Existed: 1981 – present West end: Farington Constructed 1981 Connects to M6 motorway | History: Constructed 1981–97 Length 41.5 km | |
 | ||
The M65 is a motorway in Lancashire, England. It runs from just south of Preston through the major junction of the M6 and M61 motorways, east past Darwen, Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley, Nelson and ends at Colne.
Contents
- Map of M65 Burnley BB12 UK
- History
- Unusual spur road
- Management of junctions 1014
- Legislation
- Junctions
- References
Map of M65, Burnley BB12, UK
History
The M65 was opened in the following sections:
The first section of the motorway was opened in 1981, connecting Burnley to Brierfield. Over the years, several extensions were made, the largest being the link from Whitebirk to the M6 and M61 motorways in 1997. This extension was the scene of a standoff between construction security workers and protesters (often known as 'eco-warriors').
Junctions 1a to 6 were opened 18 December 1997 by Jack Straw, Home Secretary and Member of Parliament for Blackburn. The opening ceremony took place on the westbound carriageway beneath junction 5 at Guide with a heavy police presence as protesters threatened to bring a halt to the proceedings.
Much of the 1997 extension was relaid shortly after it opened with a new, quieter tarmac because the amount of road noise had been so great that it prevented birds of prey (mainly owls) from foraging effectively.
Originally, the M65 was planned to go via the town centre of Blackburn, but opposition by the local council effectively killed this plan off, which was cancelled by the Thatcher government in 1980 until the 1990s. There were six planned routes, four of which avoided the town centre completely. In the end, the only route to go around the south of the town was selected.
Unusual spur road
When the M65 was extended, a slip road was built at Walton Summit, southeast of Preston, from the roundabout linking junction 9 of the M61 with junction 2 of the M65 to the Walton Summit industrial estate. It is a single-carriageway road, with two lanes towards the junction (uphill) and one away (downhill). It is around 500 m long and replaced an A-road spur of the A6 that was built in the 1980s.
According to the statutory instrument that authorised its construction, the road is officially classified as a 'special link road to connect the [M65/M61 roundabout] with the all-purpose road known as Tramway Lane'. According to Lancashire County Council, it is the 'M61 Link Tramway Lane to Junction 9' and is part of the M61. In 2007, the approach signs from Walton Summit were modified to read 'M61', but the signs still mark the roundabout at the eastern end.
Management of junctions 10–14
The Highways Agency is responsible only for the 32.4 km section from junction 1a at Farington to junction 10 at Burnley.
The 9.2 km section from junction 10, Burnley, to the M65's eastern terminus at junction 14, Colne, is operated and maintained by Lancashire County Council.
Legislation
Each motorway in England requires that 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 M65.
Junctions
Data from driver location signs are used to provide distance information.