Photos of Old Motorways and Roads
This gallery is slightly different in that they are stills from old Public Information Films, but they offer an excellent idea of what some of our major roads looked like not long after they opened.
A shot of the M1 as it appeared in 1959; one of the best-built motorways that there would be for some time, but still showing scant regard for safety.
A staple of older motorway junctions was this stacked sign, with proof that the M45 used to be the route to Birmingham.
The A1(M) at Stevenage, with a yellow sign from the RAC announcing the road is open and some old-style start of motorway signs.
Looking south at M5 J8 in 1964. The large, chequered sign (probably covering up a normal sign?) tells traffic that this is temporarily the end of the motorway.
Looking west (down the M50) from the same spot, and it's clear that the junction still isn't finished.
The start of Northern Ireland's M1 in Belfast, pictured a few years after opening with a sign pointing towards Dungannon. As was common with government policy at the time, Dublin is ignored. They also opted to use national speed limit signs.
The newly-opened M1, somewhere between Belfast and Lisburn. As with the English motorways, there is no central barrier.
A bus taking the exit at M1 J7 in 1963. The old-style road sign in the background offers directions to Lisburn and Newry, and again Dublin is ignored.
The newly-built Sprucefield Interchange, with the southbound exit having to give way (with pre-Worboys signage) to the northbound exit that was eventually removed.
Looking across the roundabout at Sprucefield, with the new M1 flyover in the background. The entry slip on the far left has since been removed.
There is still work to be done on the northbound slip roads at Sprucefield. An old-style motorway sign can be seen, too. The off-slip on the right has since been removed.
The A2 at Park Pale/Three Crutches, with a "Motorway 200 yds ahead" gantry. This has now been replaced by a much wider road.
Further down the M6 in Staffordshire, looking slightly more bedded-in, but still seeming strange without its central barrier.
The A40 meeting the B4009 in 1965, with some dark road signs. The B4009 was later diverted to meet the M40 at Lewknor, but the pub (the Lambert Arms) is still there today.
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