Worsley Braided Interchange
| Worsley Braided Interchange | |
|---|---|
 Worsley Braided Interchange in April 2011 | |
| Location | |
| City of Salford | |
| Roads at junction | |
| Construction | |
| Type | 2-level stack interchange |
| Opened | 14 October 1970 |
| Maintained by | National Highways |
The Worsley Braided Interchange is a large motorway interchange in the United Kingdom.
History
Planning
Formal planning began on 12 July 1961, when the government authorised the two surveyors of Lancashire and the West Riding - James Drake of Lancashire and Stuart Maynard Lovell of the West Riding, to plan a 50-mile (80 km) motorway from Worsley, in Lancashire, to Ledsham in the West Riding. From either end, the plan was that there would be improved roads from the eastern end, and from the western end, at Worsley, westwards to Liverpool.[1]
The draft plan of the 24-mile (39 km) section from Worsley to Outlane was published in October 1963, with the further 19 miles (31 km) published on 28 February 1964.[2]
The 5+1⁄2-mile (8.9 km) section route of the M61 to Middle Hulton (junction 4) was fixed on, including the interchange, on 22 March 1967.[3]
In 1967, the junction was designed to carry around 150,000 vehicles per day.[4]
Construction
Construction of the interchange began in the middle of 1967.
The M61 section to Worsley began on 1 January 1969, costing £12,434,103, and was to open by the end of December 1970, being built by a consortium of Sir Alfred McAlpine and Leonard Fairclough & Son (who built the bridges).[5]
The A580-M62 interchange was built by A. Monk Ltd of Padgate. A contract for 4.1 miles of the M62 was given to Monk Ltd, costing £6,143,887, being built from May 1968, from the A580 to the A56 at Whitefield.[6][7] Monk was also building Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham.[8]
The interchange was planned to open by May 1970.[9]
Opening
The section connected to the M62 opened on 14 October 1970, and the section connected to the M61 opened on 17 December 1970.
References
- ^ Liverpool Echo, 13 July 1961, p. 18.[full citation needed]
- ^ Liverpool Daily Post, 28 February 1964, p. 7[full citation needed]
- ^ Manchester Evening News, 22 March 1967, p. 13[full citation needed]
- ^ Heywood Advertiser, 13 October 1967, p. 2[full citation needed]
- ^ Leicester Daily Mercury, 31 December 1968, p. 12[full citation needed]
- ^ Liverpool Daily Post Friday 26 April 1968, page 7
- ^ Heywood Advertiser Friday 3 May 1968, page 9
- ^ Runcorn Guardian Thursday 29 April 1971, page 10
- ^ Manchester Evening News, 12 September 1969, p. 12[full citation needed]