During the 1930's the need for a fast road route across the Pennines had been the subject of much discussion between the highway authorities in Lancashire and Yorkshire. It was eventually agreed that it would be an extension of the East Lancashire Road, but little positive action was taken before the War, except for the reservation of land for the future construction of an all-purpose road, then known as the Yorkshire Branch Road.
Although the route was included in the 1949 Road Plan for Lancashire, it was not until 1961 that the Ministry of Transport invited the County Councils of Lancashire and the West Riding to survey and recommend a route for the motorway. Reconnaissance on foot was followed by an aerial survey of the whole area and extensive traffic surveys were carried out on both sides of the Pennines. Meteorological data was also examined to identify the alignment which would be least affected by fog, snow and high winds.
The M60 section of the Lancashire Yorkshire Motorway presented the design engineers with the task of finding a route through urban areas in the west and north of the Manchester conurbation with its residential property and old industrial workings, and a network of roads, railways, canals and rivers to be crossed.
A study of existing records showed that the geology of the section from Eccles to Milnrow lies on the fringe of the Lancashire plain. Almost the whole of this area is covered by a blanket of glacial deposits and several peat mosses. West of the River Irwell (junction 16), coal measures had been extensively worked and further subsidence seemed unlikely, but to the east of the river the coalfield was still being exploited. Significant subsidence could therefore be expected, both during construction of the motorway and after it was opened to traffic.
Traffic forecasts indicated that dual three-lane carriageways would be necessary. The widths of the strips of land which had been reserved since the 1930's in urban areas such as Prestwich were, therefore, quite inadequate and unfortunately more than one hundred houses had to be demolished and the residents rehoused.
Prior to the formation of the Road Construction Unit, all the contracts for the construction of the motorway were awarded by the County Council. These included several advance works contracts, the first of which began in March 1966.
The principal aim was the building of bridges at key locations in order to provide access for construction traffic along the line of motorway, thereby avoiding the use of existing roads, particularly in the urban areas.
The East Lancashire Road A580 was lowered up to a maximum depth of 50 feet and involved the driving of a 54 inch diameter segmented tunnel outfall 310 yards in length to provide drainage. This work was necessary in order to allow for the construction of Wardley Hall Bridge carrying the motorway over the A580 at the optimum vertical profile. A major structure of eight 120 feet long spans, it was designed to cope with the possibility of future settlement arising from the existence of old mine workings in close proximity to the site.
The bridge over the River Irwell has a single skew span of 200 feet. Ground conditions revealed the existence of an active geological fault - The Pendleton Fault - and underlying shallow coal measures. Although it was founded on rock and it was not anticipated that there would be any major problems, old tunnels were encountered. These had been dug by Brindley to dewater early collieries which had functioned at the turn of the 18th century. Steel box girders supporting a reinforced concrete slab provided a stiff lightweight deck capable of speedy and safe erection and be able to withstand the predicted ground movements.
Besses on the Barn interchangeIn May 1968 work began on a series of main contracts. They were all awarded by the Road Construction Unit, with the exception of that for the section between Worsley Court House and the A580. As a 1 mile extension of the Stretford-Eccles By-pass, the scheme was undertaken by the County Council and financed with a 100% grant from the Ministry as a potential trunk road motorway.
Two bridges, designed by British Rail, carried railways over the motorway the largest being at Besses o' the' Barn. This bridge forms the upper level of a three-level crossing comprising a railway, an all-purpose road and the motorway. The Manchester-Bury two-track railway line is carried at a considerable skew on a three-span prestressed concrete structure and is articulated to cater for anticipated severe subsidence due to coal mining.
The Trunk Roads Act of 1936 had transferred to the Minister the responsibility for the major national routes. With a few exceptions, none of the roads within the County Boroughs was given trunk road status.
The original concept of a ring road around the Manchester conurbation was, therefore, considered, by the Ministry, to be the responsibility of the local authorities. Later, however, it was accepted that the proposed Outer Ring Road would have trunk road status, with the Stretford-Eccles By-pass; this section of the M62 between Eccles and the Simister Interchange; and the Middleton Link; as its first elements.
M62 Eccles to County Boundary
Statistics and options
| First of several contracts started | May 1968 |
| M62. Inaugurated by HM the Queen | October 1971 |
