M6 motorway

M6
M6
	Gravelly Hill Interchange, best known as Spaghetti Junction, in Birmingham
Route information
	Part of , , and
	Maintained by Highways England
Length	232.2 mi (373.7 km)
Existed	1958–present
History	Opened: 1958; Completed: 2008
Major junctions
South end	Catthorpe ; 52°24′02″N 1°10′31″W / 52.400442°N 1.175215°W
	; M1 motorway; ; J2 → M69 motorway; ; J3a → M6 Toll; ; J4 → M42 motorway; ; J4a → M42 motorway; ; J6 → A38(M) motorway; ; J8 → M5 motorway; ; J10a → M54 motorway; ; J11a → M6 Toll; ; J20 → M56 motorway; ; J21a → M62 motorway; ; J26 → M58 motorway; ; J29 → M65 motorway; ; J30 → M61 motorway; ; J32 → M55 motorway; ; J35 → A601(M) motorway; ; J45 → A74(M) motorway
North end	Gretna ; 54°59′48″N 3°03′19″W / 54.996672°N 3.055336°W
Location
Country	United Kingdom
Counties	Leicestershire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria
Primary; destinations	Rugby; Coventry; Birmingham; Walsall; Wolverhampton; Cannock; Stafford; Stoke-on-Trent; Newcastle-under-Lyme; Crewe; Warrington; Wigan; Preston; Lancaster; Kendal; Penrith; Carlisle
Road network
	Roads in the United Kingdom; Motorways; A and B road zones;

The M6 is the longest motorway in the United Kingdom. It is also one of the busiest motorways in the country.^[1] It is often referred to as "The Backbone of Britain". The M6 is part of the unsigned E-road E24 from the M1 to the M6 Toll near Birmingham. The E5 joins the M6 Toll from the M42 and then uses the M6 to its north end at Carlisle. Then it continues to become the M74. The motorway is 230 miles (370km) long. This is 37 miles longer than the M1 motorway.

History and curiosities

The first section of the motorway was the Preston by-pass, opened on 5 December 1958. It was built by a company called Tarmac Construction. It was the first motorway in the United Kingdom. It was opened by Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. The motorway was later extended in both directions.

Junction 6 in Birmingham has the name Spaghetti Junction. This is because it looks very complex from the sky.

On the high ground between Shap and Tebay, the north and south-bound carriages split apart. Strangely, at this point a local road runs between the two carriageways without a link to the motorway.

The section of the M6 which runs over Shap Fell in Cumbria is 1050 ft (320 m) above sea level. This is one of the highest points on any motorway in the UK. The West Coast Main Line railway follows the same course. It runs alongside the M6 for much of its length.

Route

The motorway starts at the M1 in Rugby. It passes through Birmingham and Spaghetti Junction. The motorway continues to the north, passing Liverpool and Manchester. It goes around Preston and up to Lancaster. It then follows through a valley past the Lake District and Penrith. It finishes at Carlisle.

Cumberland Gap

At the end of the M6 motorway at Carlisle, there is a 6-mile stretch of the A74 which links England to Scotland. This is called the Cumberland Gap. This was caused by an argument between the British Parliament and the Scottish Parliament, which left neither the M6 or the A74(M) being built. After a lot of controversy, building started on the remaining six miles. When it is completed, there will be a complete motorway going from London to Glasgow.^[2]

M6 Toll

The M6 Toll is a toll road which was opened in 2003. It starts at Junction 11A and runs around Birmingham to Junction 3A. It is the first toll road to be built in the United Kingdom. It was opened on 9 December 2003. It is reported to save 45 minutes from the average journey.^[3]

