The motorway, which was first proposed in the 1930s, and conceived as two separate routes, was opened in stages between 1971 and 1976, with construction beginning at Pole Moor near Huddersfield and finishing at that time in Tarbock on the outskirts of Liverpool. The motorway absorbed the northern end of the Stretford-Eccles bypass, which was built between 1957 and 1960.

Adjusted for inflation to 2007, its construction cost approximately £765 million. The motorway has an average daily traffic flow of 144,000 vehicles in West Yorkshire, and has several sections prone to traffic congestion, in particular, between Leeds and Huddersfield and the M60 section around Eccles. The M62 coach bombing of 1974 and the Great Heck rail crash of 2001 are the largest incidents to have occurred on the motorway.

Stott Hall Farm, situated between the carriageways on the Pennine section, has become one of the best-known sights on the motorway. The M62 has no junctions numbered 1, 2 or 3, or even an officially numbered 4, because it was intended to start in Liverpool proper, not in its outskirts.

Between Liverpool and Manchester, and east of Leeds, the terrain along which the road passes is relatively flat. Between Manchester and Leeds it traverses the Pennines and its foothills, rising to {{convert|1221|ft|m}} above sea level slightly east of junction 22 in Calderdale, not far from the boundary between Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

Planning

The motorway's origins are found in the 1930s, when the need for a route between Lancashire and Yorkshire had been agreed after discussion by their county highway authorities.{{cite web |url = http://www.iht.org/motorway/m62ecclesbdy.htm |title = M62: Eccles to County Boundary |website = The Motorway Archive |access-date = 19 May 2007 |archive-date = 11 December 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131211050018/http://www.ciht.org.uk/motorway/m62ecclesbdy.htm }} At the same time, it was envisaged that a route between Liverpool and Hull was needed to connect the ports to industrial Yorkshire.{{cite web |url = http://www.iht.org/motorway/m62master.htm |title = M62 in West Yorkshire |website = The Motorway Archive |access-date = 19 May 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120221224114/http://www.ciht.org.uk/motorway/m62master.htm |archive-date = 21 February 2012 }}

After the Second World War, the Minister of Transport appointed engineers to inspect road standards between the A580 East Lancashire Road in Swinton and the A1 road near Selby. The 1949 Road Plan for South Lancashire identified the need to upgrade the A580 to dual carriageway with grade separation and provide bypasses at Huyton and Cadishead.{{cite web |url = http://www.iht.org/motorway/m62queeccles.htm |title = M62: Queens Drive to Eccles |website = The Motorway Archive |access-date = 19 May 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090114230605/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m62queeccles.htm |archive-date = 14 January 2009 }} In 1952, the route for a trans-Pennine motorway, the Lancashire–Yorkshire Motorway, was laid down, with Ferrybridge at the eastern terminus rather than Selby. By the 1960s, the proposed A580 upgrade to dual carriageway was considered inadequate, and there was an urgent need to link Liverpool to the motorway network.

The route of the Lancashire-Yorkshire motorway was considered inadequate as it failed to cater for several industrial towns in Yorkshire. When James Drake visited the United States in 1962, his experience of the Interstate Highway System led him to conclude that the Merseyside Expressway, planned to run between Liverpool and the M6, would need to be extended to the Stretford-Eccles Bypass and beyond, to create a continuous motorway between Liverpool and Ferrybridge (a link between Ferrybridge and Hull was not considered until 1964). Initially the plans were unpopular and not supported by the Ministry of Transport, but the scheme was added to the Road Plan in 1963.

=Surveying=

Formal planning began on Wednesday 12 July 1961, when Ernest Marples authorised the two surveyors of Lancashire and the West Riding - Sir James Drake of Lancashire and Stuart Maynard Lovell of the West Riding, to plan a {{convert|50|mi|sing=on}} motorway from Worsley, in Lancashire, to Ledsham (now the Selby Fork) in the West Riding. From either end, the plan was that there would be 'improved roads' from the eastern end, at the Selby Fork, eastwards to Hull, and 'improved roads' from the western end, at Worsley (now the Worsley Braided Interchange), westwards to Liverpool.Liverpool Echo Thursday 13 July 1961, page 18

Construction

=Liverpool to Worsley=

It was the intention to build an urban motorway in Liverpool.{{cite news |url = http://www.davidsimmonds.com/main/pdfs/m62.pdf |author = David Simmons consultancy |title = Case Study:M62 motorway |access-date = 30 May 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071201204853/http://www.davidsimmonds.com/main/pdfs/m62.pdf |archive-date = 1 December 2007 |quote = "CEC (1987) estimated that the capital cost of the motorway was "of the order of £412 million at 1985 prices" }} The M62 was intended to terminate at Liverpool's Inner Motorway, which was not built. The proposed route would have followed the railway into Liverpool as far as Edge Hill, with junctions at Rathbone Road and Durning Road where it would drop to two lanes before terminating at the Islington Radial.{{cn|date=September 2024}} Difficulties arose building the Liverpool urban motorway resulting in delays, with the section between Tarbock and Liverpool the last to be completed in 1976. In total, two viaducts, ten bridges and seven underpasses were constructed to secure the structural integrity of the surrounding residential areas. The motorway was constructed only as far as the Queens Drive inner ring road, which is junction 4.

