Preston By-pass: the first motorway in the UK

The paper outlines the history of motorways from the early part of the twentieth century, when the internal combustion engine revolutionised road transport. In the UK at that time, there was a great deal of interest in the possibility of constructing roads for use only by motor vehicles. However, due to the opposition of railway companies, no action was taken by successive governments, and Italy led the way by opening the first autostrada in 1924. During the 1930s, systems of motorways were developed in Germany and the USA. World War 2 prevented any positive action in the UK, but professional institutions and the Ministry of Transport continued planning UK transport needs for the post-war period. Lancashire County Council had concerns about congestion and the serious accident record of the A6/A49 north–south route through the county. James Drake, appointed County Surveyor and Bridgemaster in 1945, prepared a road plan with priority given to the building of a 62 mile (99 km) long motorway. In the period of financial restraint then prevailing, the project was to be carried forward by constructing a series of by-passes (with Preston By-pass as the first) that could be linked when finance became available. The scheme was included in the Minister's expanded road programme as an ‘experiment' for all future motorways. Construction began in 1956 and the motorway was opened in December 1958. The ‘experiment' was an undoubted success and many important lessons were learned.