M6 motorway

M6 motorway

M6 highlighted in dark blue
Route information
Part of E05 and E24
Maintained by Highways Agency
Length: 232.2 mi (373.7 km)
History: Opened in 1958, completed in 2008
Major junctions
South end: Catthorpe
 
M1 motorway

J2 → M69 motorway

J3a → M6 Toll

J4 → M42 motorway

J4a → M42 motorway

J6 → A38(M) motorway

M5 motorway

J10a → M54 motorway

J11a → M6 Toll

J20 → M56 motorway

J21a → M62 motorway

J26 → M58 motorway

J29 → M65 motorway

J30 → M61 motorway

J32 → M55 motorway

J35 → A601(M) motorway

J45 → A74(M) motorway
North end: Gretna
Location
Primary
destinations
:
Rugby, Coventry, Nuneaton, Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Warrington, Wigan, Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Lancaster, Kendal, Penrith, Carlisle, Winsford
Road network

Roads in the United Kingdom
Motorways • A and B road zones

The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby via Birmingham then heads north, passing Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and terminating at the Gretna junction (J45). Here, just short of the Scottish border it becomes the A74(M) which continues to Glasgow as the M74.

The M6 is the longest motorway in the United Kingdom and one of the busiest. It incorporates the first length of motorway opened in the UK and forms part of a motorway "Backbone of Britain", running north-south between London and Glasgow via the industrial North of England. It is also part of the east-west route between the midlands and the east coast ports. The section from the M1 to the M6 Toll split near Birmingham forms part of the unsigned E-road E 24 and the section from the M6 Toll and the M42 forms part of E 05.

Contents

[hide]

Route

The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 and from the beginning of A14 in Catthorpe near Rugby in central England, passes between Coventry and Nuneaton, through Birmingham, Walsall and Stafford and near the major cities of Wolverhampton and Stoke-on-Trent. The motorway has major junctions with the M56 and M62 at Warrington, giving access to Chester, Manchester and Liverpool. The M6 then heads north past Preston and Lancaster. After the latter two cities it passes through Cumbria with some parts very close to the edge of the Lake District, and then passes Carlisle on its way to Gretna, before the motorway becomes the A74(M) a few hundred metres short of the Scottish border.

History

Planning and construction

The first section of the motorway and the first motorway in the country was the Preston by-pass. It was built by Tarmac Construction and opened by the Prime Minister Harold Macmillan on 5 December 1958.[1] In January 1959 the Preston By-pass was closed because of rapid surface deterioration over a stretch of 100 yards (91 m) "due to water freezing and then thawing". Motorists were diverted to the old road while the UK road research laboratory at Harmondsworth pondered the importance of surface water drainage.[2]

Later the motorway was extended in both directions and is now 230 miles (370 km) long.

The second phase of construction was completed in 1960, forming the Lancaster by-pass. Some 100 miles (160 km) south, the Stafford by-pass was completed in 1962. By 1965, the remaining sections of motorway Stafford–Preston and Preston–Lancaster had been completed. 1968 saw the completion of the Walsall to Stafford link as well as the Penrith by-pass some 150 miles (240 km) north in Cumberland. In 1970, the Lancaster–Penrith link was completed, along with a short section of motorway by-passing the south of Walsall. The most northerly section of the motorway also opened in 1970, running to the designated terminus north of Carlisle. By 1971, the full route was completed between the junction with the M1 motorway at Rugby and the A452 road several miles north-east of Birmingham city centre, including the 3½ miles of viaduct between Castle Bromwich(J5) and Gravelly Hill(J6), which is the longest viaduct in Great Britain.[3][4]

Junction 6 in Birmingham is widely known as Spaghetti Junction because of its complexity.

On the elevated ground between Shap and Tebay, the north and south-bound carriages split apart. At this point a local road (to Scout Green) runs between the two carriageways without a link to the motorway.

The section of the M6 which runs over Shap Fell in Cumbria is 1,050 ft (320 m) above sea level, one of the highest points on any motorway in the UK (junction 22 of the M62 on Saddleworth Moor is higher). The motorway engineers here chose to follow the route of the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway engineered by Joseph Locke (now part of the West Coast Main Line) where the motorway runs in a split-level cutting above the railway in the descent from Shap Fell through the Lune Gorge into southern Cumbria.

The northbound entry slip road at Lancaster (J34) is unusually short, presenting problems for traffic joining the motorway. The M6 crosses the River Lune at this point and unless the bridge had been made wider, there was no space to build a longer slip road. This junction was upgraded from an earlier emergency-vehicles-only access point, which explains the substandard design.

The route was intended to replace the old A6, but a much closer approximation to the actual route of the M6 is provided by following the route: A45, A34, A50, A49, A6.

