M65 motorway

Looking east along the newest section

The M65 is a motorway in Lancashire, running from just south of Preston through the major junction of the M6 and M61 motorways, east past Darwen, Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley, Nelson and ending 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 extension was the scene of a standoff between construction security workers and protesters.

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 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.

Features

Unusual spur road

When the M65 was extended, a slip road was built at Walton Summit, south-east 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 yards 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'. It is unclear whether this road forms part of the M61, M65, or neither.

Between junctions 7 & 8

Junctions

M65 motorway
mile	Eastbound exits	Junction	Westbound exits
25.8	Skipton, Keighley, Nelson, Colne A6068	J14 Terminus	Start of motorway
24.4	Nelson, Kendal A682	J13	Nelson A682
23.3	Nelson, Brierfield A682	J12	Brierfield A682
21.0	No access	J11	Burnley, Nelson (A679, A682) B6434
19.9	Burnley (Central), Padiham A671	J10	Burnley (Central), Padiham A671
18.5	Burnley (West) A679	J9	No access
17.3	Bury, Manchester A56 Clitheroe A6068	J8	Bury, Manchester A56 Clitheroe A6068
14.5	Accrington, Clitheroe A6185	J7	Accrington A6185
12.4	Blackburn (North & East) A678	J6	Blackburn (North & East) A678
10.1	B6232, Shadsworth A6077	J5	B6232, Shadsworth A6077
8.5	Blackburn (South), Bolton, Darwen A666, Blackburn with Darwen services	J4 Services	Blackburn (South), Bolton, Darwen A666, Blackburn with Darwen services
4.9	Blackburn (West) A674 Bolton A675	J3	Blackburn (West) A674
2.2	Manchester, The North West, Lancaster M61	J2	Manchester, The North West, Lancaster M61
0.7	The South, Birmingham, The North West, Lancaster M6	J1	The South, Birmingham, The North West, Lancaster M6
0.6	Start of motorway	J1a Terminus	Preston, Bamber Bridge A6

Outside links

• CBRD Motorway Database – M65
• Highways Agency
• Lancashire County Council
• Pathetic Motorways – Walton Summit
• The Motorway Archive – M65
• Amateur documentary of commencement ceremony and early works at Brierfield 1976 YouTube (Pendle Movie Makers)