Manchester's M60 Orbital Motorway - Time Lapse

Take a trip around Manchester's M60 orbital motorway. The video has been sped up 3 times, so it allows you to imagine what it would be like driving at speeds of up to 210mph.
The M60 was created in 2000 when construction of the last stretch of the M66 was completed. The M63 and parts of the M62 and M66 were renumbered, forming a complete ring road.
Today, the M60 is one of the busiest roads in the North-West of England, however, the video was shot on a sunny Sunday afternoon, so it much quieter!

Music:
"Trance Taboo"
"Oriental Trance"

A version of this video is now available in real time without music:

Social Media:

[harrybroughton]

For the record - J7 to J13 (Stretford/Eccles) opened 1960 (as the M62).

J13 to J18 (Eccles/Worsley to Simister/Middleton) opened in 1970 (as M62; J7 to J12 was renumbered M63).

J7 to J2 (around Wynthenshawe, M56 and Cheadle) opened in 1974 (as M63).

J2 to J27 (through Stockport Centre) opened 1982 (as M63).

J27 to J24 (Stockport, Bredbury, up to the M67) was completed around April 1989 (as the M63, and M66).

This meant by 1989 there was continous motorway from Denton (nowadays M60 J24) all the way to Simister Island (Nowadays J18 of M60); the continous length of motorway ran through/near Bredbury, Stockport (as M66) then through Stockport, past Cheadle, M56, Wynthenshawe, Sale, Stretford, Trafford, Eccles (As M63), then through Worsley, Worsley Braided Interchange (near East Lancs and the M61), Clifton, Whitefield, then Simister Island (as M62).

This meant after 1989 there was only the Eastern side of the M60 from the M67 at Denton to J18 at Simister left to complete. This was built in 1999-2000 from M60 J24 to M60 J18 through Ashton Under Lyne, Oldham, Chadderton and Middleton. (There had already been a small stub of motorway from Simister to Middleton from 1971).

This meant the full circle was eventually complete after 30 years.

And instead of having 3 different numbers for one loop of M63, M66 and M62, it was decided to renumber the whole loop as M60. (M62 remains from M60 J12 to Liverpool and M60 J18 Simister to Hull, and M66 remains North of Simister Island to Bury and Haslingden towards Blackburn). The number M63 was now rather redundant and was retired completely.


Nowadays it is the pinaccle of Greater Manchester's road network (although it doesn't go near Bolton, Leigh or Wigan). It suffers from extremely heavy traffic however, particular hotspots are Denton J24 to Stockport J2, J3 around M56 to J12 around M62 and Eccles, and J12 M62 to J18 Simister where it essentially acts as two motorways in one (M60 and M62, and also connects with M61).

By far the quietist section is in fact the part which was completed last in 2000 Denton J24 to Middleton J19 through Ashton and Oldham.

[PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

Very nice video Richard and you navigated the carriageways well - keeping to the left where you had to.

[SuperDriverno]

Great driving!! A driver who actually drives in the left hand lane when not overtaking!!!
Shame they allow so many fools on the M60.
Top marks!

[radiodarkhorse]

Just been watching this and listening to drum and bass on Stafford FM....Fits nicely

[RichardB]

So there is! It was probably lining up for landing at Manchester Airport or had just taken off from there. The final approach flight path goes over the M60 around junction 25 - a few miles to the south of where you'd seen the aircraft.

[RichardB]

@wxdfg Yes. I've heard of that one being mentioned before. Presumably it would have met the A6 somewhere near Salford Crescent?

[electric_leo]

If they ever ask why you didn't drive round the whole M60 at 210mph just say that you were having a trance taboo.

[maniaconthetube]

Hey Richard Any Chance I could Use This as A Music Video? Full props to YOU and YOUR channel?

[JiayunHe-fz]

Is there difference between M60 and M1 about speed limit

[DragonsTagRugbyClub]

Hi there, I'm currently making a tag rugby tour diary where Great Britain went to Cape Town to play against South Africa but I didn't get any footage of the British side of the stint. Do you mind if I use some of this video as B-roll footage. Will of course give credit in the video? Let me know, Thanks

[manomaylr]

I’d like to see a new version with the smart motorway- same speed and same music just newer footage!

[RichardB]

The first song is called "Trance Taboo". It's composed by RickVanMan (see his YT channel) and it's under a free royalty free licence, although not to be sold or given away as a stand-alone music track. You can see the link to his music website where you can download the song in the credits at the end of this vid, and I've now also placed a link in the video description.

[RichardB]

@samtron2000 Maybe, maybe not. Granted that the signs call it a ring road, but the Wikipedia article calls it an Orbital Motorway.

[wxdfg]

6.45 - 7.10 unbuilt M601 would had started there. It was called The 'Irwell Valley' Motorway.
My dad remember's this motorway he told me that he saw a map of it in the 1970's

[markmanc-zwtd]

Can't be the M60 cos the traffic kept moving - even at Stockport ??? Wtf ( well done though)

[lewisf]

Samtron2000, wot r u on about? The M60 doesn't go past Manchester Airport, u have to go to M56 for the airport

[wxdfg]

I got banned because I was keep saying to them to upgrade it to a 3 lane motorway. Not a 2 lane dual carriageway with traffic lights at every junction and cycle lane on it. That is going to cause headache in the rush hour because at the start of the bypass at A6 Hazel Grove is going to be a set off traffic lights there.

[wxdfg]

The M601 suppose to finish on the planned MIRR motorway that was never built. I got a map of manchester in 1962 showing proposed motorways around manchester and the M601 is on it finishing on the inner ring road. It also shows the Bredbury, Hazel Grove and Mcr Airport motorway (SEMMMS the lower down version of it). I think got banned on the Lib dem website about the A555 relief road The A555 relief road route map is very POOR traffic lights at every junction. 1962 proposal miles better

[samtron]

@roadsukweb and as the M62 becomes the M60 at Simister, the Higways Agency sign states ''m60 Manchester Outer Ring Road'.

[jadeblee]

I've sat in many a traffic jam on here :)