The section west of Manchester was intended to be a separate motorway, the M52 to link Liverpool and Salford, but a continuous motorway between Leeds and Liverpool was deemed more feasible,{{cn|date=September 2024}} Construction between Liverpool and Manchester started in 1971, with the construction of a link between the M57 and M6 motorways. Simultaneously, a contract to link the M6 with Manchester was underway, which required land drainage and the removal of unsuitable earth. This section was completed in August 1974, creating a continuous link between Ferrybridge and Tarbock.

=Greater Manchester=

File:M62 construction in Milnrow.jpg, July 1968]]

Two motorways were planned, the M52 from Liverpool to Salford and the M62 to link Pole Moor with the Stretford–Eccles Bypass.{{cn|date=September 2024}} The first part of the M62 to be built was the Stretford–Eccles Bypass, which is now the section between Junctions 7 to 13 of the M60.{{cn|date=September 2024}} Construction started in 1957, and the motorway opened in 1960. It was originally built as a two-lane motorway only. It was later re-numbered M63.{{cite web |url = http://www.iht.org/motorway/m63stretecc.htm |title = M63 (now M60) Stretford-Eccles Bypass and Carrington Spur |access-date = 28 May 2007 |website = The Motorway Archive |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070417022216/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m63stretecc.htm |archive-date = 17 April 2007 }} The section of the planned M52 between the interchange with the Stretford-Eccles Bypass and Salford opened as the M602 motorway in 1971.

The Eccles–Pole Moor section of the M62 opened in 1971.{{cn|date=September 2024}} Between Eccles and Pole Moor, 67 motorway crossings were required, including seven viaducts and eight junctions. Much of the Worsley Braided Interchange was built on undeveloped mossland where deep peat deposits had been covered with waste. Between Worsley and Milnrow, some underlying coal seams were still actively worked when the motorway was constructed and allowances had to be made to counteract possible future subsidence.{{sfn|Johnson|1972|p=4|ps=}} The motorway crosses the Irwell Valley and the Pendleton Fault{{sfn|Johnson|1972|p=10|ps=}} on a {{convert|200|ft|m|adj=on}} single-span bridge {{convert|65|ft}} above the river.{{sfn|Johnson|1972|p=11|ps=}}

=Milnrow to Outlane=

File:M62 Summit sign 29 July 2017.jpg

Surveying for the Pennine section began in November 1961 and its route was determined in July 1963.{{sfn|Johnson|1972|p=7|ps=}} Construction between Windy Hill and Pole Moor was difficult through inhospitable hilly terrain, peat bog, and in undesirable weather conditions. The motorway's highest point, {{convert|1221|ft|m}} above sea level at Windy Hill near Denshaw ({{coord|53.62982|-2.018561|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Windy Hill}}) is the highest point of any motorway in England.{{cite web |url = https://www.panoramio.com/photo/7235243 |title = Photo of Highest motorway in England |via = Panoramio |date = 19 January 2008 |access-date = 17 August 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110519131256/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/7235243 |archive-date = 19 May 2011 |url-status = dead }}

A notable structure between junctions 21 and 22 on the uphill section towards Windy Hill is the Rakewood Viaduct which carries the road over the Longden End Brook.{{sfn|Johnson|1972|p=8|ps=}}

The first section of the motorway in Yorkshire was completed between the county boundary at Windy Hill and Outlane in 1970.{{cite web |url = http://www.iht.org/motorway/m62bounpole.htm |title = M62: Boundary to Pole Moor |access-date = 19 May 2007 |website = The Motorway Archive |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090125075831/http://iht.org/motorway/m62bounpole.htm |archive-date = 25 January 2009 }}

To build this section, {{convert|12000000|cuyd|m3}} of material was moved, {{convert|8000000|cuyd|m3}} of which was solid rock and {{convert|650000|cuyd|m3}} of peat which had to be cut from the rock strata and deposited on adjacent hillsides. The geology of the moors resulted in the engineers splitting the carriageways for {{convert|3/4|mi|km}} in the middle of this section, sparing Stott Hall Farm from demolition.{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2007/02/02/020207_insideout_farmhouse_feature.shtml |title = Farming in the fast lane |publisher = BBC |date = 2 February 2007 |access-date = 19 May 2007 }} The farm, which was built in the 18th century, remains the only one situated in the middle of a UK motorway.{{cite magazine |url = http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-04-21/stott-hall-farm-britain-ken-jennings |title = The Only Farm in the UK in the Middle of a Highway |last = Jennings |first = Ken |date = 21 April 2014 |magazine = Condé Nast Traveler |access-date = 21 December 2015 }}

File:Stott Hall Farm (crop).JPG

The motorway crosses Scammonden Dam on an embankment between junctions 22 and 23. Preparatory work in the Deanhead Valley began in August 1964 and the dam in 1966. The motorway's opening on 20 December 1970 was dependent on completion of the dam.{{cite web |url = http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1142 |title = Scammonden Dam |website = Engineering Timelines |access-date = 17 October 2015 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120307231556/http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1142 |archive-date = 7 March 2012 }} Two other notable constructions on the Pennine section are the pedestrian bridge carrying the Pennine Way, which is curved downwards with {{convert|85|ft|m|adj=on}} long cantilevers, and Scammonden Bridge, the longest single-span non-suspension bridge in the world when it was built.{{cite web |title = Scammonden Water |url = http://www.scammonden.org.uk/hss/modules/content/index.php?id=5 |work = Scammonden Activity Centre |access-date = 20 April 2013 |archive-date = 30 July 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130730172226/http://www.scammonden.org.uk/hss/modules/content/index.php?id=5 }} It carries a B road {{convert|120|ft|m}} above the motorway. The {{convert|1|mi|km|adj=on}} section between Pole Moor and Outlane suffered fewer problems as the summer weather was satisfactory.{{cite web |url = http://www.iht.org/motorway/m62poleoutl.htm |title = M62: Pole Moor to Outlane |access-date = 19 May 2007 |website = The Motorway Archive |archive-date = 31 January 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090131173618/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m62poleoutl.htm }}