Junctions

M6 motorway junctions
mile	km	Northbound exits (A carriageway)	Junction	Southbound exits (B carriageway)	Coordinates
		Motorway continues as A74(M) on Scottish Border before becoming M74 and then joining M8 and M77)* in Glasgow, Scotland*		Start of motorway	54°59′48″N 3°03′19″W / 54.996672°N 3.055336°W / 54.996672; -3.055336 (M6, northern terminus)
313.2	504.3	Gretna B7076, Longtown A6071	J45	No access (on-slip only)	54°59′35″N 3°02′54″W / 54.992979°N 3.048234°W / 54.992979; -3.048234 (M6, J45)
		River Esk			54°58′29″N 3°00′33″W / 54.974768°N 3.009213°W / 54.974768; -3.009213 (M6, River Esk)
309.6 309.2	498.2 497.5	Todhills Rest Area	Services	Todhills Rest Area	54°57′06″N 2°58′47″W / 54.951585°N 2.979612°W / 54.951585; -2.979612 (M6, Todhills Rest Area)
307.6 307.3	495.1 494.6	Carlisle (North), Galashiels A7	J44	Carlisle A7, Workington A689	54°55′48″N 2°56′47″W / 54.930138°N 2.946332°W / 54.930138; -2.946332 (M6, J44)
		River Eden			54°54′34″N 2°53′43″W / 54.909346°N 2.895290°W / 54.909346; -2.895290 (M6, River Eden)
303.8 303.5	488.9 488.4	Carlisle, Hexham, Newcastle A69	J43	Carlisle, Hexham, Newcastle A69	54°53′43″N 2°53′13″W / 54.895293°N 2.886851°W / 54.895293; -2.886851 (M6, J43)
301.1 300.7	484.6 484.0	Carlisle (South) A6	J42	Carlisle A6	54°51′27″N 2°52′42″W / 54.85759°N 2.878375°W / 54.85759; -2.878375 (M6, J42)
		Southwaite services	Services	Southwaite services	54°47′57″N 2°52′16″W / 54.799077°N 2.871079°W / 54.799077; -2.871079 (M6, Southwaite Services)
288.7 288.4	464.6 464.1	Wigton B5305	J41	Wigton B5305	54°41′36″N 2°47′30″W / 54.69343°N 2.791729°W / 54.69343; -2.791729 (M6, J41)
285.5 285.2	459.5 459.0	Penrith, Workington, Brough A66	J40	Penrith, Keswick, Brough A66	54°39′11″N 2°45′37″W / 54.653056°N 2.760186°W / 54.653056; -2.760186 (M6, J40)
274.4 274.0	441.6 441.0	Shap (A6)	J39	Shap, Kendal (A6)	54°30′30″N 2°38′59″W / 54.508252°N 2.649765°W / 54.508252; -2.649765 (M6, J39)
		Tebay services	Services	Tebay services	54°27′05″N 2°36′29″W / 54.451304°N 2.608008°W / 54.451304; -2.608008 (M6, Tebay Services)
		River Lune			54°26′28″N 2°35′43″W / 54.44115°N 2.59518°W / 54.44115; -2.59518 (M6, River Lune)
268.9 268.5	432.7 432.1	Brough A685, Appleby B6260	J38	Kendal, Brough A685	54°26′12″N 2°35′49″W / 54.436805°N 2.596893°W / 54.436805; -2.596893 (M6, J38)
260.3 260.0	418.9 418.4	Kendal, Sedbergh A684	J37	Kendal, Sedbergh A684	54°19′51″N 2°37′22″W / 54.330965°N 2.622857°W / 54.330965; -2.622857 (M6, J37)
		No access	Services	Killington Lake services	54°18′54″N 2°38′21″W / 54.315046°N 2.639122°W / 54.315046; -2.639122 (M6, Killington Lake Services)
252.7 252.3	406.7 406.0	Barrow, Kendal A590 (A591), Kirkby Lonsdale A65	J36	Skipton, Kirkby Lonsdale A65, Barrow A590	54°14′11″N 2°43′00″W / 54.236365°N 2.716541°W / 54.236365; -2.716541 (M6, J36)
