UK motorways in 2022
  M-designated motorway
  Upgraded A-road designation

This list of motorways in the United Kingdom is a complete list of motorways in the United Kingdom. Note that the numbering scheme used for Great Britain does not include roads in Northern Ireland, which are allocated numbers on an ad hoc basis.[1]

Great Britain

M-designated motorways

Link Route Ceremonial counties (England)
Council areas (Scotland)
Principal areas (Wales)		 Highest junction to junction average daily vehicle flow 2019[2] Length
mi km
M1 The eastern north–south motorway linking London (Hendon) to Leeds and continuing north to the A1(M) near Garforth. The first inter-urban motorway. Greater London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire 168,763 193.5 311.4
M2 From Strood to Faversham. Bypasses the Medway Towns. Kent 106,582 25.7 41.4
M3 Main motorway from London to Hampshire and South West England. Linking Sunbury-on-Thames to Southampton. Surrey, Hampshire 136,059 58.6 94.3
M4 The southern east–west motorway linking London (Chiswick) to Bristol and on to South Wales, terminating at Pont Abraham services, just beyond Pontarddulais. Greater London, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, Newport, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Carmarthenshire 161,807 189 304
M5 The main motorway through South West England. Linking the M6 at Great Barr (on the Birmingham / West Bromwich / Walsall border) to Exminster near Exeter. West Midlands, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Somerset, Devon 127,584 162.9 262.2
M6 The main western north–south motorway linking the Midlands with north-west England and Scotland. Starts at the M1/A14 near Catthorpe, Leicestershire and terminates at the A74(M) just south of Gretna. Leicestershire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria 173,201 232.2 373.7
M6 Toll A toll motorway bypassing a busy stretch of the M6 around the Birmingham and Wolverhampton areas from near Coleshill to Cannock. West Midlands, Staffordshire, Warwickshire 110,489 27 43
M8 Linking Edinburgh to the A8 at Langbank, via Glasgow and Livingston. Edinburgh, West Lothian, North Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Renfrewshire 160,484 60.3 97.0
M9 Linking the M8 just west of Edinburgh to Dunblane via Stirling and Falkirk. Edinburgh, West Lothian, Falkirk, Stirling 68,143 33.0 53.1
M11 Linking London (South Woodford) to Cambridge and the A14. Greater London, Essex, Cambridgeshire 121,964 55.0 88.5
M18 Linking the M1 at Rotherham to the M62 near Goole. South Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire 108,855 26.5 42.6
M20 Linking the M25 at Swanley to Folkestone. Kent 120,348 50.6 81.4
M23 London's main link to Gatwick Airport, Crawley and Brighton. Linking Hooley in Surrey (just north of the M25, and south of Coulsdon) to Pease Pottage (just south of Crawley). Originally planned to extend into London. Surrey, West Sussex 110,574 15.9 25.6
M25 The London orbital motorway, numbered clockwise from Darenth around London to Thurrock. (The Dartford Crossing between Thurrock and Dartford is not classified as the M25, being the A282 instead.) Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Greater London, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex 216,108 117 188
M26 A short link between the M25 at Sevenoaks and the M20 before Maidstone. Originally part of the M25. Kent 70,674 9.9 15.9
M27 The south coast route running from Cadnam, west of Southampton, to Portsmouth. Hampshire 134,210 25.0 40.2
M32 A spur from the M4 near Winterbourne to central Bristol. Gloucestershire, Bristol 84,898 4.4 7.1
M40 The southeast–northwest motorway linking Denham, west of London, to the M42 south of Solihull. Provides an alternative to the M1/M6 route between London and Birmingham. Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire 133,490 89.0 143.2
M42 Part of the Birmingham orbital motorway, from the M5 near Bromsgrove, via Solihull,running around the south and east of Birmingham and continuing anti-clockwise towards Measham. A section near Coleshill has been replaced by the M6 Toll. Continues northeast as non-motorway A42 to M1 J23A near Nottingham. Worcestershire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Leicestershire 154,532 40.0 64.4
M45 A short spur linking the A45 south west of Rugby to the M1 south east of Rugby and north of Daventry. Warwickshire, Northamptonshire 19,536 7.9 12.7
M48 The Severn Bridge, linking the M4 at Olveston (near Thornbury), over the River Severn, to the M4 at Rogiet (near Caldicot). This used to be part of the M4 before the Second Severn Crossing was built. Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire 22,632 12 19
M49 A short link from the M5 to the M4 west of Bristol. Bristol, Gloucestershire 22,461 5.0 8.0
M50 Linking the M5 north of Tewkesbury to Ross-on-Wye and to South Wales via the A449 Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire 32,032 21.6 34.8
M53 Linking Wallasey and Chester. Part of route originally designated M531. Merseyside, Cheshire 79,872 18.9 30.4
M54 Linking the M6 north of Wolverhampton to Wellington west of Telford. Staffordshire, Shropshire 70,652 23.0 37.0
M55 Linking the M6 north of Preston to Blackpool. Lancashire 84,905 12.2 19.6
M56 Linking Manchester (Gatley) to the A5117 between Ellesmere Port and Chester. Greater Manchester, Cheshire 174,693 33.3 53.6
M57 The Liverpool bypass running north-west from the M62 near Huyton to Switch Island between Maghull and Aintree. Merseyside 99,521 10 16
M58 Linking Switch Island (between Maghull and Aintree, northern Liverpool) to Orrell, near Wigan. Merseyside, Lancashire, Greater Manchester 49,376 12 19
M60 The Manchester Outer Ring Road, an orbital motorway, numbered clockwise from Stockport. Includes part of former route of M62. Greater Manchester 180,501 36 58
M61 Linking Manchester (Worsley) to Bamber Bridge near Preston. Greater Manchester, Lancashire 150,331 20.0 32.2
M62 The trans-Pennine link – connecting Liverpool to the A63 between North Cave and Newport, west of Hull. There is a gap in the motorway between Winton and Simister where the road has been reclassified to become the north-western part of the M60 Manchester orbital motorway. From its western terminus to J6, the M62 is not a trunk road and is under the jurisdiction of Liverpool City Council. It is England's northern east–west motorway. Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire 161,700 107 172
M65 Linking Bamber Bridge near Preston to Colne. From J10 to J14, the M65 is not a trunk road and is under the jurisdiction of Lancashire County Council. Lancashire 82,970 25.8 41.5
M66 Linking Ramsbottom to the M60 at Simister Island, near Whitefield. Lancashire, Greater Manchester 111,851 8.0 12.9
M67 Linking the M60 at Denton, east Manchester, to Hattersley, east of Hyde. Greater Manchester 58,435 5.0 8.0
M69 Linking Coventry to Leicester. Warwickshire, Leicestershire 64,828 15.7 25.3
M73 Linking the M74 near Uddingston to the M80, south-west of Cumbernauld. North Lanarkshire, Glasgow, South Lanarkshire 95,331 7.0 11.3
M74 Linking Glasgow (Tradeston) to the A74(M) at Abington. Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire 107,475 40 60
M77 Linking the M8 at Glasgow (Pollokshields) to Fenwick near Kilmarnock. Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire 94,151 20.0 32.2
M80 Linking the M8 at Glasgow (Riddrie) and the M9 south of Stirling. Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Falkirk, Stirling 104,305 25.0 40.2
M90 Linking M9, west of the Edinburgh, to Perth. Formerly terminated at Inverkeithing (current J1C), but was extended in 2017 with the opening of the Queensferry Crossing.[3] Edinburgh, Fife, Perth and Kinross 76,503 36.0 57.9
M180 Linking the M18 at Thorne to the junction of the A15 (south of the Humber Bridge) and A180 (west of Grimsby). South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire 48,780 25.0 40.2
M181 A spur from the M180 running to the west of Scunthorpe. Lincolnshire 18,213 2.0 3.2
M271 Spurs from the M27 heading north to the A3057 (south of Romsey), and south to Redbridge, Southampton. Hampshire 53,678 2.3 3.7
M275 A spur from the M27 on Horsea Island into Portsmouth (Landport). The motorway is not a trunk road and is under the jurisdiction of Portsmouth City Council. Hampshire 86,291 2.0 3.2
M602 Linking the M62 at Winton to Salford, just west of the centre of Manchester. Greater Manchester 73,292 4.0 6.4
M606 A spur from the M62 near Cleckheaton into Bradford. West Yorkshire 77,277 3.0 4.8
M621 Linking the M62 at Gildersome to the M1 near Rothwell. The motorway runs close to the centre of Leeds. West Yorkshire 103,207 7.7 12.4
M876 Linking the M80 near Denny, north-west of Falkirk, to the A876 near the Kincardine Bridge. A short section of the motorway north of Stenhousemuir is classified as the M9. Falkirk 42,611 8.0 12.9
M898 A spur from the M8 near Erskine to the A898, the Erskine Bridge approach road. Renfrewshire 51,831 0.5 0.8