{{wide image|M62 Scammonden Bridge to Windy Hill.jpg|1800px|Southerly view from Booth Moor, Calderdale, of the M62 motorway from Scammonden Bridge to Windy Hill. Stott Hall Farm can be seen between the east and westbound carriageways in July 2010}}

=Outlane to Lofthouse=

File:Stopped on the M1 Lofthouse interchange the bridges carry the M62 - geograph.org.uk - 722126.jpg

The section of the motorway between Gildersome and Lofthouse was built at the same time, resulting in the demolition of a significant proportion of the village of Tingley to build the eponymous interchange.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

Lofthouse Interchange was built between 1965 and 1967. Owen Williams and the Babtie Group were the engineers. Located where the M62 crosses above the M1 motorway, it is a complex three-level junction with eight bridges including a roundabout supported by four long curved bridges on {{convert|12|m|sing=on}} piers above both motorways. The roundabout's north and south bridges have spans of {{convert|28|m|abbr=on}} and the east and west have spans of {{convert|21|m|abbr=on}}. The M62 overbridge has a reinforced concrete multi-cellular deck of four spans. Two other pre-stressed reinforced concrete bridges carry slip roads over Longthorpe Lane, the B6135. Another bridge with no motorway access carries Longthorpe Lane over the M1.{{cite web |url = http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1049 |title = Lofthouse Interchange |website = Engineering Timelines |access-date = 20 February 2017 }}

Two skew tunnels were constructed beneath the original junction between 1996 and 1999. The tunnels, constructed using the cut-and-cover method, are for traffic travelling between the M1 south-bound and the M62 west. The tunnel under the M62 is {{convert|147|m|abbr=on}} in length.

=East of Lofthouse=

File:Ouse bridge.jpg Bridge, from the floodplain adjacent to the river in April 2002]]

Two contracts were awarded for the section between Lofthouse and Ferrybridge in 1972, and both were completed in 1974.{{cite web |url = http://www.iht.org/motorway/m62lofthope.htm |title = M62: Lofthouse to Hopetown |website = The Motorway Archive |access-date = 28 May 2007 |archive-date = 8 October 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071008114706/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m62lofthope.htm }}{{cite web |url = http://www.iht.org/motorway/m62hopeferr.htm |title = M62: Hopetown to Ferrybridge |website = The Motorway Archive |access-date = 28 May 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080509081403/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m62hopeferr.htm |archive-date = 9 May 2008 }} On the first contract, care was needed at the River Calder crossing due to the alluvial bedrock. On the second contract precautions were taken as the length was built on old coal mine workings.

The section between Ferrybridge and North Cave was the last to be planned and built.{{cn|date=September 2024}} The Ouse Bridge, across the River Ouse west of Goole, commenced in January 1973 and is nearly {{convert|1|mi|km}} long and rises to {{convert|98.4|ft|m}} above ground level. Completion of the bridge was delayed due to "steel supplies [being] a chronic headache" and a partial collapse of the framework caused by bolts joining a cross-beam to a trestle shearing.{{cite web |url = http://www.iht.org/motorway/m62goolouse.htm |title = M62: Goole – Ouse Bridge |website = The Motorway Archive |access-date = 28 May 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080515234600/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m62goolouse.htm |archive-date = 15 May 2008 }} Problems with the bridge delayed the opening of the section east of Goole to May 1976.

Development

File:A1(M) and M62 interchange.jpg

In 1987, the Department of Transport proposed a parallel relief road to combat congestion around Manchester. It would have been restricted to long-distance traffic, and the current route, part of the Manchester Outer Ring Road (later the M60), used for local traffic. The proposal suggested the closure of junction 13. The proposal was designated a "long term" improvement in 1994, and cancelled on 23 November 1995.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

In 1998, the section between Eccles Interchange and Simister Interchange (junctions 12 to 18) was designated the M60.{{cn|date=September 2024}} Since then, two junctions were opened—in December 2002, the missing junction 8 was opened to allow access to the A574 and the Omega Development Site,{{cite web |url = http://www.costain.com/news/bpfeb03/newsindepth8.htm |title = M62 junction completion raises region's economic prospects |publisher = Costain Group |year = 2003 |access-date = 5 August 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061024011521/http://www.costain.com/news/bpfeb03/newsindepth8.htm |archive-date = 24 October 2006 }} while in January 2006, junction 32a was opened to link to the upgraded A1(M).{{cite web |url = http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/documents/n050282_F_HM_NEWSLETTER.pdf |title = A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor open to Traffic – January 2006 |publisher = Highways Agency |year = 2005 |access-date = 28 May 2007 |archive-date = 31 August 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120831095038/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/documents/n050282_F_HM_NEWSLETTER.pdf }} The UK's first motorway high-occupancy vehicle lane was opened at junction 26 in 2008 for eastbound traffic from the M606 with more than one occupant.{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/4822808.stm |title = First car-share lane to be built |work = BBC News |date = 20 March 2006 |access-date = 28 May 2007 }}