		Burton-in-Kendal services	Services	No access	54°10′41″N 2°44′02″W / 54.178185°N 2.733879°W / 54.178185; -2.733879 (M6, Burton-in-Kendal Services)
		Entering Cumbria		Entering Lancashire	54°10′12″N 2°44′15″W / 54.17005°N 2.73748°W / 54.17005; -2.73748
245.1 244.6	394.4 393.6	Carnforth, Morecambe A601(M) (A6)	J35	Carnforth, Morecambe A601(M) (A6)	54°07′43″N 2°44′59″W / 54.128700°N 2.749758°W / 54.128700; -2.749758 (M6, J35)
240.8 240.6	387.6 387.2	Kirkby Lonsdale, Heysham, Morecambe, Heysham A683, Lancaster A589	J34	Lancaster, Morecambe, Heysham A683	54°04′18″N 2°46′16″W / 54.071578°N 2.771087°W / 54.071578; -2.771087 (M6, J34)
234.6 234.3	377.6 377.1	Lancaster (South) A6	J33	Garstang, Fleetwood A6	53°58′57″N 2°46′51″W / 53.982516°N 2.780743°W / 53.982516; -2.780743 (M6, J33)
		Lancaster (Forton) services	Services	Lancaster (Forton) services	53°57′44″N 2°45′37″W / 53.962095°N 2.760229°W / 53.962095; -2.760229 (M6, Lancaster (Forton) Services)
		River Wyre			53°57′14″N 2°45′05″W / 53.95391°N 2.75135°W / 53.95391; -2.75135 (M6, River Wyre)
221.5 221.0	356.5 355.7	Blackpool, Fleetwood M55 Preston (N) (A6)	J32	Blackpool, Preston (N) (A6) M55	53°48′24″N 2°41′52″W / 53.806759°N 2.697787°W / 53.806759; -2.697787 (M6, J32)
219.5 219.3	353.2 352.9	Preston (E), Longridge B6242	J31A	No access (on-slip only)	53°47′20″N 2°39′30″W / 53.788940°N 2.658262°W / 53.788940; -2.658262 (M6, J31A)
		River Ribble	J31	Preston, Clitheroe A59	53°45′54″N 2°38′09″W / 53.764949°N 2.635903°W / 53.764949; -2.635903 (M6, J31)
		Preston (C), Blackburn (N), Clitheroe A59	J31	River Ribble
215.4 214.9	346.6 345.9	No access (on-slip only)	J30	Manchester, Bolton M61, Leeds (M62), Blackburn (M65)	53°44′04″N 2°38′52″W / 53.734320°N 2.647705°W / 53.734320; -2.647705 (M6, J30)
213.9 213.5	344.3 343.6	Burnley, Blackburn, Preston (S) M65	J29	Burnley, Blackburn M65	53°42′58″N 2°39′39″W / 53.716190°N 2.660751°W / 53.716190; -2.660751 (M6, J29)
212.3 211.9	341.6 341.0	Leyland B5256 (A49)	J28	Leyland B5256	53°41′45″N 2°40′39″W / 53.695893°N 2.677574°W / 53.695893; -2.677574 (M6, J28)
		Charnock Richard services	Services	Charnock Richard services	53°37′54″N 2°41′27″W / 53.631534°N 2.690835°W / 53.631534; -2.690835 (M6, Charnock Richard Services)
204.8	329.6	Entering Lancashire	J27	Wigan, Parbold A5209	53°35′23″N 2°41′40″W / 53.589728°N 2.694440°W / 53.589728; -2.694440 (M6, J27)
204.4	329.0	Parbold, Standish, Chorley A5209	J27	Entering Greater Manchester
		Gathurst Viaduct			53°33′42″N 2°42′03″W / 53.5617°N 2.7009°W / 53.5617; -2.7009 (M6, Gathurst Viaduct)
200.8 200.5	323.1 322.6	Skelmersdale, Liverpool, Southport M58	J26	Skelmersdale, Liverpool, Southport M58	53°32′03″N 2°41′53″W / 53.534110°N 2.698045°W / 53.534110; -2.698045 (M6, J26)