Operational

In July 1972 the UK Minister for Transport Industries announced that 86 miles (138 km) of UK motorway particularly prone to fog would benefit from lighting in a project which "should be" completed by 1973.[5] Sections to be illuminated included the M6 between junctions 10 and 11, and between junctions 20 and 27.[5]

In March 2006, after 15-years of debate,[6] the government authorised the construction of a 6-mile (9.7 km) extension of the M6 from its then northern terminus near Carlisle to the Anglo-Scottish border at Gretna (the so-called "Cumberland Gap"), where it links into the existing A74(M).[7] The road opened on 5 December 2008, the 50th anniversary of the M6 Preston Bypass.[8] The project, which was a mixture of new road and upgrade of the existing A74, crosses the West Coast Main Line and had an estimated costs of £174 million. It completed an uninterrupted motorway from just south of Dunblane (via the M9, the recently opened M80 section near Cumbernauld and the M73) in the north to Exeter (via the M5) and to London (via both the M42/M40 and the M1) in the south.

The M6 Toll, Britain's first toll motorway, which bypasses the West Midlands conurbation to the east and north of Birmingham and Walsall and was built to alleviate congestion through the West Midlands, and opened in December 2003. Prior to the opening of the toll motorway, this section of the M6 carried 180,000 vehicles per day at its busiest point near Wolverhampton (between the junctions with the M54 and M5 motorways), compared with a design capacity of only 72,000 vehicles. Usage, at about 50,000 vehicles was lower than expected and traffic levels on the M6 were only slightly reduced as a result. The high toll prices which were set by the operating company and about which the UK government has no influence were blamed for the low usage.[9] Much traffic continues to use the M6 or the continued on the M1 and took the A50 or A52.

A proposed extension to the M6 Toll, known as the 'M6 Expressway' would have continued from the M6 Toll as far as Knutsford, at which point much of the existing M6 traffic leaves the M6 for Manchester was abandoned in 2006 due to excessive costs, anticipated construction problems[10] and disappointing levels of usage of the M6 Toll.

Proposed developments

Increased capacity between J11a and J19

The government wishes to improve reliability and capacity between Junctions 11 by Cannock and Junction 19 near Knutsford. In 2004, it favoured a new motorway, 'The Expressway' following a roughly parallel course to the existing M6.[11] In July 2006, the government announced its decision to abandon the Expressway proposal, and favoured widening accompanied by demand-management measures,[12] and have launched a study to consider options for providing additional capacity.[13] The first phase of the widening could be completed by 2014, with the remaining sections following until full completion in 2017.[12]

Hard shoulder running (junction 4-5 and 8 to 10a)

In October 2007, following a successful trial on the M42 in the West Midlands, the UK government have announced that two stretches of the M6 will be upgraded to allow the hard shoulder to be used as a normal running lane during busy conditions under a scheme called Active Traffic Management.[14] The two stretches, between junctions 4 and 5 and between junctions 10a and 8, are two of the busiest sections on the entire motorway. The system could also be extended onto other stretches of the M6 as the government is going to undertake a feasibility study to determine other likely locations where this technology can be used.

Junction with M1 and A14

The Highways Agency is planning a major upgrade to the overloaded interchange between the M6, the M1 motorway and the A14 road at Catthorpe.[15]

Junctions

Data[16][17] from driver location signs are used to provide distance and carriageway identifier information. Where a junction spans several hundred metres and the start and end distances are known, both distances are shown.