=Smart motorway=

Pre-2009 proposals to widen the motorway between junctions 25 and 28 to four lanes were withdrawn in January 2009 and replaced by a project to install hard shoulder running and a smart motorway system between junctions 25 and 30.{{cite web |title = M62 J27 to J28 Improvement |url = http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/6027.aspx |publisher = Highways Agency |access-date = 20 October 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120717153029/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/6027.aspx |archive-date = 17 July 2012 }} Work started in 2014 to install the system around the M62 – M60 section.{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-28283849 |title = £208m 'smart motorway' work begins |date = 14 July 2014 |work = BBC News |accessdate=20 December 2015}}

Traffic

File:M62 traffic statistics.svg

The section between junctions 18 (with the M60) and 29 (with the M1) through Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire has been identified as one of the most congested roads in Britain.{{cite report |url = https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/364197/FINALM62RBS.pdf |title = M62 junctions 18–29 route-based strategy |publisher = Highways England |date = March 2013 |access-date = 21 December 2015 }}{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/03/motorway_hotspots/html/m62.stm |title = M62 Junctions 24 to 27 |work = In Depth: Traffic Congestion |access-date = 30 May 2007 |year = 2003 }} The motorway provides a direct link between three of the five largest metro areas in England, and is the most practical route for HGVs and other commercial traffic between Manchester and Leeds. There are a significant number of warehouses in these urban areas, which require commercial delivery to the ports at Merseyside and around the Humber, all of which are transported via the M62.

Annual average daily traffic flows of 100,000 cars were recorded east of the Pennines (junction 22) in 2006 and 78,000 cars west of the Pennines.{{cite web |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/172974/173025/221412/221546/227050/261688/roadtraffdata.xls |title = Road traffic data tables |work = Road Statistics 2006: Traffic, Speeds and Congestion |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 26 July 2007 |access-date = 16 August 2007 |archive-url = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090208200802/http://www.dft.gov.uk/172974/173025/221412/221546/227050/261688/roadtraffdata.xls |archive-date = 8 February 2009 |format = Microsoft Excel spreadsheet }} The figures were increases from 90,000 and 70,000 respectively in 1999.{{cite web |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/162259/162469/221412/221546/224925/224928/coll_roadtrafficstatistics2003a/roadtrafficstatistics2003 |title = Road Traffic Statistics: 2003 |page = 17 |format = PDF |publisher = Department for Transport |access-date = 16 August 2007 |archive-url = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20081107223603/http://www.dft.gov.uk/162259/162469/221412/221546/224925/224928/coll_roadtrafficstatistics2003a/roadtrafficstatistics2003 |archive-date = 7 November 2008 |date = 12 August 2004 }} By way of comparison, the UK's busiest motorway, the M25 carried 144,000 cars between junctions 7 and 23 in 2006.

Major incidents

On 4 February 1974, a bomb was detonated on a coach travelling between Chain Bar (junction 26) and Gildersome (junction 27). The coach was transporting off-duty army personnel and their family members. Twelve people were killed and 38 were injured. Hartshead Moor services was used as a makeshift hospital and base for investigations.{{cite web |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/content/articles/2006/11/29/m62_bombing_feature.shtml |title = Tragedy on the M62 |publisher = BBC Bradford |access-date = 30 November 2007 |date = 29 November 2006 }} The Provisional Irish Republican Army was deemed responsible.{{cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/jan/15/ukcrime.markoliver |title = Miscarriages of justice |date = 15 January 2002 |access-date = 29 May 2007 |work = The Guardian |location = London |first = Mark |last = Oliver }} A memorial to the victims was erected at Hartshead Moor services in 2009.{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-21312841 |title = M62 Bombing victims remembered |publisher = BBC |access-date = 2 January 2016 }}

The Selby rail crash happened on 28 February 2001, at 06:13 after Gary Hart, a sleep-deprived driver, swerved off the M62 onto the East Coast Main Line near Selby. While he was calling the emergency services, a GNER southbound train collided with his Land Rover and derailed into the path of an oncoming freight train. Ten people were killed, including the drivers of both trains, and 82 others were injured.{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2001/selby_train_crash/default.stm |work = BBC News |title = In Depth – Selby train crash |access-date = 20 August 2013 |date = 6 January 2003 }} Hart was later convicted of ten counts of causing death by dangerous driving, and was sentenced to five years in prison.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/3884897.stm|title=Selby crash driver's jail release|date=12 July 2004|work=BBC News|accessdate= 26 May 2023}}

On 1 March 2018, a Highways England car fire in severe weather conditions (the beast from the East) caused up to 3,500 vehicles to become trapped on the eastbound Pennine section between junctions 20 and 24. Up to 200 people spent the night in their vehicles. The military, mountain rescue, fire services and Highways England worked alongside the police through the night to ensure people's safety. Members of the public who lived in Milnrow and Newhey climbed up onto the motorway with food and drinks for the trapped people in their cars and trucks. A barrier between the carriageways was removed to facilitate moving most of the vehicles. The road remained closed the next day due to the weather conditions.{{cite news |last1 = Abbit |first1 = Beth |title = Chaos on the M62: how did thousands end up stuck on the motorway? |url = https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/m62-stuck-traffic-2018-crash-14361226 |access-date = 2 March 2018 |work = Manchester Evening News |date = 2 March 2018 }}{{cite news |last1 = Ballinger |first1 = Lauren |title = 200 cars were trapped on M62 all night with passengers inside say say police |url = https://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/200-drivers-spent-night-cars-14361054 |access-date = 2 March 2018 |work = Huddersfield Examiner |date = 2 March 2018 }}

