M6 motorway

This article is about the British motorway. For M6, see M6 motorway (disambiguation).

Template:UK motorway routebox The M6 motorway is the longest motorway in the United Kingdom. It runs from a junction with the M1 near Rugby in central England, passes between Coventry and Nuneaton, through Birmingham, Walsall and Stafford and near the major cities of Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Liverpool, Preston and Lancaster. After the latter two cities it passes through Cumbria with some parts very close to the edge of the Lake District. The motorway has a major junction onto the M56 and M62 at Warrington, and then passes Carlisle, before terminating on the A74(M) near the Scottish border.

It is often claimed to be the busiest motorway in the country, although the M25 may also lay claim to this distinction, depending on the measurement used. It is also sometimes referred to as the "Backbone of Britain" as it forms part of the central road corridor between Glasgow and London, connecting Scotland and the industrial North of England to the financial and governmental heart of the country in the South East.

From the M1 to the M6 Toll split near Birmingham, the M6 is part of the unsigned E-road Template:Erd. Template:Erd joins the M6 Toll from the M42 and then uses the M6 to its north end at Gretna, where it continues along the A74(M).

History

The southbound M6 as seen from a bridge just south of junction 29, Preston, 2008

The first section of the motorway, and the first motorway in the country, the Preston by-pass, was built by Tarmac Construction and opened by the then Prime Minister Harold Macmillan on 5 December 1958. In subsequent years the motorway was extended piecemeal in both directions and is now 230 miles (370 km) long.

The M6 in Cheshire, 1969

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.

M6 Carlisle to Guards Mill Extension

In March 2006, after 15-years of debate, 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). The road opened on 5 December 2008, the 50th anniversary of the M6 Preston Bypass. 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 £174m. It completed an uninterrupted motorway from Cumbernauld (via the M73) in the north to Exeter (via the M5) in the south.

M6 Toll

Main article: M6 Toll

The M6 Toll, Britain's first toll motorway, was partially opened (to local traffic only) on 9 December 2003 and fully opened a few days later. It bypasses the West Midlands conurbation to the east and north of Birmingham and Walsall, and was built to alleviate congestion through the West Midlands. 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. The daytime price for a car to travel the full length of the M6 Toll increased from £3 to £3.50 on 14 June 2005 and again to £4 on 1 January 2007. It was increased further to £4.50 on 1 January 2008.

An alternative way of by-passing the congested West Midlands area (northbound) is to continue north on the M1 then take the A50 or A52.

Developments

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. In July 2006, the government announced its decision to abandon the Expressway proposal, and favoured widening accompanied by demand-management measures, and have launched a study to consider options for providing additional capacity. The first phase of the widening could be completed by 2014, with the remaining sections following until full completion in 2017.

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 . 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.

M6 motorway in culture

The M6 motorway was featured in the lyrics of Wings' 1973 single "Helen Wheels": "M6 south down Liverpool, where they play the west coast sound". The song was included in the 1973 album release of Band on the Run.

Reference to the motorway appeared in the 1975 song "Moonlighting" by Leo Sayer via the lyric "Meanwhile the Carlisle turnoff of the M6 motorway, drinking cold black coffee, eating hot cup cakes".

A reference to the M6 motorway is made in the song "Family" from the 1989 New Model Army album Thunder and Consolation: "M6 southbound road side cafe on a wild wet windy night."

The song 'Northern', by experimental English group One More Grain describes a journey through Cumbria on the northbound carriageway of the M6 ("driving on the M6, headed north to Penrith"), mentioning many of the sites, towns and landmarks on the way e.g Sedbergh, Howgill Fells, Metal Bridge, Rockcliffe Marsh and the Solway Firth.