M6 motorway
km Northbound exits (A Carriageway) Junction Southbound exits (B Carriageway)
M6 continues as A74(M) to Glasgow, Edinburgh
504.1 Gretna (Green) B7076
Longtown A6071
M6 J45
[coord 1]
No access
Todhills Rest Area Services Todhills rest area
495.1 494.6 Carlisle (North), Galashiels, Hawick A7 J44
[coord 2]
Hexham A689
Workington (A595), Carlisle A7
488.9
488.4
Carlisle, Hexham, Newcastle upon Tyne A69 J43 Carlisle, Hexham, Newcastle upon Tyne A69
484.6
484.0
Carlisle (South) A6 J42 Carlisle (South) A6
Southwaite services Services Southwaite services
464.6
464.1
Wigton B5305 J41 Wigton B5305
459.5
459.0
Penrith, Workington, Keswick A66 J40 Penrith, Keswick, Brough, Scotch Corner A66
441.6
441.0
Shap, Kendal (A6) J39 Shap (A6)
Tebay services Services Tebay services
432.7
432.1
Brough A685
Appleby B6260
J38 Kendal, Brough A685
418.9
418.4
Kendal, Sedbergh A684 J37 Kendal, Sedbergh A684
No access Services Killington Lake services
406.7
406.0
Kirkby Lonsdale, Skipton A65
Kendal, Barrow-in-Furness A590
J36 Kirkby Lonsdale, Skipton A65
Barrow-in-Furness A590
Burton-in-Kendal services Services No access
394.4
393.6
Carnforth, Morecambe A601(M) (A6) J35 Carnforth, Morecambe A601(M) (A6)
387.6
387.2
Lancaster, Morecambe, Kirkby Lonsdale, Heysham A683 J34 Lancaster, Morecambe A683
377.6
377.1
Lancaster A6 J33 Garstang, Fleetwood A6
Lancaster (Forton) services Services Lancaster (Forton) services
356.5
355.7
Blackpool, Fleetwood, Preston (North), Garstang M55 J32
[coord 3]
Blackpool, Preston (North) M55
353.2
352.9
Preston (West), Longridge B6242 J31A No access
Preston (Central), Clitheroe A59 J31 Preston (Central), Clitheroe A59
346.6
345.9
No access J30 Manchester, Bolton M61
Leeds (M62)
Blackburn (M65)
344.3
343.6
Burnley, Blackburn, Preston (South) M65 J29 Burnley, Blackburn, Preston (South) M65
341.6
341.0
Leyland (A49) J28 Leyland (A49)
Charnock Richard services Services Charnock Richard services
329..6
329.0
Parbold, Standish, Chorley A5209 J27 Parbold, Standish, Wigan A5209
323.1
322.6
Wigan, Skelmersdale, Liverpool, Southport M58 J26 Wigan, Skelmersdale, Liverpool, Southport M58
318.7
318.3
Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, A49 J25 No access
316.9
316.3
No access J24 Ashton-in-Makerfield, St. Helens A58
314.8
314.1
Haydock, Ashton-in-Makerfield, St Helens, Manchester, Liverpool, Newton-le-Willows A580 J23 Haydock, Ashton-in-Makerfield, St Helens, Manchester, Liverpool, Newton-le-Willows A580
309.6
309.1
Newton-le-Willows A49 Leigh A579 J22 Warrington A49
307.4
306.5
Manchester, Leeds M62 J21A Liverpool, Southport M62
Liverpool, Southport M62 Manchester, Leeds M62
303.0
302.5
Warrington, Irlam A57 J21 Warrington, Irlam A57
Thelwall Viaduct
[coord 4]
298.7
298.2
Lymm, Macclesfield A50
Lymm Services
J20
Services
Lymm, Macclesfield A50
Lymm Services
NORTH WALES, Runcorn, Birkenhead M56 NORTH WALES, Chester, Manchester & Airport, Stockport M56
290.2
289.5
Manchester & Airport, Stockport A556 (M56 (west)) J19 Northwich, Knutsford, Macclesfield A556
Knutsford services
(no HGVs)
Services Knutsford services
(no HGVs)
277.2
276.7
Holmes Chapel, Middlewich, Winsford, Northwich, Chester A54 J18 Holmes Chapel, Middlewich, Winsford A54
271.3
270.8
Congleton, Sandbach A534 J17 Congleton, Sandbach A534
Sandbach services Services Sandbach services
261.7
261.2
Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Nantwich A500 J16 Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Nantwich A500
Keele services Services Keele services
246.4
246.1
Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme A500 J15 Stoke-on-Trent, Stone, Eccleshall A500
Derby (A50)
Stafford services Services Stafford services
228.6
228.2
Stafford, Stone, Eccleshall A34 J14 Stafford (North) A34
220.1
219.6
Stafford A449 J13 Stafford (South & Central) A449
211.8
211.1
Telford A5 J12 NORTH WALES, Cannock, Wolverhampton, Telford A5 (M54)
No access J11A
[coord 5]
The SOUTH, Lichfield M6 Toll
207.2
206.7
Cannock A460 J11 Wolverhampton A460
Hilton Park services Services Hilton Park services
204.4
203.9
NORTH WALES, Wolverhampton, Telford M54 J10A
[coord 6]
No access
198.4
197.8
Walsall, Wolverhampton A454 J10 Walsall A454
195.8
195.6
Wednesbury A461 J9 Wednesbury A461
193.0 The SOUTH WEST, Birmingham (West), West Bromwich M5 J8
[coord 7]
The SOUTH WEST, Birmingham, West Bromwich M5
190.6
190.1
Birmingham (NW), Walsall A34 J7
[coord 8]
Birmingham A34
183.8
183.3
Birmingham (Central & North) A38(M)
Sutton Coldfield A5127
J6
Gravelly Hill Interchange
[coord 9]
Birmingham A38(M) & A38
178.5
178.3
Birmingham (NE), Castle Bromwich A452 J5
[coord 10]
No access
175.1
174.8
No access J4A The NORTH (M1)
The SOUTH (M40) M42
170.6
170.1
Lichfield, Coleshill A446, The SOUTH WEST (M5)
Birmingham (South), Solihull M42(S)
J4 Coventry, Birmingham Airport, NEC A446
The NORTH WEST (M6 Toll), Tamworth M42(N) J3A No access
Corley services Services Corley services
155.9
155.2
Coventry (North), Nuneaton A444, Bedworth B4113 J3 Coventry (North), Nuneaton A444, Bedworth B4113
150.8
150.1
Coventry A46
Leicester M69 (M1)
J2 Coventry (East) A46, Leicester, Hinckley M69 (M1(N))
137.8
137.1
Rugby A426 J1 Rugby, Lutterworth A426
137.1 No access M1 J19
[coord 11]
Felixstowe, Corby, Kettering A14, M1 (North)
Start of motorway London M1