Route

File:Map of the M62 motorway - section.svg

In addition to passing Warrington, Manchester, Huddersfield, Halifax, Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield, the towns of Huyton, St Helens, Widnes, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Pontefract, Selby and Goole are designated primary destinations along the road. Many of the professional and semi-professional teams playing rugby league in England are connected by the M62 motorway and so the term M62 corridor is sometimes used to refer to the area where rugby league is most popular.{{cite news |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/making-the-long-walk-from-hull-to-widnes-97925.html |first = Dave |last = Hadfield |title = Making the long walk from Hull to Widnes |date = 28 July 2003 |access-date = 16 May 2017 |newspaper = The Independent }} The motorway was depicted in a BBC trailer for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England.{{cite web |title = Rugby League World Cup 2022 🏉 Trailer 🏟 BBC Trailers |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvcdvhSTELw |via = YouTube.com |publisher = BBC |access-date = 27 October 2022 |date = 9 October 2022 }}

The M62 is a terminus to two motorways: the M57 near Prescot and the M18 near Rawcliffe; and has four spur routes: the M602, which serves Manchester, the A627(M), which serves Oldham and Rochdale, the M606, which serves Bradford, and the M621, which serves Leeds.

Despite Hull being listed as a primary destination,{{cite web |author = ((Google)) |author-link = Google |title = J30 ADS |url = https://www.google.co.uk/maps?ll=53.728417,-1.466267&spn=0.006411,0.021136&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=53.728416,-1.466492&panoid=dMtNH0hvDfrrjN_8Jpp_uA&cbp=12,66.43,,0,4.11 |work = Google Street View |access-date = 20 April 2013 }} the motorway downgrades near North Cave, {{convert|16|mi|km}} to the west.{{cite web |author = ((Google)) |title = End of Motorway Sign |url = https://www.google.co.uk/maps?ll=53.770548,-0.674211&spn=0.003228,0.010568&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=53.770594,-0.674603&panoid=i2Px_fWFf8lKHjNifdtSAw&cbp=12,74.09,,1,-0.46 |work = Google Street View |access-date = 20 April 2013 }}

The western end of the motorway is at Queen's Drive, on Liverpool's middle ring road from where it runs eastward to the outer ring road, the M57. The route has four exits for Warrington: junction 7, an interchange with the A57 road, junction 8, which also houses IKEA, junction 9, which interchanges with the A49 road, which was intended to be a motorway, and junction 11. Between these is junction 10, which is a cloverstack interchange with the M6. The M62 crosses Chat Moss before interchanging with the M60 motorway. Owing to the original plan to extend this section of the motorway into Manchester, motorists must turn off to stay on (a TOTSO) the route into Yorkshire.

In Greater Manchester, the motorway shares seven junctions, 12 to 18, with the M60 motorway. Junction 13, signposted Leigh, is situated {{convert|1/2|mi|km}} from junction 12, leaving exiting motorists the hazard of crossing the still-merging M62 traffic.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

Worsley Braided Interchange serves Junctions 14 and 15 and Junctions 1 to 3 of the M61 which terminates to Preston.

File:M62 motorway, Calderdale.jpg]]

Between junction 21 and junction 22, the motorway has four lanes eastbound to climb Windy Hill,{{cite web |author = ((Google)) |title = Lane gain |url = https://www.google.co.uk/maps?ll=53.609975,-2.0959&spn=0.025919,0.084543&t=h&z=14&layer=c&cbll=53.608637,-2.094817&panoid=8n-R8u49izhuiRRvF7JAwA&cbp=12,48.15,,0,-3.56 |work = Google Street View |access-date = 20 April 2013 }} before crossing the border into Yorkshire and interchanging with the rural A672 road, reaching the highest point of any motorway in England {{convert|1221|ft|m}}. There is then a {{convert|7|mi|km|adj=on}} travel through the Pennines to the next junction, passing Scammonden Reservoir and Stott Hall Farm. The next junction is 23, which is accessible only for westbound traffic. After this, the road dips through a valley to junction 24 and drops slowly before interchanging with the A644 road at junction 25. Between junctions 22 and 25, the road is used as a border between the metropolitan boroughs of Calderdale and Kirklees.{{cite web |url = http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/council/consultations/engage/downloaddoc.jsp?id=802 |title = Waste Management Strategy |publisher = Calderdale MBC |format = PDF |access-date = 17 November 2007 }}

At junction 26, Chain Bar, the motorway interchanges with several roads: the M606, a spur into Bradford, the A58 road, which runs between Prescot and Wetherby, and the A638 road, which runs to Doncaster, then follows the old route of the A1 through Bawtry and Retford, to Markham Moor where it rejoins the A1. The next junction also serves a spur route: the M621 motorway, before bypassing Leeds to the south to the interchange with the M1 motorway, Lofthouse Interchange, at junction 29. East of Leeds, the motorway serves Wakefield at junction 30 and crosses by the River Calder. At junction 32a, the road is crossed by the A1(M) motorway, which also runs parallel to it for a short distance. The next junction 33 serves the A162 and A1 roads, and Ferrybridge service station. After Ferrybridge, the motorway becomes relatively flat. At junction 35, the motorway meets with the northern terminus of the M18 at a triangle (semi-directioinal-T) interchange. Soon after, there is a {{convert|1|mi|km|adj=on}} bridge that crosses the River Ouse. For approximately {{convert|10|mi|km}} after this, the road runs towards Hull, serving Howden and North Cave, before downgrading to the A63 road.

