Rode my Norton Dominator down there soon after it opened. No helmet in those days but a pair of Stadium Mk 8 goggles kept the bugs out. The speedo showed 90mph but I think that it was optimistic and that was on the downhill stretch.
The 1958 memorial has been moved at least once. I remember it being in the triangle of grass inbetween the exit and entry slips on the Northbound carriageway. Due to the widening, very little is left of the original motorway and it even runs off the original alignment at J31 A. It was totally changed in the 90’s with 2 additional bridges built at J31 alongside the main bridge being rebuilt and widened. Brindle road bridge is the only original structure left untouched as the widening was between J30 & J32 and it is between J29 & J30.
My dad helped build the Preston bypass and he was always proud of telling people that he was one of the first people to drive down it before it was open to the public .
That takes me back. I was around 11 years old and living in Preston so I remember it well. And naturally, having a drive along the new road with your Dad was the thing to do back then, and we thought it was thrilling haha! Not long after they bypassed Lancaster to the north as well, so that was another bit of motorway to explore. Nowadays, you'd never know it all started out like that. Keep up the good work!
The Romans would be amazed to see how roads have advanced so much from the days of cobble. Darren, another enjoyable watch. So much history so little time........
Nice one Darren! Great to see the plaques. Construction of major roads doesn't seem such a big deal today but at the time, it was pioneering work, and people were not at all sure it was a good idea. Glad it happened or it would still be a slow ordeal to drive anywhere, city to city. Cheers!
The M6 motorway is a very long Motorway that starts from where it meets with the M1 and where the A14 starts and ends near Rugby. Plus the M6 Toll that was built as a toll motorway to avoid Birmingham and the Spaghetti Junction (A38(M) Aston Expressway). The M6 Motorway is a vital link linking between the West Midlands and Northwest England and connects with the A74(M) just north of Carlisle. Where England and Scotland meets near Gretna. And some people say that the M6 Motorway should have continued all the way to Glasgow.
Just off the motorway junction with the M55 is the Broughton ambulance workshop and control centre. I’ve worked there and it is a really interesting place. They are a friendly bunch so maybe a good place for a future video?
You could’ve carried on down to junction 28 and popped in for a brew at mine Darren. The roundabout where the M55 starts is called the “Broughton roundabout”. The tickled trout section is because there’s a hotel called “The tickled trout” just next to the BP garage opposite the motorway police headquarters. There’s an industrial area straight off the motorway at J29 called Walton summit. This was a great episode, arras so local to me 👍🏼👍🏼
Great vlog. Dad took us on the Preston Bypass in our Morris Oxford (or was it the Singer Gazelle?) shortly after opening. Before building the bypass Lancashire County Council experimented with various types of dual carriageway on the the A59 between Hutton and Tarleton. There were three sections od carriageway with different road surfaces, roadside verges and different types of central reservations (fences, hedges etc.).
Das hat dir doch wieder viel Arbeit gemacht. Schön zu sehen wie sich Autobahnen entwickeln. Hach und die Fastfood Werbung war der Hit 🎉. Dein Kanal ist super 👍🏻 Thank you ❣️👍🏻. Darren
Another great vid .... today we take the M6 for granted, forgetting it's humble origins. Thanks for the time and effort you put into all your vids, I'm a great fan of your varied output. Much appreciated.
Great vid Darren, and wow you got a sunny day in Preston :) I grew up not far from the M6 and as a child would stand on the bridge trying to get the trucks to sound their horns :) My grandfather, who I never met as even my mum was only 7 at the time, died whilst constructing it. I believe he was one of many who lost their lives in accidents during the construction phase of the motorway. Nice to see you doing a video from my neck of the woods
1:50 You learn something new every day, thanks Darren. Gravel trap runoffs, now there's an idea! So if you were bombing along and your car went for a Burton, if it pulled left you were heading for a certain and sudden full stop. Whereas to the right you were set for a quick bit of off road, on road, test your skills and try your luck with Dodgems on steroids oncoming traffic avoidance and then the sudden halt in a spray of gravel. Brill! No fun nowadays.
Great video I agree auto shenanigans have done a great video on the Preston by pass . He found the only original structure from the bypass an over bridge at Bamber bridge park.
I once wondered why on Earth would you choose a bypass for Preston as the place to build the country's first motorway. Then I went to Preston. It all made sense.
because no one like governments realistically plan for any future as it doesn't win votes..... but then again why build a toll motorway that bypasses the problem but charge unreasonable prices for people to use it..... oh yes pension profits top up ! population not getting younger !
Was hoping for some of your then/now fades in that, but still enjoyed watching it. My dad used to talk about doing over 100mph on it before speed limits came in, though I'm not convinced he didn't get the year wrong that the 70mph limit was introduced.
I have been on the M6 Motorway and I thought that it continues all the way to Glasgow, Scotland but it ends just north of Carlisle where it becomes the A74(M) (formerly A74). And I never been to Preston before but I would like to there. I have stopped off at Stafford. There were plans for the M7 Motorway to be built from Carlisle to Edinburgh but there isn’t no M7 except the A7 provides a good link from Carlisle to Edinburgh.
Nice one mate, the road geek in me enjoyed that 😂 The Tickled Trout junction is also the first grade separated motorway interchange. There’s actually another original feature, it’s the bridge at 9:17 after the M61 turn. It still lacks a hard shoulder through there. Interestingly the 1990s widening was chosen in favour of a planned Preston Box which would have seen M65 extended west to meet an unbuilt M59. Hope you do some more of these in the future and I’m glad you shouted out Auto Shenanigans, love his channel too
You got there before me, I was going to say that Brindle Rd bridge is the last original structure left from 1958. I love Jon’s videos but he actually got it wrong on his M55 video as he said the Bridge over the A6 was originally from 1958 and it wasn’t as it was the terminal roundabout, the bridge was built as part of the M55, not the Preston bypass.
The Preston bypass was built when speed limits never existed so when people end up hurtling up it in sports cars that’s why they had to introduce a 70 mph speed limit 😂.
Mate, I doubt There are many "bypass spotters" eagerly waiting for this video to come out... get back on the train and old building stuff, There are tonnes of really interesting historic buildings and sites up North but to do videos on surely. Why don't you have a look at matlock in the peak district, the cable car and caves would cover both adventure, fun and history
@@AdventureMe happy to be proved wrong if thats where you think your channel needs to go, its not really grown much recently, i've been with you a long time. I guess trying new things doesnt hurt but I still think roads are niche unless they are abandoned or have a really interesting history.
@@McKluskie I'll be back on the other stuff soon. Just been really busy in my personal life and not much opportunity for certain things. Just taking what comes my way at the minute.
