Britain's first motorwayIn 1958, Britain's first stretch of motorway, the 8 mile Preston bypass was officially opened by the Prime Minister, Harold MacMillan. The path of the by-pass was designed as part of a North-South Motorway, other lengths of which were under construction. The original bypass started in Walton-le-Dale at a roundabout on the Manchester-Preston Trunk Road a short distance south of the A49 junction, travelled by viaduct over the River Darwen and ended at a roundabout on the A6 a short distance south of Broughton. As a model for all other British motorways it drew such a very large number of visits of inspection by Engineering Institutions and Associations that the County Council appointed a panel of retired engineers to act as guides. |