Junctions

{| class="plainrowheaders wikitable"

!scope=col|County

!scope=col|Location

!scope=col|mi

!scope=col|km

!scope=col|Junction

!scope=col|Destinations

!scope=col|Notes

|rowspan="4"|Merseyside

|rowspan="3"|Liverpool

| bgcolor="ddffdd" |4

| bgcolor="ddffdd" |{{jct|country=GBR|A|5080}} - Central Liverpool

| bgcolor="ddffdd" |Road continues West as A5080
{{coord|53.4060|-2.8963|name=Junction 4 of M62}}

|1.2

|2.0

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|5080}} - Central Liverpool, Huyton

|{{coord|53.4074|-2.8671|name=Junction 5 of M62}}

|3.9

|6.2

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|5080}} - Widnes, Huyton
{{jct|country=GBR|M|57}} - Aintree, Widnes

|{{coord|53.3983|-2.8083|name=Junction 6 of M62}}

|Rainhill

|6.6

|10.6

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|57}} - Rainhill, Warrington
{{jct|country=GBR|A|570}} - St Helens
{{jct|country=GBR|A|557}} - Widnes

|{{coord|53.4033|-2.7456|name=Junction 7 of M62}}

|rowspan="4"|Cheshire

|rowspan="3"|Warrington

|10.7

|17.3

|Burtonwood Road - Great Sankey
Burtonwood services

|{{coord|53.4155|-2.6467|name=Junction 8 of M62}}

|12.8

|20.7

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|49}} - Winwick, Central Warrington

|{{coord|53.4228|-2.5977|name=Junction 9 of M62}}

|14.6

|23.5

|10

|{{jct|country=GBR|M|6}} - Preston, Lancaster, Stoke on Trent, Birmingham

|{{coord|53.4260|-2.5561|name=Junction 10 of M62}}

|rowspan="2"|—

|17.0

|27.3

|11

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|574}} - Birchwood

|{{coord|53.4349|-2.5000|name=Junction 11 of M62}}

|Greater Manchester

|23.6

|37.9

| bgcolor="ddffdd" |12

| bgcolor="ddffdd" |{{jct|country=GBR|M|60}} - Stockport, Trafford Park
{{jct|country=GBR|M|602}} - Central Manchester

| bgcolor="ddffdd" |Road continues North as M60 until M60 junction 18
{{coord|53.4875|-2.3766|name=Junction 12 of M62}}

|colspan="7" bgcolor="ddffdd" align="center"|concurrency with the M60

|rowspan="5"|Greater Manchester

|—

|31.1

|50.0

| bgcolor="ddffdd" |18

| bgcolor="ddffdd" |{{jct|country=GBR|M|60}} - Ashton under Lyne
{{jct|country=GBR|M|66}} - Bury

| bgcolor="ddffdd" |Road continues from M60 junction 18
{{coord|53.5498|-2.2605|name=Junction 18 of M62}}

|rowspan="2"|Middleton

|32.8

|52.8

|style="text-align:center" colspan="2"|Birch Services

|{{coord|53.5679|-2.2314|name=Birch Services}}

|34.0

|54.7

|19

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|6046}} - Middleton, Heywood

|{{coord|53.5762|-2.2068|name=Junction 19 of M62}}

|rowspan="2"|Rochdale

|36.2

|58.3

|20

|{{jct|country=GBR|AM|627}} - Oldham, Rochdale

|{{coord|53.5868|-2.1578|name=Junction 20 of M62}}

|38.3

|61.7

|21

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|640}} - Newhey, Milnrow
{{jct|country=GBR|A|6193}} - Rochdale

|{{coord|53.6016|-2.1114|name=Junction 21 of M62}}

|rowspan="14"|West Yorkshire

|—

|42.9

|69.1

|22

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|672}} - Oldham, Halifax

|{{coord|53.6297|-2.0198|name=Junction 22 of M62}}

|rowspan="3"|Huddersfield

|50.1

|80.6

| bgcolor="ffdddd" |23

| bgcolor="ffdddd" |{{jct|country=GBR|A|640}} - Outlane, Huddersfield
{{jct|country=GBR|A|643}} - Brighouse

| bgcolor="ffdddd" |No Eastbound entrance or Westbound exit
{{coord|53.6601|-1.8613|name=Junction 23 of M62}}

|51.5

|82.9

|24

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|643}} - Brighouse
{{jct|country=GBR|A|629}} - Halifax, Huddersfield

|{{coord|53.6717|-1.8332|name=Junction 24 of M62}}

|55.3

|89.0

|25

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|644}} - Dewsbury, Brighouse

|{{coord|53.6953|-1.7535|name=Junction 25 of M62}}

|rowspan="2"|Cleckheaton

|56.7

|91.3

|style="text-align:center" colspan="2"|Hartshead Moor services

|{{coord|53.7132|-1.7455|name=Hartshead Moor services}}

|58.6

|94.3

|26

|{{jct|country=GBR|M|606}} - Bradford
{{jct|country=GBR|A|58}} - Halifax, Leeds
{{jct|country=GBR|A|638}} - Liversedge

|{{coord|53.7366|-1.7263|name=Junction 26 of M62}}

|rowspan="3"|Leeds

|62.6

|100.8

|27

|{{jct|country=GBR|M|621}} - Leeds
{{jct|country=GBR|A|650}} - Morley, Tingley, Bradford
{{jct|country=GBR|A|62}} - Birstall, Leeds

|{{coord|53.7476|-1.6379|name=Junction 27 of M62}}

|65.7

|105.7

|28

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|650}} - Morley, Tingley
{{jct|country=GBR|A|653}} - Leeds, Dewsbury