Junctions

M6 Motorway
Northbound exits	Junction	Southbound exits
B7076 A6071 and M6 continues as (A74(M)) to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Scotland	M6 J45 / A74 (M) J24	No exit
Todhills rest area
Carlisle, Galashiels, Hawick A7	J44 (54.93013°N 2.94643°W / 54.93013; -2.94643 (J44))	Carlisle, Galashiels, Hawick A7
Carlisle, Hexham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne A69	J43	Carlisle, Hexham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne A69
Carlisle A6	J42	Carlisle A6
Southwaite services
Wigton B5305	J41	Wigton B5305
Penrith, Keswick A66	J40	Penrith, Keswick, Brough, Scotch Corner A66
Shap, Kendal (A6)	J39	Shap (A6)
Tebay services
Brough A685 Appleby B6260	J38	Kendal, Brough A685
Kendal, Sedbergh A684	J37	Kendal, Sedbergh A684
no access to services		Killington Lake services
Kirkby Lonsdale, Skipton A65 Kendal, Barrow-in-Furness A590	J36	Kirkby Lonsdale, Skipton A65 Barrow-in-Furness A590
Burton-in-Kendal services		no access to services
Carnforth, Morecambe A601(M) (A6)	J35	Carnforth, Morecambe A601(M) (A6)
Lancaster, Morecambe, Kirkby Lonsdale, Heysham A683	J34	Lancaster, Morecambe A683
Lancaster A6	J33	Garstang, Fleetwood A6
Lancaster (Forton) services
Blackpool, Fleetwood, Preston, Garstang M55	J32	Blackpool M55
Preston, Longridge B6242	J31A	No exit
Preston, Clitheroe A59	J31	Preston, Clitheroe A59
No exit	J30	Manchester, Bolton M61 Leeds (M62) Blackburn (M65)
Burnley, Blackburn, Preston M65	J29	Burnley, Blackburn M65
Leyland (A49)	J28	Leyland (A49)
Charnock Richard services
Parbold, Standish, Chorley A5209	J27	Parbold, Wigan A5209
Skelmersdale, Liverpool, Southport M58	J26	Skelmersdale, Liverpool, Southport M58
Wigan, Ashton-in-Makerfield A49	J25	No exit
No exit	J24	St. Helens, Ashton-in-Makerfield A58
Haydock, Liverpool, Newton-le-Willows A580 (East Lancashire Road)	J23 Haydock Island	Haydock, Manchester, Liverpool, Newton-le-Willows A580 (East Lancashire Road)
Newton-le-Willows A49 Leigh A579	J22	Warrington A49
Manchester, Leeds M62	J21A	Liverpool, Southport M62
Liverpool, Southport M62		Manchester, Leeds M62
Warrington, Irlam A57	J21	Warrington, Irlam A57
Thelwall Viaduct (53.3906°N 2.5059°W / 53.3906; -2.5059)
Lymm, Macclesfield A50 Poplar 2000 Services	J20	Lymm, Macclesfield A50 Poplar 2000 Services
NORTH WALES, Runcorn, Birkenhead M56		NORTH WALES, Chester, Manchester & Airport, Stockport M56
Manchester & Airport, Stockport A556 (M56 (west))	J19	Northwich, Knutsford, Macclesfield A556
Knutsford services (no HGVs)
Holmes Chapel, Middlewich, Northwich, Chester A54	J18	Holmes Chapel, Middlewich A54
Congleton, Sandbach A534	J17	Congleton, Sandbach A534
Sandbach services
Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Nantwich A500	J16	Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Nantwich A500
Keele services
Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme A500	J15	Stoke-on-Trent, Stone, Eccleshall A500 Derby (A50)
Stafford services
Stafford, Stone, Eccleshall A34	J14	Stafford (North) A34
Stafford A449	J13	Stafford (South) A449
Telford A5	J12	NORTH WALES, Cannock, Wolverhampton, Telford A5 (M54)
No exit	J11A	The SOUTH, Lichfield M6 Toll
Cannock A460	J11	Wolverhampton A460
Hilton Park services
NORTH WALES, Wolverhampton, Telford M54	J10A	No exit
Walsall, Wolverhampton A454	J10	Walsall A454
Wednesbury A461	J9	Wednesbury A461
The SOUTH WEST, Birmingham (West), West Bromwich M5	J8 (52.548°N 1.965°W / 52.548; -1.965 (J8))	The SOUTH WEST, Birmingham, West Bromwich M5
Birmingham (NW), Walsall A34	J7 (52.5530°N 1.9338°W / 52.5530; -1.9338 (J7))	Birmingham A34
Birmingham (Central & North) A38(M) Sutton Coldfield A5127	J6 Gravelly Hill Interchange (52.511°N 1.866°W / 52.511; -1.866 (J6))	Birmingham A38(M) & A38
Birmingham (NE), Castle Bromwich A452	J5 (52.5093°N 1.7888°W / 52.5093; -1.7888 (J5))	No exit westbound
No exit	J4A	The NORTH (M1) The SOUTH (M40) M42
Lichfield A446	J4	Coventry, Birmingham Airport, NEC A446
The SOUTH WEST, Birmingham (East & Airport), Solihull, NEC M42 (South)
The NORTH WEST, Lichfield M6 Toll (M42)	J3A	No exit
Corley services
Bedworth, Coventry, Nuneaton A444	J3	Bedworth, Coventry, Nuneaton A444
Coventry A46 Leicester M69 (M1)	J2	Coventry A46 Leicester M69
Rugby A426	J1	Rugby, Lutterworth A426
No exit	M1 J19 (52.4043°N 1.1776°W / 52.4043; -1.1776 (M1 J19))	Felixstowe, Corby, Kettering A14, M1 (North)
Start of motorway		London M1

