The New M55 Motorway Junction 2... 48 Years late but WHY!?
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- čas přidán 18. 07. 2023
- #driving #infrastructure #motorway #preston #lancashire
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The M55 motorway connects Preston to Blackpool in Lancashire. It opened in 1975 but they missed out junction two, and for years, that's just how it was. Until July 2023 when finally, after 48 years the junction was completed and opened to traffic.
But Why? They didn't bother building it the first time around... why go to the trouble now? It turns out there may be fairly good reasons but one does wonder if they should have just gone ahead with their original plans in the first place.
In this video I'll be explaining why the junction wasn't built, and then was and we'll also look into the future as the story might not be over for junction 2 of the M55. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
I visited Preston once, and I can definitely say it's one of the places I've been to.
Well no shit, one would think you've been there if you've been there
Of all the places I live near, Preston is definitely one of them.
Of all the places I have never been to I have never been to Preston either
Preston is one of the UK cities of all time
My sister lived in Preston once but does not identify as a 'Person that lived in Preston'.
I was chuffed when this road opened. I even went to drive on it the day it went open, not for the fact it is finally open, but that it is probably the only road that isn't peppered with potholes in Preston (yet). It was like being transported to the Netherlands for about 3 miles of road.
Very true, it's just one winter away from ruin. Enjoy it whilst it lasts :)
Who wants to bet they eventually put a Premier Inn with an attached pub at that services in the next 5 years on the foundations of the old pub
They are putting a hotel and pub on Sandy Lane just down the road.
That's actually a good idea
The foundations of the old pub are under the Coffee Drive-Thru.
But your idea on every roundabout on Edith Rigby Way is a winner.
And then in 300 years the Premier Inn pub will say 'we can trace our history back to the 16th century', conveniently forgetting that the pub was bulldozed completely in the 21st.
I use the M55 when visiting my parents, and last week it was a pleasant surprise to find I didn't get stuck in traffic going through roadworks...on that road, at least.
Yep thought exactly the same last week when I took my daughter to her best friends in Lytham St Anne's for the weekend
2:15 I guarantee they spoke to someone in marketing who thought it would be funny if they could get away with "Preston Western" and somehow pulled it off.
There's an old Terry Wogan joke about "country and Western" and "some c---- from Preston" which for reasons of space I won't go into here.
What a treat, 2 episodes in a week!
Agreed
Often get a bonus episode on a Wednesday. If you like it, there is a button specifically for that.
_"Artist impression"_ had me in stitches 😂 😂 😂 😂
The junction opened up a day early as there was a crash on the M6 and they used it to turn the cars around that were stuck on the M55.
Those new estates will love their new Starbucks and petrol station. Pubs are so old anyway, much better to sip a Frappuccino bought on one's drive from work to the new house on the new estate and watch the telly alone, while vaping and TikToking with one's friends. 🙃
Unfortunately you cannot stop the passage of time! As someone who likes both an iced coffee and a craft beer... oh, craft beer, yeah I'm probably on the "wrong" side too 😂
Enjoying the new Peaky Blinders look in this mid-week update, John!
I thought it was a new 'Northerner' look, as he's spent quite a bit of time up there recently. Looking forward to the Whippet making an appearance.
We've been waiting 80-100 years for them to reroute the A368 around Banwell to meet the A371 to the West of the village. It's a castle road with a 90' T intersection that blocks any sight Left and Right and the West section is narrow for about 300 yards causing HGV's to get stuck. They never even installed traffic lights to manage it.
Love the Confetti SFX - production budget mania🎉
Every expense spared.
Point to add you can take a narrowboat under both bridges because the Ribble Link joins the Lancaster canal to the rest of the canal network via Savick Brook.
There is talk agin of linking up the M55 and M58/M57 via a new bridge over the river Ribble. The original plan was shelved in the 1970’s when Sefton was created. This moved Southport out of Lancashire and led the Lancs and Merseyside/Sefton arguing about costs etc.