198.0 197.8	318.7 318.3	Wigan A49	J25	No access (on-slip only)	53°30′07″N 2°39′35″W / 53.501806°N 2.659678°W / 53.501806; -2.659678 (M6, J25)
196.9 196.5	316.9 316.3	No access (on-slip only)	J24	St Helens, Ashton A58	53°29′12″N 2°39′10″W / 53.486718°N 2.652898°W / 53.486718; -2.652898 (M6, J24)
		Entering Greater Manchester		Entering Merseyside	53°28′49″N 2°38′38″W / 53.4802°N 2.64398°W / 53.4802; -2.64398
195.6 195.2	314.8 314.1	St Helens, Liverpool, Southport A580	J23	Manchester, Liverpool, Newton A580	53°28′17″N 2°38′01″W / 53.471292°N 2.633629°W / 53.471292; -2.633629 (M6, J23)
192.4	309.6	Entering Merseyside	J22	Warrington (North) A49	53°26′24″N 2°35′03″W / 53.440116°N 2.584105°W / 53.440116; -2.584105 (M6, J22)
192.1	309.1	Newton A49, Leigh A579	J22	Entering Cheshire
191.0 190.5	307.4 306.5	Leeds, Bolton, Manchester (N) M62	J21A	Manchester, Bolton, Leeds M62	53°25′33″N 2°33′21″W / 53.425926°N 2.555909°W / 53.425926; -2.555909 (M6, J21A)
191.0 190.5	307.4 306.5	Liverpool, Warrington (N), Southport (M57) M62	J21A	Liverpool M62
188.3 188.0	303.0 302.5	Warrington (Ctr & East), Irlam A57	J21	Warrington (Central), Irlam A57	53°23′52″N 2°30′36″W / 53.397814°N 2.509947°W / 53.397814; -2.509947 (M6, J21)
		Thelwall Viaduct			53°23′23″N 2°30′21″W / 53.389753°N 2.505784°W / 53.389753; -2.505784 (M6, Thelwall Viaduct)
185.6	298.7	NORTH WALES, Chester, Runcorn M56 Warrington (South), Lymm A50 Lymm Truck Stop	J20 Services	Macclesfield, Warrington (S) A50, Lymm B5158 Lymm Truck Stop	53°21′37″N 2°30′33″W / 53.360413°N 2.509089°W / 53.360413; -2.509089 (M6, J20)
185.3 184.5	298.2 296.9		J20 Services	NORTH WALES, Chester, Runcorn, Manchester (S & ) M56^{[Note 1]}	53°21′30″N 2°30′29″W / 53.358466°N 2.507973°W / 53.358466; -2.507973 (M6, J20A)
		End of variable speed limit	J19	Start of variable speed limit	53°18′42″N 2°25′03″W / 53.311596°N 2.417636°W / 53.311596; -2.417636 (M6, J19)
180.3 179.9	290.2 289.5	Manchester, Manchester (M56) A556	J19	Northwich, Macclesfield, Knutsford A556
		Knutsford services	Services^{[Note 2]}	Knutsford services	53°18′03″N 2°24′06″W / 53.300826°N 2.401586°W / 53.300826; -2.401586 (M6, Knutsford Services)
172.2 171.9	277.2 276.7	Chester, Northwich, Middlewich A54	J18	Chester, Northwich, Middlewich A54	53°12′01″N 2°23′15″W / 53.200377°N 2.387509°W / 53.200377; -2.387509 (M6, J18)
168.9 168.3	271.3 270.8	Congleton, Sandbach A534	J17	Congleton, Sandbach A534	53°09′12″N 2°20′48″W / 53.153230°N 2.346697°W / 53.153230; -2.346697 (M6, J17)
		Sandbach services	Services	Sandbach services	53°08′21″N 2°20′11″W / 53.139048°N 2.336526°W / 53.139048; -2.336526 (M6, Sandbach Services)
162.6	261.7	Entering Cheshire	J16	Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent (North), Crewe, Nantwich A500	53°04′07″N 2°20′01″W / 53.068632°N 2.333565°W / 53.068632; -2.333565 (M6, J16)