Upgraded A-road designations

Link Route Ceremonial counties (England)
Council areas (Scotland)
Principal areas (Wales)		 Highest junction to junction average daily vehicle flow 2019[2]
A1(M) Four sections of the A1 between London and Gateshead have been upgraded, reduced from five in March 2018 with the completion of the Leeming Bar to Barton (near Darlington) stretch: Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, County Durham, Tyne and Wear 143,012
A3(M) Linking the dual-carriageway A3 north of Horndean to the A27 near Havant. Hampshire 92,989
A8(M) Linking the M8 and the M73 interchange (Baillieston Roundabout) to A8 Glasgow and Edinburgh road (Swinton Roundabout). Glasgow 10,586
A38(M) A spur from the M6 at the Gravelly Hill Interchange (Spaghetti Junction) to central Birmingham, also known as the Aston Expressway. It has no central reservation, but uses a tidal flow system: the number of lanes open in each direction varies according to prevailing traffic conditions. West Midlands 146,908
A48(M) Linking the M4 near Castleton to Cardiff (St Mellons). Newport, Cardiff 47,203
A57(M) Known as the Mancunian Way, forms the southern part of Manchester's inner ring road, running from a junction on Deansgate to the A635 near Piccadilly Station. It is elevated and runs through the centre of the campus of UMIST, now part of the University of Manchester.

