1959day.year
The first section of the M1 motorway, the first inter-urban motorway in the United Kingdom, is opened between the present junctions 5 and 18, along with the M10 motorway and M45 motorway.
On November 2, 1959, the UK’s first inter-urban motorway, the M1, opened its initial section between junctions 5 and 18, alongside the new M10 and M45 spurs.
Britain’s first inter-urban motorway, the M1, officially opened its inaugural stretch between modern-day junctions 5 and 18 on November 2, 1959. Designed to improve traffic flow between London and the industrial Midlands, the 59-mile (95 km) route represented a major leap forward in national transport infrastructure. On the same day, two spur motorways, the M10 and M45, also commenced operation, linking key urban centers to the main route. The introduction of these high-speed roads marked a departure from traditional single-carriageway A-roads, promising safer and faster journeys. Construction required significant engineering feats, including the creation of embankments, bridges, and drainage systems to cope with Britain’s varied terrain. The motorway network soon became a symbol of post-war modernization and economic growth. Over the years, the M1 has been extended and upgraded, remaining a vital artery in the UK’s transport system. Its opening set a precedent for the extensive motorway network that followed in the 1960s and 1970s.
M1 motorway
motorway
M10 motorway
M45 motorway