|{{coord|53.7335|-1.5765|name=Junction 28 of M62}}

|68.4

|110.1

|29

|{{jct|country=GBR|M|1}} - Sheffield, London, Leeds

|{{coord|53.7308|-1.5118|name=Junction 29 of M62}}

|—

|70.6

|113.7

|30

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|642}} - Oulton, Wakefield

|{{coord|53.7284|-1.4582|name=Junction 30 of M62}}

|rowspan="3"|Castleford

|73.7

|118.7

|31

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|655}} - Wakefield Castleford
Castleford Road - Normanton

|{{coord|53.7089|-1.3957|name=Junction 31 of M62}}

|76.5

|123.1

|32

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|639}} - Pontefract, Castleford

|{{coord|53.7082|-1.3311|name=Junction 32 of M62}}

|78.2

|125.8

|32a

|{{jct|country=GBR|AM|1}} - Wetherby, Newcastle upon Tyne, Doncaster, Peterborough, London

|{{coord|53.7116|-1.2906|name=Junction 32a of M62}}

|Knottingley

|79.7

|128.3

|33

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|162}} - Knottingley, Tadcaster
Ferrybridge services

|{{coord|53.6957|-1.2675|name=Junction 33 of M62}}

|North Yorkshire

|rowspan="2"|—

|84.4

|135.8

|34

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|19}} - Eggborough, York, Whitley, Doncaster

|{{coord|53.6937|-1.1553|name=Junction 34 of M62}}

|rowspan="4"|East Riding of Yorkshire

|92.2

|148.4

|35

|{{jct|country=GBR|M|18}} - Doncaster, Sheffield

|{{coord|53.6833|-0.9687|name=Junction 35 of M62}}

|Goole

|95.1

|153.0

|36

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|161}} - Goole
{{jct|country=GBR|A|614}} - Rawcliffe, Goole

|{{coord|53.7060|-0.9099|name=Junction 36 of M62}}

|rowspan="2"|—

|97.8

|157.3

|37

|{{jct|country=GBR|A|614}} - Howden

|{{coord|53.7344|-0.8660|name=Junction 37 of M62}}

|106.0

|170.6

| bgcolor="ddffdd" |38

| bgcolor="ddffdd" |{{jct|country=GBR|A|63}} - Brough, Hull
B1230 - Newport, North Cave

| bgcolor="ddffdd" |Road continues as A63
{{coord|53.7711|-0.6768|name=Junction 38 of M62}}

;Coordinate list

{| border=1 cellpadding=2 style="margin-left:1em; margin-bottom: 1em; color: black; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 100%;" class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"

|- align="center" bgcolor="#0079C1" style="color: white;font-size:120%;"

| colspan="5" | M62 motorway junctions

|- align="center" bgcolor="000000" style="color: white"

| mile

| km

| Westbound exits (B Carriageway)

| Junction

| Eastbound exits (A Carriageway)

|- style="text-align:center;"

| {{no2}} No access (on-slip only)

| rowspan=2 | J4

| Knotty Ash, Childwall, Broadgreen x20px, x15px A5080
Non-motorway traffic

|- style="text-align:center;"

| End of motorway x20px
Road continues as A5080 towards Liverpool

| Start of motorway x20px

|- style="text-align:center;"

| Knotty Ash, Huyton A5080

| J5

| Huyton A5080

|- style="text-align:center;"

|7.9

|12.7

| Liverpool (S) & {{rail-interchange|air}} A5300, Huyton A5080
Southport M57

| J6

| Prescot M57, Runcorn, M56 A5300

|- style="text-align:center;"

|10.2

|16.5

| Widnes A557, Prescot A57, St. Helens A570

| J7

| St. Helens A570, Warrington A57, Widnes A557

|- style="text-align:center;"

| style=background:skyblue | Entering Merseyside

| style=background:skyblue | Entering Cheshire

|- style="text-align:center;"

|14.5

|23.3

| Warrington (West) (A574)
Burtonwood services

| J8
Services

| Warrington (West) (A574)
Burtonwood services

|- style="text-align:center;"

|rowspan=2| 16.6

|rowspan=2| 26.7

|rowspan=2| Warrington, Newton A49

|rowspan=2| J9

| Warrington (Central), Newton A49

|- style="text-align:center;"

| Start of variable speed limit x15px

|- style="text-align:center;"

|rowspan=2 | 18.1

|rowspan=2 | 29.1

| End of variable speed limit x15px

|rowspan=2 | J10

|rowspan=2 | Preston M6(N)
Birmingham, Manchester (S) & {{rail-interchange|air}} M6(S)

|- style="text-align:center;"

| Birmingham, Chester (M56) M6(S)
Preston M6(N)

