The most infamous roads and motorways in and around Greater Manchester

Most drivers will have roads they love and hate to drive. But whether it’s due to design, congestion or just their dangerous nature, some of Britain’s roads are more infamous than others.

Greater Manchester boasts a diverse network of roads and motorways linking cities and town centres. While many pass through heavily urbanized areas, others pass through some of the most idyllic and rugged countryside the UK has to offer.

So whether you see driving as a pleasure or just a necessary evil, we thought we’d take a look at the roads in or around Greater Manchester that have achieved fame – for good and bad reasons. From the Snake Pass to the first motorway built in Britain, here are six roads that many regular commuters will be very familiar with.

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Of course, this is not a complete list of all the roads in or around Greater Manchester that have gained fame or notoriety. So if there are any you think should be included, let us know why in the comments below.

The legendary “Snake Pass” – A57

The Snake Pass is known for being one of the most scenic roads in the UK. But the twists and turns that make it so spectacular have earned it a place on the list of the world’s most dangerous roads.

The 26-mile route, which spans the Peak District, is a popular driving route, although it can be dangerous. First opened 200 years ago in August 1821 to link the steel town with Glossop in Derbyshire, the route was named the Snake Pass after the local pub the Snake Inn.

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But the namesake Snake Inn has been renamed the Snake Pass Inn – meaning it’s named after the road that bears its name. In fact, the Snake Pass – or the A57 as it’s officially known – is closed an average of 70 days a year due to bad weather and dangerous conditions, according to Transport for the North.

The government even considered closing the road entirely in 1979, but failed to do so – something for which many motorists will be grateful. Although the Snake Pass is still the shortest route between Sheffield and Manchester, many commuters now prefer the Woodhead Pass further north as it is safer and links to the M1.

Mini Motorway – A635(M)

If you’re a regular driver commuting in and around Manchester, there’s a chance you’ve used this tiny motorway without realizing it’s a motorway. Forming a small part of the easternmost section of the , the A635(M) didn’t even appear on maps until recently.

According to the SABER Wiki website – an archive of British and Irish road networks – it consists of a single passage. The mini-motorway is signed as part of the A57(M) Mancunian Way and was until 2016 officially the shortest motorway in England, measuring just 0.3 miles.

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It was opened in 1992 with no marker or appearance on any map. Because of its short length, it has the privilege of being included on the Pathetic Highways website, among its list of current but curious highways.

The two-mile Mancunian Way was the first elevated motorway to be built outside London and was officially opened by Prime Minister Harold Wilson on 5 May 1967. It has been featured in films, celebrated in songs and the subject of internet jokes. when a massive hole appeared in it in 2015.

The infamous Stockport slip – M60

Drivers have named this road in Greater Manchester as the UK’s ‘most dangerous’ slip road in 2021. A viral TikTok of the M60 junction between Bredbury and Stockport has had commentators debating just how treacherous the road really is.

Apparently it is one of the most slip roads in England where cars immediately merge into the fastest lane of traffic. The intersection was originally intended to be a freeway junction, joining tracks that would continue east and north.

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But the plans never came to fruition, and drivers were left with a slip road that joins the freeway at its fastest point. Commentators also pointed out the danger to special vehicles, which are usually not allowed in the right lane of highways.

The Cat and the Fiddler -A54/A537

The Cat and Fiddle, which stretches between Macclesfield and Buxton, is regularly named one of the most dangerous roads in Britain. Named after the former pub building at the summit, the route crosses parts of the Peak District and is renowned for its wonderful views.

But don’t let her beauty fool you. Often called the most dangerous road in Britain, the Cat and Fiddle has an abundance of blind bends, often unexpected for drivers, Derbyshire Live reports.

Despite the reduction in fatalities since road safety measures were implemented, there are still many serious accidents and incidents. In winter, sharp curves combined with weather-reduced visibility and a slippery, icy surface make driving along the Cat and Fiddle even more dangerous.

A666 called diabolical

Sometimes called the Devil’s Highway due to its association with the biblical “Number of the Beast”, the road runs from Pendlebury to Blackburn, taking in the West Pennine Moors along the way. Its journey is just under 30 miles, with terrain ranging from standard dual carriageway to a narrow city street, according to SABER (Society for All British and Irish Road Enthusiasts).

With the fame brought by the biblical connotation of the road number, there have been reports of ghostly sightings along this road. One apparition said to have been seen by motorists is that of a limping, hunchbacked figure known simply as the ‘A666 Ghost’.

But perhaps the most interesting, non-paranormal, aspect of the A666 is where it connects to the Worsley Braided Interchange. The A666(M) Kearsley Spur is an unsigned motorway between Bolton and Salford.

At just over a mile and a half long, the A666(M) is referred to as a ‘secret’ motorway by SABER, due to the secrecy of the route number being maintained by the absence of driver location signs, while all overhead signs refer to either “M60” or to “(A666)”. Confused? Just a little.

Preston bypass

Part of the motorway network called ‘Britain’s Backbone’, the M6 ​​- Britain’s longest motorway – has its foundation stone in the heart of Lancashire. Just over 230 miles long, the M6 ​​runs from the Midlands to the Scottish Borders, passing through Coventry, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Preston, Lancaster and Carlisle.

And famously, the first piece of this gigantic motorway was commissioned in Preston. The Preston Bypass was Britain’s first motorway and was built to create a network of north-south motorways which would later form part of the M6.

The bypass was officially opened on 5 December 1958 by then Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. It was designed as a solution to eliminate queues and congestion on the A6 in Preston and was seen as an experiment for the future of motorway construction.

It was originally designed to handle vehicles traveling at speeds of 70 mph, but no speed limit was imposed for the first few years. However, during its early operation, motorists reported apprehension about using the bypass due to fear of being overtaken by faster drivers, with average speeds recorded at around 38 mph.

The road was also purposely built not to be a long stretch of straight road and to include bridges and trees in order to prevent driver boredom reported on foreign highways. An extra third lane was added in each direction in 1966, but the bypass underwent its most significant change in the 1990s, when it had to be completely rebuilt to become four lanes in each direction.

This meant that all the bridges had to be removed so that a hard shoulder could be installed. A year after the Preston bypass opened, the M1 was fully completed, becoming Britain’s first full-length motorway in 1959.

In the years since the Preston Bypass was built, the M6 ​​of which it has become a part has become well known for tailbacks around Birmingham, encouraging motorists traveling between Greater Manchester and London to take the new M6 toll road.