Coordinate list

  1. ^ - J45 A74(M)
  2. ^ J44
  3. ^ J32 M55
  4. ^ Thelwell Viaduct
  5. ^ J11 - M6 Toll
  6. ^ J10A - M54
  7. ^ J8 - Start of M5 motorway
  8. ^ J7
  9. ^ J6 - Gravelly Hill Interchange
  10. ^ J5
  11. ^ Southern end of the M6

Legislation

Each motorway in England requires that a legal document called a Statutory Instrument to be published, detailing the route of the road, before it can be built. The dates given on these Statutory Instruments relate to when the document was published, and not when the road was built. Provided below is an incomplete list of the Statutory Instruments relating to the route of the M6.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Preston Bypass Opening (Booklet)" (PDF). CBRD. http://www.cbrd.co.uk/histories/openingbooklets/pdf/prestonbypass.pdf. Retrieved 20 January 2008. 
  2. ^ "The Preston By-pass-Enquiry Needed". Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist 5 (nbr57): 803. March 1959. 
  3. ^ cbrd.co.uk
  4. ^ "''ciht.org.uk''". Ciht.org.uk. http://www.ciht.org.uk/motorway/m5m6midlink.htm. Retrieved 31 December 2011. 
  5. ^ a b "News: Motorway lighting". Autocar 137 nbr 3978: page 19. 13 July 1972. 
  6. ^ "M6 Carlisle - Gretna". CBRD. http://www.cbrd.co.uk/futures/upgrade/m6.shtml. Retrieved 20 January 2008. 
  7. ^ "M6 Carlisle to Guards Mill Extension". Highways Agency. http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/5069.aspx. Retrieved 20 January 2008. 
  8. ^ "M6 North Extension, United Kingdom". Road Traffic Technology. http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/northextension/. Retrieved 20 January 2008. 
  9. ^ "one year after study" (PDF). Highways Agency. 11 August 2005. http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/documents/one_year_after_study.pdf. Retrieved 24 January 2008. 
  10. ^ "Decision on M6 upgrade announced". 20 July 2006. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=215626&NewsAreaID=2. Retrieved 30 September 2007. 
  11. ^ "Encouraging better use of roads and the M6". Department for Transport. Archived from the original on 11 August 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070811065448/http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/encouragingbetteruseofroadsa5919. Retrieved 20 January 2008. 
  12. ^ a b "Decision on M6 upgrade announced". Government News Network. 22 June 2006. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=215626&NewsAreaID=2. Retrieved 20 January 2008. 
  13. ^ "M6 Jct 11A - 19 (Increasing Capacity) Study". Highways Agency. http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/11587.aspx. Retrieved 20 January 2008. 
  14. ^ "Hard-shoulder scheme to go nationwide". The Independent. 27 October 2007. http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/article3096713.ece. Retrieved 25 January 2007. 
  15. ^ "M1 Jct 19". http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/11934.aspx. Retrieved 28 February 2008. 
  16. ^ Driver Location Signs, M6 J4-18(map) Highway Authority 2009
  17. ^ Driver Location Signs, Highway Agency Area 10 (map) - Highway Authority, 2009
  18. ^ "S.I. 1987/252". Office of Public Sector Information. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1987/Uksi_19870252_en_1.htm. 
  19. ^ "S.I. 1987/2254". Office of Public Sector Information. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1987/Uksi_19872254_en_1.htm. 
  20. ^ "S.I. 1990/2659". Office of Public Sector Information. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1990/Uksi_19902659_en_1.htm. 
  21. ^ "S.I. 1991/1873". Office of Public Sector Information. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1991/Uksi_19911873_en_1.htm. 
  22. ^ "S.I. 1993/1370". Office of Public Sector Information. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1993/Uksi_19931370_en_1.htm. 
  23. ^ "S.I. 1997/1292". Office of Public Sector Information. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1997/19971292.htm. 
  24. ^ "S.I. 1997/1293". Office of Public Sector Information. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1997/19971293.htm. 
  25. ^ "S.I. 1998/125". Office of Public Sector Information. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1998/19980125.htm. 

External links