		Start of variable speed limit		End of variable speed limit
162.3	261.2	Nantwich, Crewe A500		Entering Staffordshire
		Keele services	Services	Keele services	52°59′37″N 2°17′22″W / 52.993555°N 2.289362°W / 52.993555; -2.289362 (M6, Keele Services)
153.1 152.9	246.4 246.1	Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme A500	J15	Stoke-on-Trent, Stone A500, Derby (A50)	52°58′32″N 2°13′35″W / 52.975573°N 2.226319°W / 52.975573; -2.226319 (M6, J15)
		Stafford services (northbound)	Services	No access	52°53′02″N 2°10′07″W / 52.883919°N 2.168555°W / 52.883919; -2.168555
		No access	Services	Stafford services (southbound)	52°52′26″N 2°09′54″W / 52.873948°N 2.164907°W / 52.873948; -2.164907
142.0 141.8	228.6 228.2	Stone, Stafford (N) A34	J14	Stafford (N) A34	52°49′35″N 2°08′44″W / 52.826520°N 2.145596°W / 52.826520; -2.145596 (M6, J14)
		End of variable speed limit	J13	Start of variable speed limit	52°45′49″N 2°06′28″W / 52.763567°N 2.107873°W / 52.763567; -2.107873 (M6, J13)
136.8 136.5	220.1 219.6	Stafford (S & C) A449	J13	Stafford (S) A449
131.6 131.2	211.8 211.1	Telford (M54) A5	J12	NORTH WALES, Telford (M54), Wolverhampton, Cannock A5	52°41′20″N 2°06′12″W / 52.689026°N 2.103453°W / 52.689026; -2.103453 (M6, J12)
		No access (on-slip only)	J11A (TOTSO SB)	The SOUTH M6 Toll	52°40′10″N 2°04′27″W / 52.669538°N 2.074270°W / 52.669538; -2.074270 (M6, J11A)
128.7 128.4	207.2 206.7	(M6 Toll), Cannock A460	J11	Wolverhampton, Cannock A460	52°39′30″N 2°03′52″W / 52.658424°N 2.06440°W / 52.658424; -2.06440 (M6, J11)
		Hilton Park services	Services	Hilton Park services	52°38′36″N 2°03′23″W / 52.643402°N 2.056503°W / 52.643402; -2.056503 (M6, Hilton Park Services)
127.0 126.7	204.4 203.9	NORTH & MID WALES, Telford, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury (A5) M54	J10A	No access (on-slip only)	52°37′49″N 2°02′56″W / 52.630172°N 2.048950°W / 52.630172; -2.048950 (M6, J10A)
				Entering West Midlands	52°37′07″N 2°01′56″W / 52.61874°N 2.03209°W / 52.61874; -2.03209
		Entering Staffordshire			52°37′01″N 2°01′49″W / 52.61693°N 2.03038°W / 52.61693; -2.03038
123.3 122.9	198.4 197.8	Walsall, Wolverhampton (C & E) A454	J10	Wolverhampton (C & E), Walsall A454	52°35′06″N 2°00′51″W / 52.584877°N 2.014275°W / 52.584877; -2.014275 (M6, J10)
121.7 121.5	195.8 195.6	Wednesbury A461	J9	Wednesbury A461	52°34′00″N 2°00′12″W / 52.566543°N 2.003202°W / 52.566543; -2.003202 (M6, J9)
119.9	193.0	The SOUTH WEST, Birmingham (W & S), West Bromwich M5	J8	The SOUTH WEST, Birmingham (W & S), West Bromwich M5	52°33′26″N 1°58′36″W / 52.557125°N 1.976681°W / 52.557125; -1.976681 (M6, J8)
118.4 118.1	190.6 190.1	Birmingham (N), Walsall A34	J7	Birmingham (N) A34	52°33′11″N 1°56′02″W / 52.553081°N 1.934023°W / 52.553081; -1.934023 (M6, J7)
