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The M6 motorway is the longest motorway in England, United Kingdom. It runs from a junction with the M1 near Rugby in central England, passes through Birmingham and near to the major cities ofManchester, Liverpool, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent and Preston, and runs to the north of Carlisle, close to the Scottish border. It is often claimed to be the busiest motorway in the country, although the M25 may also lay claim to this dubious distinction, depending on the measurement used. It is also sometimes referred to as the "Backbone of Britain" as it forms part of the central road corridor between Glasgow and London, connecting the industrial North of the Britain to its financial and governmental heart in the South East.
History and CuriositiesThe first section of the motorway, and indeed the first motorway in the country, near Preston, was opened by then Prime Minister Harold Macmillan on December 5,1958. In subsequent years the motorway was extended piecemeal in both directions and is now 230 miles (370 km) long. On the elevated ground between Shap and Tebay, the north and south-bound carriages split apart. Uniquely, at this point a local road runs between the two carriageways without a junction to the motorway. The section of the M6 which runs over Shap Fell in Cumbria is 320 m above sea level, one of the highest points at which any motorway in the UK runs. The West Coast main railway line runs alongside the M6 for most of its length. M6 TollThe M6 Toll, Britain's first toll motorway, was partially opened (to local traffic only) on December 9 2003 and fully opened a few days later, and runs around the east and northern sides of Birmingham and Walsall in addition to the current M6, intended to alleviate congestion at the latter's busiest point near to Wolverhampton between the M54 and M5 motorways. This stretch of motorway, at least prior to the opening of the toll, carried 180,000 vehicles per day. It was designed to carry only 72,000 vehicles. An alternative method of by passing the congestion round the West Midlands (if travelling North) is to stay on the M1 then take the A50 or A52. Future developmentsA556(M)The A556(M) link road, providing a route to the M56 eastbound towards Manchester for motorists coming from the south on the M6 has been the subject of a public inquiry for many years. M74The M74 upgrade near Gretna Green will extend the motorway to the Scottish border, connecting the M6 to the M74 and A74(M). On completion it is widely believed that the M74 will be renamed the M6, creating a motorway running more than 350 miles (563 km) from Rugby to Glasgow. However the Scottish Executive has been very reticent in confirming the rename. JunctionsThe towns, cities and roads listed are those given on road signs on the motorway as the junction is approached. Throughout we use northbound and southbound although the motorway is closer to running east-west at its beginning. See also: List of motorways in the United Kingdom External links
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