It also passes through the Manchester Metropolitan University, just south of the John Dalton building, and north of the Union building.

 Greater Manchester 90,785
A58(M) The western part of the Leeds inner ring road, running from Wellington Road (A58) to join the A64(M) at the junction with Claypit Lane (also A58). West Yorkshire 81,647
A64(M) The eastern part of the Leeds inner ring road, running from the A58(M) at the junction with Claypit Lane (A58), to York Road (A64). 43,617
A66(M) A spur from the A1(M) near Cleasby joining the A66 heading into Darlington. North Yorkshire 15,337
A74(M) Linking the M74 at Abington to the M6 at Gretna. South Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Cumbria 41,662
A167(M) An urban motorway in central Newcastle upon Tyne running from just north of the Tyne Bridge to just north of Newcastle University. Original route of A1(M) which was then renumbered A6127(M) when the A1(M) was rerouted. Tyne and Wear 63,911
A194(M) Linking the A1(M) at Birtley (near Gateshead) to A194 near Wardley, leading to the Tyne Tunnel. This was for a time part of the A1(M) before regaining its number when the A1(M) was rerouted. 42,802
A308(M) Linking the M4 junction 8/9 to the A308 near Bray. Berkshire 23,541
A329(M) Linking Bracknell to Winnersh near Reading, crossing the M4. 69,520
A404(M) Linking the M4 junction 8/9 to the A4 at Maidenhead Thicket. Numbered as A423(M) until the A423 was downgraded. This was originally the planned route for the M4. 59,816
A627(M) Linking Rochdale and Chadderton, crossing the M62. Greater Manchester 55,749
A823(M) A spur from the M90 near Rosyth to the A823 south of Dunfermline. Fife 20,363
A1077(M) The former northern section of the M181 Lincolnshire 18,213

Secretive (unsigned) motorways

Link Description
A92(M) Possible number for the spur from M90 J2A to the A92 near Dumfermline. Number does not appear on any maps, signs or in official documents, but a blue route confirmation sign shows "A92" instead of "(A92)", suggesting that this section of motorway is part of A92 under motorway restrictions (hence A92(M)), but it could be just a spur of the M90, however.[4]
A168(M) Possible, but disputed, number for the spur from the A1(M) J49 to the A168. Like the A92(M), the only evidence is a blue route confirmation sign that shows "A168" instead of "(A168)"; the route could just be a spur of the A1(M), however.[5]
A195(M) Secret number for the spur from the A1(M) near Washington services to meet the A195 (former A1231) near Washington. There are no start of motorway "chopsticks" signs, and only a route confirmation sign showing "A195" on a blue signpost. Route was formerly A1231(M).[6]
A635(M) Forms a small part of the Mancunian Way for 0.3 miles before becoming the A57(M). It isn't signposted and was formerly the UK's smallest motorway until 2016. Signs at the entrance of the Mancunian Way westbound show A57(M).[7]
A666(M) Unsigned motorway between Bolton and Salford and part of the Worsley Braided Interchange. There is not a single Driver Location Sign, and all overhead signs refer to "(M60)" or "(A666)".[8]
A1058(M) Short stub of Newcastle upon Tyne's unbuilt Coast Road Motorway, planned to run from the A167(M) to the Coast Road at its junction with the A188. Signage plans for the A1(M) show that the A1058(M) was to be signed as such, despite 1981 photographs showing it as A1058. The only evidence of the number is from a blue route confirmation sign that shows "A1058". Present signage approaching the junction with the A1058 and B1600 show A167(M) with chopsticks on the ADS, but there is no chopsticks sign on the road itself.[9]
A6138(M) Links the town of Slattocks to the A627(M). Number only shown on a 1977 Esso map of Northern England, and all signs refer the route as being part of the A627(M), rather than its own number. The A6138(M) number is probably a typo or a copyright trap, as it has no A road equivalent.[10]

Former motorways

Roads which used to be motorways but have been downgraded:

Link Description
M10 A short spur northwest bound and southeast bound linking St Albans to the M1 near Hemel Hempstead. After 50 years as a motorway spur, it was downgraded to the A414 in 2009 due to widening of the M1 between the M25 and Luton.
M15 The designation for the Ringway 2 upgrade of the A406 (North Circular Road) and A205 (South Circular Road). Only the section between junction 4 of the M11 and Redbridge Roundabout was built to motorway standard and was initially signed as M11 because the section built, at the time, only led to and from the M11. When the route was extended to Beckton, this section of M11 was redesignated as the A406 (North Circular Road).[11]
M41 The London West Cross Route, a spur from the London Westway (A40(M)) and the only part of the western section of the London Motorway Box to be built; downgraded to the A3220 in 2000.[12]
A18(M) A spur from M18. Mostly now part of M180, although a section has been abandoned.
A21(M) Disputed, secret number for the section of the A21 Sevenoaks bypass that became the M25 in 1986.
A36(M) Claimed number for the spur at M27 J2. Initially part of the M27 until the Totton Western Bypass opened after which it was downgraded to an extension of the A36.[13] The A36(M) designation was never used; the route was simply named as a spur of M27.
A40(M) The London Westway, downgraded to A40 in 2000.[12]
A41(M) The Tring bypass, downgraded to A41 in 1987.[14]
A46(M) A spur towards Leicester from M1 at junction 21. Downgraded to A5460 due to completion of the M69.[15]
A102(M) The London East Cross Route, in two sections:
A329(M) The northern third of the A329(M) from Winnersh to Reading, now the A3290. Downgraded in the early 1990s to permit Reading council to dedicate one lane for buses.
A601(M) The southern part (single carriageway link to the B6254) is now the B6601. Downgraded in 2020 to enable access to adjacent development.[16] The remainder of the route was downgraded to the A6070 in 2023.[17]
A6144(M) Formerly the longest single-carriageway motorway spur in the United Kingdom from the M60 north of Sale towards Carrington. Now just a spur of the A6144.

Motorways that have been renumbered

Link Description
M16 Ringway 3; originally to be the northern section of the M25 but was renumbered before opening.
M52 Planned as a Liverpool-to-Manchester motorway; nearly all of it opened as part of the M62 cross-country route, and a short section as the M64 (later M602) in Manchester.[18]
M62 Originally planned to be the western loop around Manchester and Salford; became part of the M63 before the western extension of the M62 was opened; now the M60 J7-J13.[19]
M63 Manchester South Orbital; merged with parts of the M62 and M66 in 1999 to form the new M60 Manchester orbital motorway.
M64 Eccles Bypass, formerly part of the M52; it was not considered important enough to carry a two-digit number (and it had not yet opened) and was redesignated as M602.[20]
M65 Gildersome to Leeds Motorway; not considered important enough (and it had not yet opened) to carry a two-digit number, it was redesignated as M621.[21]
M68 Allocated to the southern and eastern sections of the Manchester Outer Ring Road. The eastern section became a portion of the M66 when it opened north of the M62 in the early 1970s and was renumbered to M60 J18-19 in 1998[22] while the southern section was eventually dropped altogether by 2010.
M85 Renumbered to M90 J10-11 in 1994. Previously the M90 carried on along the spur into Perth, leaving the main route ahead as the M85.[23]
M531 Ellesmere Port Motorway; was the A5032 before 1975. Now the M53 J5-10.[24]
A1(M) Central Motorway East; became the A6127(M) when the A1 was rerouted to run through the Tyne Tunnel. Now the A167(M).[25]
A2(M) Provisional number for the Medway Motor Road, a bypass of Chatham, Gillingham and Rochester. Changed to M2 as a result of an article in the 15 December 1959 edition of The Daily Telegraph.[26]
A4(M) Maidenhead Bypass; became a portion of the M4 and later part of the A423(M). Now the A404(M). A small section was abandoned.[27]
A5(M) Provisional number for the Wellington Bypass, redesignated as the M54 before construction was complete.[28]
A8(M) Provisional number for the Renfrew Bypass, now part of the M8.[29]
A14(M) Secretive (unsigned) motorway linking the A14 and A1(M) near Huntingdon. Documents referred the route as A14(M) or A604(M). Became a part of A1(M) when the A14(M) designation was moved to the Huntingdon-Cambridge section of the A14.[30]
A20(M) Maidstone Bypass; now the M20 J5-8.[31]
A23(M) Original number of the M23.
A40(M) High Wycombe Bypass; now part of the M40.[27]
A48(M) Morriston Bypass; now the M4 J44-46.[32]
A48(M) Port Talbot Bypass; now the M4 J39-41.[33]
A50 Original designation of the M1.[34]
A62(M) Original designation for the Leeds Southeastern Urban Motorway, now the M621.
A65(M) Erroneous designation for the A64(M), either a map error or a deliberate trap street.
A185(M) Map error for A194(M), appearing in a 1969 map. Number officially never used.
A423(M) Originally A4(M)[27] and then part of the M4. Now the A404(M).[35]
A446(M) Now the M6 Toll.[36]
A638(M) Now the M606.[37]
A1231(M) Secretive (unsigned) spur from the A1(M) near Washington Services. Now part of A195(M), also secretly numbered.
A6127(M) Originally A1(M); now the A167(M).[38]

Motorways under construction or planned

The Adwick-le-Street to M62 stretch of the A1 is under consideration for upgrade to motorway standard, meaning the A1 between Blyth, south of Doncaster, to Birtley near Gateshead, would all be part of the same A1(M) stretch of motorway.