Legislation

The M6 near Carnforth, 2005

Each motorway in England requires that a legal document called a Statutory Instrument 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.

• Statutory Instrument 1987 No. 252: County Council of West Midlands (M6 Motorway Junction 10) (Connecting Road) Scheme 1985 Confirmation Instrument 1987 S.I. 1987/252
• Statutory Instrument 1987 No. 2254: M6 Motorway (Catthorpe Interchange) Connecting Roads Scheme 1987 S.I. 1987/2254
• Statutory Instrument 1990 No. 2659: M6 Motorway: Widening between Junctions 20 and 21A (Thelwall Viaduct) and Connecting Roads Scheme 1990 S.I. 1990/2659
• Statutory Instrument 1991 No. 1873: M6 Motorway (Widening and Improvements Between Junctions 30 and 32) and Connecting Roads Scheme 1991 S.I. 1991/1873
• Statutory Instrument 1993 No. 1370: Lancashire County Council (Proposed Connecting Roads to M6 Motorway at Haighton) Special Roads Scheme 1992 Confirmation Instrument 1993 S.I. 1993/1370
• Statutory Instrument 1997 No. 1292: M6 Birmingham to Carlisle Motorway (At Haighton) Connecting Roads Scheme 1997 S.I. 1997/1292
• Statutory Instrument 1997 No. 1293: M6 Birmingham To Carlisle Motorway (at Haighton) Special Roads Scheme 1997 Transfer Order 1997 S.I. 1997/1293
• Statutory Instrument 1998 No. 125: The M6 Motorway (Saredon and Packington Diversions) Scheme 1998 S.I. 1998/125

See also

• List of motorways in the United Kingdom
• Category:M6 Motorway service stations

External links

• CBRD
  • Motorway database - M6
  • Histories - opening booklets, including M6 Preston Bypass
  • Bad Junctions
    • M6/A683
    • M6/M58
    • M6/A34
• Lancashire Historic Highways - a page supplied by Lancashire County Council detailing the history of the M6 in North West England, and the construction of Preston Bypass, the UK's first motorway.
• Route 6
• The Motorway Archive
  • Junctions 1 to 13
  • Junctions 13 to 16
  • Junctions 16 to 20
  • Junctions 20 to 29
  • Junctions 29 to 32
  • Junctions 33 to 35
  • Junctions 35 to 40
  • Junctions 40 to 41
  • Junctions 41 to 44

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