But it appears some joined up thinking is going on and there is hope the councils can agree of a cost so,it for the road as, there is also a plan to reopen the Burroughs curves in the rail line from Southport to Manchester and the curves reopening, shut by Beeching, then Merseyrail could run trains from Southport to Preston and Ormskirk using their very clever battery/electric trains.
This all seems to stem from the fact Lancashire is supporting having an elected mayor and devolution, very similar to Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester. This would fill the missing link in Northern Powerhouse.
I am guessing here but, with the go ahead given to build Eden Project North at Morecambe which if like as popular as the Cornwall version, tourism will explode and linking the coastline from Morecambe to Liverpool including Southport by rail and road would be very good for everyone.
"I digress..." Nooooo! please keep digressing, even if the video ends up 40 minutes long just filled with random trivia I'm still watching it
All I can say is, it’s about bloody time! Ever since the M6 was built, Preston has managed to use it as an excuse not to build proper through roads, so when the M6 is inevitably closed due to an accident, Preston turns into carnage. Pun intended. It’ll be nice to have a decent route past that bit next time it happens
That milk tanker flipping on the M6 caused carnage. Was trying to get to the docks at Heysham and lost around 2 hours of my life trying to get through Preston. Really needs a proper bypass.
Agreed! ( it’s about time they pressed on with it…)
I got stuck coming back crom Blackpool Victoria Hospital a few months bsck. Saw the southbound M6 closed were the M55 joins on the eay to the hospital and thought it will beclear by the time we come back. Oh yeah right hours later still gridlocked as everyone trying to leave the M55 at the A6 junction, as the southbound M6 still closed. Ended up having to go through Longridge and the back roads to get to the A59 and back home.
Peaky Shenanigans...
They put a mobile speed camera on there straight away to 🤣. It's a great though you can actually skip all the average speed cameras on the A583 now as this is now quicker to get to Blackpool if you're coming from south of Preston.
Yep, no more driving to the Wesham m55 junction with 50 gazillion speed average speed cameras 😎
Soooooo close to that 100K now. Been great watching the channel grow, and diversify a bit for more topics. Here's to many many more subscribers and videos.
I think with all the extra Preston views this week, John might just crack it!
Nice mid-week treat. Was roaring with laughter. Like the new titfer, works well with the clean shirt. Rail v Canal = British Social and Economic History revision for me - one of my O Levels.
I live at the west side of Preston. It is fantastic. Taken so much traffic out of the ring road. Just need the Ribble bridge to be somehow authorised and paid for
Hey there other west-preston resident. Once they build the bridge over to Penwortham maybe the docklands won't be gridlocked every day!
@@JebDMan exactly
It’s nice the connection to the A583 is finished as it played havoc with the buses.
I have a video on my channel off my dash cam of some numpty taking the wrong turn straight into the roads works where only the road builders should be 😂😂
I live in Australia, and even I find these videos fascinating. Go figure!!
when i get to that part where the junctionw as missing i just drove off the road and across the fields
-burger40
In around 2013 Thinford roundabout in Spennymoor, Durham was substantially upgraded to have multiple lanes and traffic lights, to account for increased traffic from the nearby Durham Gate office development and a housing estate behind it. A pub Thinford inn closed down, was set on fire, later demolished and turned into a costa drive through and dominos takeaway DESPITE the planning committee recommending the application to be thrown out.
Why is it every pub on or near a major roundabout plan gets demolished or is ran out of business
Good research as usual, Jon. Those last few hundred subscribers are sure to arrive soon 🤣
cant wait!
I drove down the M55 recently going to Blackpool, cannot remember seeing Junction 2 😂😂
A excellent video as always.
4:57 Uncannily accurate depiction of Preston there Jon 😂
Nice one. On my patch.