In addition, the proposal to put a tunnel under the River Thames to the east of Dartford Crossing and the revived Birmingham Western Orbital plans are both described as motorways.[39][40]

Unbuilt motorways

There have been many plans for motorways in the UK that have not been built. Below is a list of plans that were not built (not exhaustive):

  • M1 Sterling Corner Link, linking the A1 at Sterling Corner to the M1.[41]
  • M12 in 3 forms (although a small part was built and is not used - a stub sliproad):[42]
  • M13, from East London to Maplin Sands Airport passing south of Southend.[43]
  • M17 Castle Donington bypass, a short spur off the M1. Now part of the A42.
  • M19, M1 to A1 in Yorkshire. Functionally equivalent to the M62 between junction 29 and 32A, but located further to the north, and without the eastern extension to Hull.[44] Now part of the M62.
  • M30, a proposed renumbering of the M3 once it was extended from Basingstoke to Southampton, but it never happened and the route remains the M3.[45]
  • M31, a bypass of the busiest section of the M25, cutting the corner for traffic from the west.[46] Partially built as the A329(M) and A3290.
  • M56-M62 Link, from the M56 to the M62, cutting the corner in Cheshire. Cancelled in 1993.[47]
  • M58, very early proposed number for the proposed Preston Southern Bypass.
  • M58 Mid-Lancashire Motorway, from west of Wigan to west of Bolton and the M61; cancelled in 1969. In the mid-1970s the M58 was reinstated, but as a two-lane dual carriageway and was cancelled again in 1986. In 1989, it was re-instated a second time, but was rerouted to end at the A58 instead of the M61 in 1993 and cancelled yet again in 1996. Wigan MBC picked up the M58 in the late 1990s, but only the western end was dual carriageway and the rest was downgraded to single carriageway. In 2007 the M58 was cancelled for good.[48]
  • M59, M58 J2 to south of Preston. Gradually trimmed back and eventually cancelled, partially due to widening of the M6.[49]
  • M60, a bypass of Altrincham and Sale, running from the M56 to Manchester. One section built as the A6144(M),[50] and the section between M6 and M56 was built as an all-purpose dual carriageway bypass of the A556.[51]
  • M62 Relief Road, intended to relieve traffic on the existing M62, running alongside the M62 to the north and west of Salford and Manchester. Cancelled in 1995.[52]
  • M64, between the M6 south of Stoke-on-Trent and the M1 near Derby. Cancelled in 1976 to save costs, but the central section was built as an upgrade of the A50.
  • Most of the M67 – from Hattersley to the M1 via the Hope Valley in the Peak District national park and Sheffield. Various routes have been proposed but have yet to come to fruition due to controversy and/or expense.[53] In 2014, the then Sheffield Hallam MP and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg signalled his support for improvements to the Woodhead Pass.[54]
  • M81, proposed number for the Maryhill Motorway and Trossachs Motorway, bypassing the A81 between Central Glasgow and Milngavie.
  • M82, proposed number for the North Link Motorway and Lomond Motorway.
  • M83, proposed number for the South Link Motorway and East Link Motorway, providing a south bypass of Glasgow via Rutherglen.
  • M100, number reserved by the Department for Transport for a completed A1(M) between London and Tyneside.
  • M111 (or M110), number reserved for the rump section of the M1 if the route was extended west to the A1. Because the M1 was extended east, the renumbering never happened.
  • M272 Portswood Link, initially cancelled in the mid-1970s, but was reinstated in the 1980s as M27. Built as the A335 in 1989.
  • M274, proposed number for the M27 spur / M275 mainline from the M27 northwards at Port Solent Interchange. Number never assigned or used; now part of the M27/M275.
  • M601, which would have entered Manchester from the M62 (now the M60) in the Irwell Valley at Clifton near Pendlebury.[55]
  • M650 Aire Valley Motorway, from near Silsden to Shipley. Cancelled in 1975; the A650 was built instead.[56]
  • A2(M) Dover Radial Route, which would have run between Ringway 1 and Ringway 2. Built as the A2 Rochester Way Relief Road in 1988.[57]
  • A6(M), bypassing Stockport to the west.
  • A6(M) (or M66 extension), which would have formed an eastern bypass for Stockport.[58] As of March 2006, this is still under the planning stage as part of the SEMMMS (south east Manchester multi modal study) project (though not as motorway).
  • A11(M), original number for the M11.
  • A14(M), number for the planned upgrade of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon. The proposal was dropped in 2019 to allow the road to be opened sooner, and it opened as the A14 as a "best in Class A road" instead.[59][60]
  • A34(M), a motorway standard bypass of Handforth, Wilmslow and Alderley Edge. The route later opened as non-motorway A34 bypasses.
  • A48(M) Llantrisant Radial, branching off the A48 and running west out of Cardiff towards M4 J33. Cancelled in 1971 in favor of construction of the M4 north of Cardiff.[61]
  • A59(M) Ormskirk Bypass, planned bypass of Ormskirk, Burscough and Rufford. Became part of the planned M59 in 1963.[62]
  • A61(M) Sheffield Urban Motorway Link[63]
  • A556(M), which would have cut the corner between the M6 and M56 near Warrington, cancelled in 2003.[64] Completed in 2017 as an all-purpose dual carriageway bypass of the A556.
  • A695(M) Shields Road Motorway, running from the A167(M) to A187 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, cancelled in 1975. Later partially built as a bypass of the A193.
  • A Ring, planned ring around Central London. Cancelled in 1950 as too expensive.[65]
  • Belmont Link Motorway, linking the M6 to the A675 south of Higher Walton. It was proposed as part of the 1949 Road Plan for Lancashire, and its line confirmed by the Ministry in 1960, but no construction contracts were granted.[66]
  • Bilston Link Motorway, linking M6 J10 to the A4123.[67]
  • Blackpole - Whittington Motorway, proposed motorway in Worcester serving new development east of the city. The portion north of the B4636 is now the B4638.
