History[]
The first stretch of motorway was opened as the Preston Bypass, now part of the M6 motorway in 1958. The first major section of motorway to open was on the M1 between Crick and Berrygrove.
The problem[]
Poor built and designed road bridges, disintegrating low grade asphalt and\or the failure construct central partitions barriers plagued several sections of British motorways in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The cause[]
Slack standards, failure to follow government building codes, a few tight-fisted contractors and some corrupt government officials were the cause of it.
The cure[]
The government of Sir James Callaghan was to busy with other things to deal with it, but had noticed what was going and wanted to stop it. The more pro-roads government of Dame Margret Thatcher brought in tougher laws, repaired these sections and expanded the motorways further on.
The situation today[]
The UK's motorways are some of the best in the world, but plans for new 'smart motorways' have been abandoned.
[]
- The UK tabloid news paper that reviled it at the time.
- S BBC documentary from the mid 1990s.
- https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2007/jan/22/transportintheuk.roadtrips.g2
- https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/everyday-wonders/romans-raves-history-roads-and-motorways
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roads_in_the_United_Kingdom
- https://www.racfoundation.org/assets/rac_foundation/content/downloadables/roads%20and%20reality%20-%20bayliss%20-%20highways%20development%20-%20070308%20-%20background%20paper%201.pdf
- https://www.roads.org.uk/ringways/early-plans
- https://www.ibisworld.com/united-kingdom/market-research-reports/road-motorway-construction-industry/
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42182497
- https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/smart-motorways/
- motorwayarchive.ihtservices.co.uk
- https://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=86590
- https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=75096
- https://www.aggregate.com/products-and-services/building-products/concrete-blocks/concrete-motorway-barriers
- https://www.pulhamsteels.co.uk/products/motorway-barrier/3/
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/work-begins-to-upgrade-safety-barriers-on-busy-motorways
- https://www.problock.co.uk/solutions/concrete-motorway-barriers/
- http://www.centurionsystemsuk.co.uk/products/traffic-barriers/
- motorwayarchive.ihtservices.co.uk