Introduction

Introduction

This December, Lancashire is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the first ever stretch of British motorway - the Preston By-pass.

The introduction of motorways to the UK in December 1958, with what we now know as the M6, is not only an achievement to be proud of but has also profoundly changed the way we all live and travel.

Lancashire County Council, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institution of Highways and Transportation (IHT), and the Highways Agency have collaborated to mark the occasion.

Celebrating past achievements and planning for the future of Lancashire’s roads is key to the anniversary events. People can visit a fascinating exhibition, our engineers will be attending a number of technical seminars and a new plaque is to be unveiled to recognise the achievements of Sir James Drake – the man credited with the title ‘Pioneer in the Development of the British Motorway Network’.