  • Central Motorway East Bypass, bypassing the Central Motorway East and the Tyne Bridge. Cancelled as it was ahead of its time, although some stub sliproads were built in case the motorway was built later.
  • Central Motorway West, running from New Redheugh Bridge to Town Moor Interchange, cancelled in 1975. One section completed as the B1318 and another section became a surface-level road.
  • Central Spine Motorway, running north-south via Worcester.
  • Chippenham Spur, off the M4[68]
  • Claremont Road Motorway, essentially an extension of the Central Motorway East to relieve traffic on Claremont Road. Built as the A167 and A167(M).
  • Coventry North-South Motorway, running north to south through Coventry. All of the route (except for one section) built as the A444.[69]
  • Cublington Airport Motorway, planned motorway to serve Cublington Airport.
  • Denham Spur, cutting the corner between the M40 and Ringway 3 to the north
  • Derby Urban Motorway, proposed link from the Derby Inner Ring Road (A601) to the then-A6 (now A5194) at London Road
  • Droitwich - Leicester Motorway, a proposed pre-war motorway, one of two crossing the Midlands between the M1 and the Bristol-Birmingham-Preston motorway corridor (this one was southwest-northeast, the other was southeast-northwest). It eventually morphed into the M42 and M69 schemes. The route was numbered as M4 and M46.
  • East Coast Motorway, unofficial proposal in early 1991 for a motorway running along the eastern side of England.
  • East Cross Route, from Hackney Wick to Kidbrooke Park as the eastern section of Ringway 1. Now the A12 and A102.
  • East Kilbride Motorway
  • East-West Underground Motorway, running underground beneath Newcastle-upon-Tyne.[70]
  • Eastern Motorway (Portsmouth), planned motorway running from the M27 to Portsmouth, complementing the M275.
  • EuroRoute, rival proposal to the Channel Tunnel.[71]
  • Friars Goose Crossing, planned crossing of the River Tyne, linking Newcastle to the south.[72]
  • Furness Link, running from the M6 at Carnforth to Grange-over-Sands. Now the A601(M).[73]
  • Glasgow Inner Ring Road, planned ring road around Glasgow city center. Partially built as M8 J15-J20.[74]
  • Hamilton-Cumbernauld Motorway
  • Hook Road, connecting Cardiff to the northern suburbs at the missing M4 J31. Cancelled in 1972 due to immense opposition.
  • Johnstone Motorway
  • Kendal Link
  • Liverpool Inner Motorway
  • London Oxford Airport Motorway
  • Malvern Radial Motorway, proposed motorway in Worcester, running west of the city center and bypassing the A44 through St Johns and ending at the A4103 at Rushwick. A dual carriageway link would continue on to the A449 at Powick, taking traffic to Malvern.
  • Manchester Inner Ring Road, planned ring road around Manchester city center.
  • Morecambe Link Motorway, an east-west bypass of Lancaster
  • Newport Southern Bypass, planned bypass of M4 to the south of Newport. Planned to be tolled, it was designated as M4 Toll. It was scrapped in 2009 due to increased costs of building the road. Although given full approval in 2014, it was cancelled again in 2019.
  • North Cross Route, northern section of Ringway 1 (innermost ring of London). Only a small section was constructed at the eastern end, and no evidence has been found that it had a motorway number.
  • Northern and Western Motorway, a 1923 motorway plan. A core section would run from the A45 to the east of Coventry, around southern Birmingham and the west of the Black Country and Wolverhampton north to Manchester and Salford and ending at the A57. A southern section would branch off at Coventry and head to London, paralleling the A41 and along the present A413 to the end of the proposed Western Avenue (A403) at the Denham Roundabout. A northern branch was planned from Altrincham to Liverpool and even a branch of this branch, from St Helens to Oldham, passing north of Manchester. Government disinterest and the power of the railways killed off the plan.
  • Paisley - Hamilton Motorway
  • Princess Parkway Motorway, heading south from Manchester. Part of route now the A5103 north of M56 J3.
  • Ringway 2, planned upgrades of the A205 and A406 and a replacement for the Woolrich Ferry. One section, between the M11 and A13, would have been designated as the M15.
  • Sheffield Spur Motorway, a section of M1 left over when it was rerouted to end at Doncaster. It was numbered M11 or M58 (depending on numbering scheme). This spur was extended towards Leeds and became the M1 again, while the rump bit between Thurcroft and Doncaster became the M18.
  • South Bristol Spur, running from Ashton Gate to M5 J20. Portion of route now the A370.
  • South Cross Route, the southern section of Ringway 1. Never built.
  • Strensham – Solihull motorway, a link between the M50 and M42; it was routed via Evesham but this was cancelled as it ran through farmland, and so it was changed to ran through Redditch instead. In the earliest stages of planning, a route that would have linked it with the M69 was considered.[75]
  • Thames Gateway Airport Access Road, linking M2 J1 at Strood to the proposed Thames Gateway Airport.
  • Townhill Link Motorway, from M27 J6 (also not built) into Southampton via Townhill and ending at Mousehole Roundabout north of Bitterne. Unofficially numbered as M273.
  • Trafford Park Motorway, sort spur with an intermediate junction that was part of SELNEC plans.
  • Warndon Radial Motorway, proposed motorway in Worcester running from the Central Spine Motorway to the Blackpole-Whittington Motorway.
  • Western Orbital Motorway - M6 north of M54/M6 junction to M5 near Bromsgrove. Planned to relieve congestion in the West Midlands, this would have diverted traffic heading north west to south west away from the heavily congested M6 south of Walsall. A spur was planned to link to the A449 north of Wombourne. This proposal has been around since construction of the M42 started. The idea hasn't been completely abandoned but is more likely to be built as an all-purpose road rather than a motorway.
  • Weston Spur, running from the M5 to Weston-super-Mare

