Description:This view of an early stage of the M6 construction looks north-west towards the twin towers of Stafford Castle, just visible in the distance. The houses on the right are on Southfields Road and Southfields Close, near to Burton Bank Lane, Stafford.
Initially regarded as the Birmingham to Preston M6 motorway, this new major road project soon became known as the M6 motorway, which was built in separate stages between 1958 and 1971.
The first section completed was the Preston Bypass in 1958, followed by the Lancaster Bypass in 1960. The Stafford Bypass was opened on 2 August 1962, by Ernest Marples, the Minister of Transport. By 1963 the Warrington to Preston section had opened, along with a 33 mile section between Hanchurch, Staffordshire and Lymm in Cheshire which completed an 87 mile length between Dunston, Staffordshire and Preston. By 1965 the main links between Stafford and Lancaster were finished. During 1966 to 1968 mid-section links with Junctions 11 to 13 Walsall to Stafford opened, along with the Penrith Bypass in 1968. In 1970 the Lancaster to Penrith link and northern extensions to Carlisle were completed. In 1971 the final section was Penrith to Carlisle completing the full route from Rugby to the Scottish border, approximately 230 miles, making it the longest motorway in the United Kingdom.