Can't believe all the green fields we're now gonna lose as a result though 🙄
No shortage of fields in Lancashire, Preston is in dire need of growth
Brilliant video, love your humor and presenting style. Looking forward to the next video.
Nice touch finishing on the Wurlitzer Organ. I was hoping for "With my little stick of Blackpool rock" 😂
A lovely instrument... however, there's a tenuous link between the song and the town of Preston... did you work it out?
Loving the Peaky Blinders look Jon 😂
Isn't it amazing the build bridges over flood plains but here in Warwick the build house on flood plains. Apparently its ok because they built a ditch at the side of it 😅. Who is going to look after said ditch in years to come 🤔
Oh, they do that down south too. They built a cinema in one near me, despite locals telling them it was a flood plain.
Then put a park and ride in it.
Surprise! It flooded! Then the pub across the river flooded out every year because the flood plain wasn't soaking up the water.
Don’t worry the Avon and Leam rivers will take it, not like they have a history of flooding
@@thomasthornton2002 will be interesting to see when 2007 happens again
Basically they have created a link road on two roads that already link to Preston, only now you have to drive an additional 12 miles to go to Preston using roads that already go to Preston!
Can you do one on the new link road off Garstang road going to Fleetwood, as that also makes no f*cking sense, but has made the traffic a nightmare for the last 3 years.
Wait arent those lovely green fields there .oo lets build some house on them .i like preston .great railway station .people very friendly x
Every Friday two junctions before the M55 31, and 31A are a huge car park on four lanes it is the same almost every morning just sheer gridlock. our house backs onto the motorway and we have3 to smile looking at all the traffic at a standstill. If your ever visiting Blackpool don't go on Friday after about 11 am unless you wish to sit for half an hour or so on the M6..
Jon, your level of research and dedication is extremely sexy. No joke, no weirdness. Just true.
Also, flat-cap. Fucking genius 😮
I dunno why i watch your videos, i have little interest in motorways and rarely drive on them. but yet i still watch every video you upload
Very interesting, when I saw the link road being built I did wonder if it would go all the way over the river to the A59. Thanks for clearing that up!
Really fascinating.
Oooh! just 1200 subscribers needed for that magical 100k & play button. I look forward to your mega celebration video :)
I got something cool lined up :D It will "flop" as a video but the regulars will like it and that's the important thing.
Glad I moved away from Preston. But I'm loving the hat John. Great video again. Looking forward to Sunday's upload
the proposed motorway box around Preston was also related to the Central Lancashire New Town that was once planned in the area between Preston and Blackburn; you can tell it didn't get far because it didn't even get a proper name
Blackton or Presburn ?
@@highpath4776 since it wasn't an expansion of an existing settlement, it would probably have been named after a small village nearby (see e.g. Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, now called Middleton; Skelmersdale in Lancashire; Cumbernauld in Lanarkshire; or Craigavon in Co. Antrim)
given that there were once early 60s plans for a "Belmont Link" near Preston, a spur between M6 and A675, now served by M65 junction 3, it's likely it would have been located somewhere near there
going by the names of the most populous settlements nearby, it may well have been called Hoghton New Town or Feniscowles New Town had it ever been built
They never stopped it , they just hid it from the public who didn't want it back in the 1980's. Lancashire one big urban housing estate.
@@allandesoer7672 At the present rate Preston will need the other side of the bus station back !
This vid should be shown to every incoming Transport Minister
My whole life I've been waiting for them to bridge the Ribble. When this new road was announced I was convinced they would finally do so (making this new bypass actually useful). Glad to hear that missing M-Way has a name: M59
"Ribble", for some reason i find the sound of this town pleasing.
Say River Ribble quickly 5 times... it's hard!
@@AutoShenanigans 😄
I never knew about the M59 as they say every day is a school day. The saddle in ln was a wonderful pub in its day fantastic video
Great job they pressed on with that road building
I live on one of the new estates and I know I am now old as it is genuinely exciting news.