114.2 113.9	183.8 183.3	Birmingham (C) A38(M) Birmingham (NE) A38	J6	Birmingham (NE), Lichfield A38 Birmingham (E & C) A38(M)	52°30′36″N 1°51′50″W / 52.510083°N 1.863792°W / 52.510083; -1.863792 (M6, J6)
		Bromford Viaduct			52°30′22″N 1°49′44″W / 52.506°N 1.829°W / 52.506; -1.829 (M6, Bromford Viaduct)
110.9 110.8	178.5 178.3	Birmingham (E), Sutton Coldfield A452	J5	No access (on-slip only)	52°30′33″N 1°47′21″W / 52.509274°N 1.789076°W / 52.509274; -1.789076 (M6, J5)
				Entering Warwickshire	52°30′47″N 1°45′13″W / 52.51302°N 1.75356°W / 52.51302; -1.75356
108.8 108.6	175.1 174.8	No access (on-slip only)	J4A	The NORTH EAST (M1), The NORTH WEST (M6 Toll), Tamworth M42(N) The SOUTH WEST (M5), London (S & W) (M40), Birmingham (S), Birmingham International , Birmingham , N.E.C. M42(S)	52°30′36″N 1°44′49″W / 52.509966°N 1.747062°W / 52.509966; -1.747062 (M6, J4A)
		Entering West Midlands			52°28′43″N 1°42′54″W / 52.47857°N 1.71495°W / 52.47857; -1.71495
106.0	170.6	Start of variable speed limit	J4	Coventry (S & W), Birmingham (E), N.E.C., Birmingham International , Birmingham A446	52°28′37″N 1°42′26″W / 52.476808°N 1.707237°W / 52.476808; -1.707237 (M6, J4)
105.7	170.1	Coleshill A446 The SOUTH WEST (M5), Birmingham (S), Solihull, N.E.C., Birmingham M42	J4	End of variable speed limit
		The NORTH WEST M6 Toll, Tamworth M42(N)	J3A (TOTSO NB)	No access (on-slip only)	52°28′26″N 1°40′18″W / 52.473880°N 1.671681°W / 52.473880; -1.671681 (M6, J3A)
		Corley services	Services	Corley services	52°28′17″N 1°32′47″W / 52.471488°N 1.546326°W / 52.471488; -1.546326 (M6, Corley Services)
96.9 96.4	155.9 155.2	Coventry (North), Nuneaton, Bedworth A444	J3	Coventry (N), Nuneaton A444, Bedworth B4113	52°27′47″N 1°29′38″W / 52.463004°N 1.493776°W / 52.463004; -1.493776 (M6, J3)
		Entering Warwickshire		Entering West Midlands	52°27′29″N 1°28′58″W / 52.45798°N 1.48271°W / 52.45798; -1.48271
		Entering West Midlands		Entering Warwickshire	52°26′24″N 1°26′24″W / 52.43995°N 1.43995°W / 52.43995; -1.43995
93.7 93.3	150.8 150.1	Coventry, Warwick A46 Leicester, Hinckley M69	J2	(M1(N)), Leicester M69, Coventry (E) A46	52°26′16″N 1°25′47″W / 52.437870°N 1.429832°W / 52.437870; -1.429832 (M6, J2)
85.6 85.2	137.8 137.1	Rugby A426	J1	Rugby, Lutterworth A426	52°24′29″N 1°14′45″W / 52.408087°N 1.245725°W / 52.408087; -1.245725 (M6, J1)
		Entering Warwickshire		Entering Leicestershire	52°24′22″N 1°12′35″W / 52.40604°N 1.2096°W / 52.40604; -1.2096
85.2	137.1	Start of motorway	M1 J19	The SOUTH, London, Northampton M1	52°24′02″N 1°10′31″W / 52.400442°N 1.175215°W / 52.400442; -1.175215 (M6, southern terminus)
		The NORTH, Leicester M1(N)	M1 J19	End of motorway Road continues as A14 before becoming M11 and then joining A406 in South Woodford, Greater London