Many cities had urban motorway plans, most of which were not built. London,[76] Newcastle,[77] Liverpool,[78] Manchester/SELNEC and Glasgow[78] all had extensive plans.

Northern Ireland

M-designated motorways

Link Route Council areas
M1 Linking Belfast to Dungannon. Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Mid Ulster
M2 In two sections, one linking Belfast to Antrim, and the other bypassing Ballymena. The section in between was planned, but never built. Belfast, Antrim and Newtownabbey, Mid and East Antrim
M3 Linking the M2 in north Belfast to the A2 Sydenham Bypass in east Belfast. Belfast
M5 Linking the M2 in north Belfast to Newtownabbey. Belfast, Antrim and Newtownabbey
M12 A spur from the M1 near Derrymacash to the north of Portadown. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
M22 Linking the M2 at Antrim to Randalstown. Antrim and Newtownabbey

Upgraded A-road designations

Link Route Council areas
A8(M) A spur from the M2 near Glengormley to the A8 north-west of Newtownabbey. Antrim and Newtownabbey

Unbuilt motorways

The following motorways were planned, but never built:

  • M4, from Belfast south to Carryduff, where the roads to Newcastle and Downpatrick split. Bypasses the A24 Ormeau Road.[79]
  • M6, branching off the M5 and heading north to Larne.[79]
  • M7, bypassing the A20 between central Belfast and Dundonald, with plans to extend it to Newtownards. Ran along an old railway line.[79]
  • M8 Belfast Southern Link, ran along the Lagan Valley from the M1 at Belfast to the M4 at Stranmillis, intended to distribute traffic heading from Lisburn to Belfast, taking traffic heading to North Down and East Belfast off the M1 before M11 traffic from Newry and northern Lisburn merged in. Cancelled in 1969 due to poor traffic estimates and the removal of a section of the M4 north of Stranmillis.[79]
  • M11, from the M1 going through Lisburn and then crossing the M1 again and ending at Newry. Intended to be the main route for Dublin, bypassing the A1. Not seen as important, being one of the lowest priorities for construction and relied on Craigavon plans for a new large city being built. Cancelled in 1969; the A1 was upgraded instead.[79]
  • M21 Belfast Airport Motorway, number reserved for a motorway to Belfast Airport.
  • M23, from the M2 to Derry.[79]

