Photos of Old Motorways and Roads

Another badly protected bridge support on the A46 Fosse Way at Upper Broughton.

The graceful interchange on the M6 at Tebay, taken shortly after it opened.

The award-winning section of the M6 through Lune Gorge.

The A27 at Farlington in 1970. It was built as an average dual carriageway but with space for the M27 to replace it.

Work starts on building the new flyover for the A27 over Farlington Roundabout. That sign says: "London (A3), Portsmouth, I. of W. Ferries, Fareham, Southampton, A27, Cosham, Hilsea".

Note that London is pointing the 'wrong' way because the A3(M) hadn't been built yet, so instead you had to take the route through Cosham.

Further east, approaching Sussex Pad. The sign says: "Southwick, Portslade, Hove, Brighton, A27; Shoreham, Steyning, Horsham, (A283)". This is probably a temporary sign as the new Shoreham Bypass was open at the time, but the new exit for the A283 was still closed. Contractor's signs relating to the construction of the Adur Bridge are just visible behind it.

The Mill Hill bridge on the Shoreham Bypass. The road was built with two lanes with space for a third on the left.

The sign at the end of the Shoreham Bypass.

Signage for M61 J5, pictured in 1970.

Heading north along the M5 in 1970, approaching the M6 junction, with work still to be done.

Another sign for Ray Hall Interchange.

The split at Ray Hall.

The flyovers at the M5 end of the M6 interchange, looking shiny and white.

The notorious merge between the M5 and M6 northbound, before it opened.

The M6 flyover at Ray Hall can be seen in the distance, with work still to be done on the slip road.

Looking south-east as the M6 flies over the M5. The brand new concrete looks rather majestic, with no hint as to how infamous this junction would become.

Looking back down the M5 from the M6.

M6 J9 at Wednesbury, shortly before it opened.

From the same gallery, this is the A452 passing under Chester Road station. It was used as an example of a road that has benefitted from the M6.

The unusual roundabout at M6 J7 Great Barr, where two of the slip roads (visible in the centre of the picture) run through the middle of the junction. Gantries and unusual roundabout signs try to explain the situation.

The sign for M6 J9 in 1971. To the right 'London' has been covered up as the M6 isn't finished. For the road it says 'M5', as that end of the M6 led straight onto the M5.

A sign east of M6 J4 explains Britain's first motorway crawler lane. The lane, opened in 1971, would allow lorries which struggle to climb the hill to keep out of the way.

An empty M6 between J3 and J4, shortly after opening. It's difficult to appreciate how important the crawler lane would become.

Near the top of the crawler lane, "slow vehs" is painted on the road, and signs in the distance warn that the lane is about to end - it ends somewhat abruptly.

Travelling west towards M6 J4 in 1972, an advance warning was given that the road ends at J5, giving through traffic lots of opportunity to take the A446 and A5 up to the completed Staffordshire part of the M6.

Closer to the junction, another sign tries to get through traffic off the road.

Even the gantry sign has a temporary layout to warn people that the rest of the M6 is for Castle Bromwich only.

Finally, the gantry at M6 J5 advises that the motorway ends in 1 mile, and all traffic must take the exit.

A few months later, this is looking up the exit road at M6 J5.

The old-style 'end of motorway' sign at M6 J5.

The first gantry for J6 Gravelly Hill / Spaghetti Junction, before the diamond markings were used, offering a range of Birminghams.

On the M1 southbound at J20 in 1972. All of the signs have had "(M6) north" crudely added to them following the opening of the M6 at J19, with the M69 not yet built. The A427 is now the A4304.

An old-style chevron sign at the diverge.

Approaching the M1 at J23 northbound, with the old, mounted light fittings and thicker road map.

The fork sign for the M1 at J28, when little information was provided on the 1 mile signs. The A615 is now the A38 at this junction.

The exit from the M1 northbound at J29, in 1971. On the right is a gap in the new central barrier, as was common at the time.

Flag signs on the M1 at J20, again covered up following the recent road changes.

Flag signs on the M1 at J29.