M65 motorway

UK motorway routebox
motorway= M65
length-mi= 30
length-km= 48
direction= West - East
start= Farington
destinations= Preston
Blackburn
Burnley
end= Colne
opening-date= 1981
completion-date= 1997
junctions= 1 -

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 Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley, to end at Colne.

History

The M65 was opened in the following sections:

*Junctions 1a to 6 in 1997
*Junctions 6 to 7 in 1984
*Junctions 7 to 10 in 1983
*Junctions 10 to 12 in 1981
*Junctions 12 to 13 in 1983
*Junctions 13 to 14 in 1988

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 particular extension was the scene of a lengthy stand-off between construction workers and police, versus protestors 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.

A large section of the 1997 extension was relaid a short while after opening. The amount of road noise was so great that it prevented birds of prey (mainly owls) from foraging effectively. A new, quieter tarmac was then laid.

Originally, the M65 was planned to go via the town centre of Blackburn, but local council opposition effectively killed this plan off. It was cancelled by the Thatcher government in 1980, and not re-entered into the roads programme 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.

Walton Summit motorway

The Walton Summit motorway is an unofficial name given to a slip road connecting the roundabout linking Junction 9 of the M61 and Junction 2 of the M65, to the south-east of Preston. It is a single carriageway road, with two lanes towards the junction (uphill), and one away (downhill). It is around 500 m long.

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'. [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1991/Uksi_19910722_en_3.htm] . However, the road has no other named designation to state whether it is a part of the M61 or M65. In 2007, the approach signs from Walton Summit itself were all modified to read 'M61', although the actual roundabout at the eastern end is still marked as 'M65' on signs.

There are many roads in the United Kingdom that are classified and numbered by local authorities, but not mentioned on street signs or maps. All sides agree that the name "Walton Summit" is not an official name of the road, but it does not appear to have been given an official Motorway or A-road number. The road replaced an A-road spur of the A6 which was built in the 1980s, due to the M65 being built on top of the original spur.

Operators

The M65 is one of the few motorways in England that is not operated and maintained exclusively by the Highways Agency (the British Government body responsible for the motorways and main trunk roads in England).

The Highways Agency is only responsible for the section from Junction 1a at Farington to Junction 10 at Burnley.

The 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.

* Statutory Instrument 1991 No. 722: The M65 Motorway (Bamber Bridge to Whitebirk Section, Blackburn Southern Bypass) and Connecting Roads Scheme 1991. [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1991/Uksi_19910722_en_1.htm S.I. 1991/722]
* Statutory Instrument 1992 No. 2651: The M65 Motorway (Bamber Bridge to Whitebirk Section, Blackburn Southern Bypass) and Connecting Roads Scheme 1991 Variation Scheme 1992. [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1992/Uksi_19922651_en_1.htm S.I. 1992/2651]

Junctions

ee also

*List of motorways in the United Kingdom
* Mancunian Way, another motorway with a secret number

External links

* [http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/m65/ CBRD Motorway Database - M65]
* [http://www.highways.gov.uk/ Highways Agency]
* [http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/home/index.asp Lancashire County Council]
* [http://pathetic.org.uk/motorways/waltonsummit.shtml Pathetic Motorways - Walton Summit]
* [http://www.iht.org/motorway/m65master.htm The Motorway Archive - M65]