It has shaved 3 mins of my drive time to the motorway. Happy days. Well worth 300m
Fascinating stuff, as always! Like the Hat👌!!
Ngl sad to see that the saddle Inn is gone I remember doing parking practice there before my driving test a couple years back
Side note: I was driving up the M55 yesterday and saw the traffic management guys picking up the cones
I’ve said it before, you should definitely do a series on canals.
I live in Preston and I can say this helps
Cheers (your name is ) John, these videos just keep on getting better; presentation, production, details, diagrams and maps all on the up. One thousand 300 to go mate but when you get there you'll want half a million.🙂
Yet another awesome video.
It was my understanding that the plan was to extend the then planned M65 'Trans-Pennine' motorway to the south and west of Preston connecting to the then new M55 at Junction two. The motorway to Liverpool I can't say I've ever heard about.
Still better late than never. Getting to any of the 4 junctions serving Preston was an absolute nightmare and at times the M6 was closed getting anywhere in a car in Preston was near impossible. .I've not used the new link yet, but I've pottered up and down the M55 many times during it's construction. It is needed and the cross river link is the holy grail to finally free much of the west of Preston from near-gridlocked traffic at peak times.
And they've done a sterling job. Much better than the paint-by-numbers botch-it job currently ongoing on the A585 bypass some 10 miles distant. After three years they've just about managed to remove a roundabout and put temporary traffic lights in. It was supposed to open this summer, but there's still a whole junction missing on the A586. God knows when it will be ready.
we can allow them covid delays ?
Very enjoyable as always 👍
Only 48 years late. This must be a new speed record for the UK.
Missed you waving goodbye at the end Jon,🙂
Sorry mate, it turns out the drone crashes a lot indoors :D
This is the best video I've ever seen about anything
Cheers mate!
Just spotted the backdrop looks just like the laminate flooring in my daughters room, and now I cannot get out of my head that you're presenting lying down with a camera dangling over you.
It may or may not be cheap laminate flooring....
Love the mapmen inspired set
looks like there gonna need that extra infrastructure john with the amount of homes that will be built it's good to see they built it before the houses went up,unlike a lot of places that have had the homes built without the extra infrastructure.
OK I surrender. The road map that is on the wall behind you....where is that of please? Another great video John, just love the little digs/funnies your videos contain.
You're getting really close to your goal of 100k subscribers! Can't wait to see what video you're going to make to celebrate 😊
So, first they electrify the railway line, then they build a new arterial road and motorway junction. What enlightened foresighted public authority is this that builds the infrastructure *before* it builds the new houses? 😍
It'll be the usual administrative c*ck up. Someone didn't get the memo about building the houses first so that site wagons would have to use already crowded roads, then upgrading those same roads, taking years and causing endless delays. 😅
I was wholly distracted by the whopping great farmer's hat. Indoors.
This ain't far from me, been meaning to give it a drive
I love me a good weekday upload!
A new bridge over the Ribble to link to the A59 which has a newly opened road network to the M6 / M61 junction, many sections of this route is dual.
Awesome Video
The day before this junction opened there was an incident on the M6 just south of J32, it caused chaos. My mate was in the queue on the M55 and the workers on the junction refused to let people use it to turn around saying it "hadn't been weight tested yet"... as they drove their 5 ton van over it. 6 hours he was stuck.
Milk tanker overturned. Total chaos. I was stuck for 6 hours too. Nightmare.
Well there's no point crying over it is there ;-) I heard they ended up allowing traffic to turn at the "closed" junction?
The dumper that built it weighed 40 ton😂😂😂
Love this channel so much
Drove along it today. It’s a nice quiet drive
Excellent video.
I went to uni in Preston. I left there whelmed.
Great video covering my local motorway. One thing you missed was all the beef about the speed limit. Up until the day before it opened, it was listed as 70mph (National Speed limit) only to open plastered with 50mph signs. Apparently they decided 50mph was safer but forgot to update the information.
