05.
  13. ^ A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor open to Traffic - January 2006. Highways Agency (2005). Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  14. ^ "First car-share lane to be built", BBC News, 2006-03-20. Retrieved on 2007-05-28. 
  15. ^ M1 and M62 Motorway Improvements in Yorkshire. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
  16. ^ "Miscarriages of justice", Guardian Unlimited, 2002-01-15. Retrieved on 2007-05-29. 
  17. ^ a b "Life in the Fast Lane", BBC West Yorkshire, 2002-05-24. Retrieved on 2007-08-02. 
  18. ^ Motorways M60 to M69 - Most viewed. Photo gallery. SABRE. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
  19. ^ a b The man in the middle! (2006-11-02). Retrieved on 2007-11-19.
  20. ^ "Spaghetti Junction is top sight", BBC West Midlands, 2007-08-23. Retrieved on 2007-11-19. 
  21. ^ It's Immaterial. Driving Away from Home (Jim's Tune) (audio). "Why don't we cross the city limit, and head on down the M62? It's only 39 miles and 45 minutes to Manchester, that's my birth place you know."
  22. ^ The Human League. The Snake (audio). "The way to Hyde, the sixty-two or six-two-eight, will do if you cannot be late, sometimes the only choice to make..."
  23. ^ The JAMS. It's Grim Up North (audio). "...Lytham St. Annes, Clitheroe, Cleethorpes, the M62."
  24. ^ "Doves - The Last Broadcast", BBC Manchester, 2002-04-29. Retrieved on 2007-11-17. 
  25. ^ Doves (2002-04-29). The Last Broadcast (sleeve notes). Heavenly Records. 
  26. ^ Graham Fellows. The Man Who Lives on the M62 (audio). "And I feel like the man who lives on that farm which sits in the middle of the M62. I thought it would be alright, now I can't sleep at night, some things you cannot undo."
  27. ^ Kathryn Williams. Tradition (audio). "Like the man on his farm who fought for the motorway, to be built on either side, everywhere tradition draws circles to define."
  28. ^ To Prezzagrad with Love. New Statesman (2006-12-11). Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
  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.
  33. ^ M62 East - Junction 30. Motorway simulator. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
  34. ^ M62 East - Junction 38. Motorway simulator. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
  35. ^ M62 East - Junction 8. Motorway simulator. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
  36. ^ M62 East - Junction 9. Motorway simulator. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
  37. ^ a b M62 East - Uneven surface (Chat Moss). Motorway simulator. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
  38. ^ M60 Clockwise - Junction 13. Motorway simulator. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
  39. ^ M62 East - Junction 24. Motorway simulator. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
  40. ^ M62 West - Slow Lorries (Brighouse-Halifax). Motorway simulator. CBRD. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
  41. ^ Waste Management Strategy (PDF). Calderdale MBC.
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