The Motorway That Would Never Close

When it was opened, the M62 was designed to be the one pass across the Pennines that would never close.

We live and work in the Pennines. The “backbone of Britain”. A land that’s dominated by steep sided valleys and expanses of moorland. And crossed by the M62, creating as it does so, the highest motorway pass in England at 372m or 1220ft.

It’s a motorway of legend. From the fables about the farmer that wouldn’t move causing the motorway to split around his property (it’s not true, the motorway splits there because of the ground conditions, and whilst they were offered the option of relocating, they declined), to the Pennine Way bridge, a leggy structure carrying walkers on their way from Edale to Kirk Yetholm. Expanses of Saddleworth Moor dominate at it’s highest point, with all the grisly sober undertones that this area carries.

When it was opened, the M62 was designed to be the one pass across the Pennines that would never close. When other lesser A roads would get blocked, the M62 was engineered to stay open under the most severe winter conditions.

This documentary from the late ’70’s captures the winter conditions on the M62, and is truly a piece of social history. A couple of highlights below, and the full documentary too. Great reading if you’re somewhere warm, or even stuck in your car with 4G coverage.

Where do you think you're going?

Are you some sort of idiot?

Watch the full documentary

And if that wasn't enough...