There were also urban motorway plans for Belfast.[80][79]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Northern Ireland Assembly – WRITTEN ANSWERS Friday 15 December 2000". Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
  2. 1 2 "GB Road Traffic Counts". Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  3. ↑ Pattison, Andrew (27 November 2012). "Scotland gets its first "Managed Motorway"". Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A92(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  5. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A168(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  6. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A195(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  7. ↑ "A635(M) Mancunian Way only a single bridge". Pathetic Motorways.
  8. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A666(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  9. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A1058(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  10. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A6138(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  11. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M15". pathetic.org.uk.
  12. 1 2 3 Under its charter, motorways are excluded from the remit of Transport for London. These routes had their motorway status removed to allow TfL control over them.
  13. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A36(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  14. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A41(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  15. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A46(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  16. ↑ "The Lancashire County Council (A601(M) Partial Revocation) Scheme 2019 Confirmation Instrument 2020".
  17. ↑ "The end of the A601(M) | Roads.org.uk". www.roads.org.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  18. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M52". pathetic.org.uk.
  19. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M62". pathetic.org.uk.
  20. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M64". pathetic.org.uk.
  21. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M65". pathetic.org.uk.
  22. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M68". pathetic.org.uk.
  23. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M85". pathetic.org.uk.
  24. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M531". pathetic.org.uk.
  25. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A1(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  26. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A2(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  27. 1 2 3 "Pathetic Motorways: A4(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  28. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A5(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  29. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A8(M)".
  30. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A14(M)".
  31. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A20(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  32. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A48(M) Morriston Bypass". pathetic.org.uk.
  33. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A48(M) Port Talbot Bypass". pathetic.org.uk.
  34. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A50". pathetic.org.uk.
  35. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A423(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  36. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A446(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  37. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A638(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  38. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A6127(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  39. ↑ "Lower Thames Crossing Statutory Consultation - Highways England - Citizen Space". highwaysengland.citizenspace.com.
  40. ↑ Elkes, Neil (6 June 2018). "Revealed: New bypass plan to end M6 and M5 traffic misery". birminghammail.
  41. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M1 Sterling Corner Link". pathetic.org.uk.
  42. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M12". pathetic.org.uk.
  43. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M13". pathetic.org.uk.
  44. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M19". pathetic.org.uk.
  45. ↑ "M30". SABRE Wiki.
  46. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M31". pathetic.org.uk.
  47. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M56-M62 Link". pathetic.org.uk.
  48. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M58". pathetic.org.uk.
  49. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M59". pathetic.org.uk.
  50. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M60". pathetic.org.uk.
  51. ↑ "A556 Knutsford to Bowden improvement scheme". costain.com.
  52. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M62 Relief Road". pathetic.org.uk.
  53. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M67". www.pathetic.org.uk.
  54. ↑ "TransPennine: "Go the whole way, complete the M67, with a tunnel underneath"". 9 November 2014.
  55. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M601". pathetic.org.uk.
  56. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: M650". pathetic.org.uk.
  57. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A2(M) Dover Radial Route". pathetic.org.uk.
  58. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A6(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  59. ↑ "Plans for part of A14 upgrade to become a motorway". GOV.UK. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  60. ↑ "New A14 bypass to open a year early". GOV.UK. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  61. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A48(M) Llantrisant Radial". pathetic.org.uk.
  62. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A59(M) Ormskirk Bypass". pathetic.org.uk.
  63. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A61(M) Sheffield Urban Motorway Link". pathetic.org.uk.
  64. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A556(M)". pathetic.org.uk.
  65. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: A Ring". pathetic.org.uk.
  66. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: Belmont Link Motorway". pathetic.org.uk.
  67. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: Bilston Link Motorway". pathetic.org.uk.
  68. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: Chippenham Spur". pathetic.org.uk.
  69. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: Coventry North-South Motorway". pathetic.org.uk.
  70. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: Newcastle East-West Motorway". pathetic.org.uk.
  71. ↑ "EuroRoute". Roads.org.uk.
  72. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: Friars Goose Crossing". pathetic.org.uk.
  73. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: Furness Link". pathetic.org.uk.
  74. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: Glasgow Inner Ring Road". pathetic.org.uk.
  75. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways: Stensham-Solihull Motorway". pathetic.org.uk.
  76. ↑ CBRD Histories: London Ringways Archived 18 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  77. ↑ "Pathetic Motorways". pathetic.org.uk.
  78. 1 2 "Articles". Roads.org.uk.
  79. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "History - Northern Ireland Motorway Plans - Northern Ireland Roads Site". www.wesleyjohnston.com.
  80. ↑ "History - Belfast Urban Motorway and A12 Westlink - Northern Ireland Roads Site". www.wesleyjohnston.com.
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