It's barely much safer tho. Hope there's no speed cameras
People still do 70 anyway....I'm waiting for the average speed cameras to go up, like they have elsewhere!
The 35mile Waverley Railway Line from Edinburgh was started in 2013, finished in 2015 and cost £353 million including land purchase, 9 stations and 200 bridges for terrain, road and river crossings......call it £10 million a mile. How the hell can less than 3 miles of road cost around £80 million a mile?
Honestly, I dont know how we manage it.
Very interesting.
Been on that junction today 🤘🏻
Mega research into that one John 😎👍
I wish they gone with their original plan giving us the m59 and more of the m65
awesome video
I live in South-western Preston and work in north Preston, so the road is useful for at least one person 😎
Ps. The roundabouts that come on and off the motorway are ridiculously tight, feel like they were designed in the 1920s rather than 2020s.
A local shopping center added a roundabout that was a total of 20' start to finish. Most people just drive straight across.
Have you ever claimed to work for Preston North End? If so why?
@@chrisshelley3027 Huh? I said I work in the north of preston (near Broughton roundabout), not that I work for PNE.
for a truly vintage feel, try tiny parclo junctions with two-way sliproads with 90 degree bends where they join the main road; M6 junction 34 southbound at Lancaster is like this, and before it was rebuilt, the northbound side was like that too, and the entry sliproad used to be truly terrifying
Northbound truly was terrifying and as it went over the bridge there was no get out hard shoulder you either crashed into a lorry or fell in the river, what a choice.
Let’s guess if the associated infrastructure and services will be built along with these new housing estates, ie schools and hospitals…
I live in Blackpool and have done for years but never realised there wasn't a Junction 2. However, while I was taxiing last year, I missed Junction 1 and had to go a long way to come back with my customer. Of course I didn't charge her for the mistake.
Nice. I should drive past it in just over a week so it is something I will pay a little more attention to then 'just another junction'.
With these special effects you are truly spoiling us John. 😂
My editing skills knows no bounds
I remember years ago I was a courier and I had a delivery to the Priory hospital near Preston. Sat nav put me off the M6, on to the 55, then after a few miles it was telling me to turn off into a field. This was that “ghost junction”.
Spooky hey !!!
I got a bollocking for smashing through a fence and driving over a corn crop, but just like Santa, I got the goods delivered 📦 👍🏼
You can't work for Evri then?
Boy you were quick with this. It's only been open a week oh so.
I'm usually well behind on "current road news" so this made a nice change.
I’ve driven it. Video on my channel. It’s bland. Reminds me of the Bay Gateway but it does a good job of taking the traffic away. I went from the Docks to Morecambe the other day and it’s a lot easier than taking the A6 or B6241.
Best so far by far
I'm not reading hundreds of comments to see if I'm the first to mention the hat. I'm going to assume I am (but probably wrongly assume).
Nice hat, Jon.
Also, I spent the last couple of days in The New Forest. Not much roadage around there. But there is the National Motor Museum, which made a nice day out.
You assume wrongly :D New Forest is a great drive... late summer evening... beautiful!
@@AutoShenanigans Yes indeed, a beautiful area to drive around. The many trees tend to get in the way of roads in general though.
Thanks
Thanks a lot mate, appreciate that.
Loving the Peaky Blinders Hat mate
Cheers mate! You know, I never even watched that show, I just like a good hat.
I drove down it and back on the first day it opened. Hopefully the bridge will be built soon joining to the Penwortham bypass
Mr Shenaginans, does a docu about the M55 while wearing a flat cap, got any blackpudding mate ;)
You should try and blag access to a motorway control centre and/or a ride along in a highways agency car.
Working on a few things like that ;)
"It's the same old Auto Shenanigans"
"But he's got a new hat!"
That's a horrendous looking junction
We need that new bridge over the Ribble. Far too much traffic is still directed to the docks & strand road which is like a car park most of the time.