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 20.7

| 33.4

| Warrington (East), Birchwood A574

| J11

| Warrington (East), Birchwood A574

|- style="text-align:center;"

| style=background:skyblue | Entering Cheshire

| style=background:skyblue | Entering Greater Manchester

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 26.9

| 43.3

| Start of motorway

| {{yes2}} J12

| Manchester {{rail-interchange|air}} M60(S&E)
Manchester City Centre, Salford M602

|- style="text-align:center;"

| colspan="3" {{yes2}} Concurrency with M60

|- style="text-align:center;"

|35.1

|56.5

| Ring Road (E & S), Manchester (E & C), Manchester {{rail-interchange|air}} M60(E)
Blackburn, Bury M66

| {{yes2}} J18

| Start of motorway

|- style="text-align:center;"

|37.8

|60.9

| Birch services

| Services

| Birch services

|- style="text-align:center;"

|40.1

|64.5

| Middleton, Heywood A6046

| J19

| Middleton, Heywood A6046

|- style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=2 | 42.5

| rowspan=2 | 68.4

| Start of variable speed limit x15px

| rowspan=2 | J20

| Rochdale, Oldham A627(M)

|- style="text-align:center;"

| Rochdale, Oldham A627(M)

| End of variable speed limit x15px

|- style="text-align:center;"

|43.7

|70.3

| Milnrow, Shaw (A640)

| J21

| Milnrow, Shaw (A640)

|- style="text-align:center;"

| colspan=3 | Rakewood Viaduct

|- style="text-align:center;"

| style=background:skyblue | Entering Greater Manchester

| style=background:skyblue | Entering West Yorkshire

|- style="text-align:center;"

|46.8

|75.4

| Saddleworth A672

| J22

| Ripponden, Saddleworth A672, Sowerby Bridge (A58)

|- style="text-align:center;"

|54.0

|86.9

| {{no2}} No access (on-slip only)

| J23

| Huddersfield (West) A640

|- style="text-align:center;"

|55.5

|89.4

| Huddersfield, Halifax A629

| J24

| Huddersfield, Halifax A629

|- style="text-align:center;"

|rowspan=2 |59.1

|rowspan=2 |95.2

| End of variable speed limit x15px

|rowspan=2 | J25

| Brighouse, Dewsbury A644

|- style="text-align:center;"

| Huddersfield (A62), Brighouse A644

| Start of variable speed limit x15px

|- style="text-align:center;"

|60.6

|97.7

| Hartshead Moor services

| Services

| Hartshead Moor services

|- style="text-align:center;"

|62.5

|100.7

| Halifax A58
Bradford M606

| J26

| Cleckheaton A638
Bradford, Leeds Bradford {{rail-interchange|air}} M606

|- style="text-align:center;"

|66.5

|107.1

| Batley A62

| J27

| Batley A62
Leeds M621

|- style="text-align:center;"

|69.7

|112.2

| Leeds, Leeds/Bradford {{rail-interchange|air}}, Dewsbury A653

| J28

| Dewsbury A653

|- style="text-align:center;"

|72.3

|116.5

| The SOUTH M1(S)
Leeds (M621) M1(N)

| J29

| The NORTH, Leeds M1(N)
The SOUTH, Wakefield M1(S)

|- style="text-align:center;"

|rowspan=2 |

| Start of variable speed limit x15px

|rowspan=2 | J30

| Rothwell, Wakefield A642

|- style="text-align:center;"

| Wakefield, Rothwell A642

| End of variable speed limit x15px

|- style="text-align:center;"

|77.7

|125.2

| Normanton, Castleford A655

| J31

| Castleford, Normanton A655

|- style="text-align:center;"

|80.5

|129.7

| Pontefract, Castleford A639

| J32

| Pontefract, Castleford A639

|- style="text-align:center;"

| The NORTH, Wetherby A1(M)

| J32A

| The NORTH, The SOUTH A1(M)

|- style="text-align:center;"

|84.7

|136.4

| The SOUTH A1, Pontefract A645
Ferrybridge services

| J33

| Ferrybridge A162
Ferrybridge services

|- style="text-align:center;"

| style=background:skyblue | Entering West Yorkshire

| style=background:skyblue | Entering North Yorkshire

|- style="text-align:center;"

| Selby, Doncaster A19

| J34

| Selby, Doncaster A19

|- style="text-align:center;"

| style=background:skyblue | Entering North Yorkshire

| style=background:skyblue | Entering East Riding of Yorkshire

|- style="text-align:center;"

| The SOUTH, Doncaster M18, Scunthorpe, Humberside {{rail-interchange|air}}, Doncaster Sheffield {{rail-interchange|air}} (M180)

| J35

| The SOUTH M18, Scunthorpe, Humberside {{rail-interchange|air}}, Doncaster Sheffield {{rail-interchange|air}} (M180)

|- style="text-align:center;"

| Goole A614

| J36

| Goole A614

|- style="text-align:center;"

| colspan=3 | Ouse Bridge

|- style="text-align:center;"

| Howden A614, Selby (A63)

| J37

| Bridlington, York, Howden A614

|- style="text-align:center;"

| Start of motorway x20px

| rowspan=2 | J38

| North Cave, Gilberdyke

|- style="text-align:center;"

| Newport B1230
Non-motorway traffic

| End of motorway x20px
Road continues as A63 towards Hull

{{jctbtm|keys=concur,incomplete}}
Data from driver location signs is used to provide distance and carriageway identifier information.

M62 Network Schematic showing extents of the Driver Location Signs Scheme within Area 12, Highway Authority 2009{{cite map |title= Driver Location Signs, Highway Agency Area 10 |author= Highway Authority |year= 2009 |publisher= Highway Authority}}

References

Notes

Bibliography

{{cite book |last = Johnson |first = E. Peter |title = The Trans-Pennine Motorway M62 |year = 1972 |publisher = Dalesman |isbn = 0-85206-161-7 }}

External links

Category:Motorways in England

Category:Roads in Cheshire

Category:Transport in the East Riding of Yorkshire

Category:Roads in Greater Manchester

Category:Roads in Merseyside

Category:Transport in North Yorkshire

Category:Roads in Yorkshire

Category:Transport in West Yorkshire