Secrets of The Motorway - M53

#motorway #infrastructure #m53

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The M53 is an interesting one... It's a game of two halves with the first being over engineered junctions and large open spaces, with the second being the complete opposite. I'll explain all in the video.

There's lots for us to be getting on with this week... grade 2 listed water towers, RAF bases, Vauxhall... and of course the usual stories of motorway projects that didn't quite go to plan. Have you heard of the M531 motorway... No, I hadn't either but it turns out it used to be part of the M53.

In this series we aim to explore what our motorway network is hiding. As we drive along at 70mph..ish...we simply just wouldn't be aware of what we're missing. This series aims to uncover some of the hidden secrets our motorways have to offer.

[CadenMHolmes]

This guy deserves a silver play button

[robs]

Although not a motorway, an A55 episode would be wicked sweet awesome. Incredible history and engineering has gone involved, particularly driving through Conwy County… Conwy tunnel, Penmaenbach, Penmaenmawr and Pen Y Clip etc.

[beaty]

I believe the Moreton Spur (Junction 2/2a) was originally meant to continue to a bridge across the River Dee from West Kirby to Mostyn. My dad after working on the construction of the Wallasey Tunnel was part of the project for the Bridge. The bridge was cancelled after complications getting to bedrock in the Dee, after tests they found the expense to build the stanchions for the bridge would be too great so it was shelved. After the bridge the M53 would then connect with the A55 at Rhault in North Wales. It would have provided a quick link between North Wales, Mostyn and Liverpool Docks.

[Robwantsacurry]

I remember when I was a child, junction 2 was even more pointless, the motorway just ended in a big earth bank under the bridge, with just two sliproads to the local road.
It wasn't until 1991 they started constructing the Upton bypass and put the roundabout in.

[boozapup]

When the M53 was being built my dad took me, my brother and mum out for a day to visit some friends in Wales, coming back the weather had turned to quite thick fog, we drove down the A552 towards the under construction junction 3, the flyover part was incomplete so we had to use the roundabout, the visibilty was terrible by this stage, only a few yards, we entered the roundabout and dad tried to find the exit we needed, he missed and we had to go round again, once again he missed the exit and once again, round we went, at this attempt we tried to pick out a landmark to use should we miss the exit - we did. In total we spent the best part of half an hour going round and round, eventually dad found the exit. Dad's mood, which was not good, was not helped by the rest of us laughing hysterically. Happy days,

[MemskiBobSki]

Having worked in or around Ellesmere Port can confirm it's an absolute dogs dinner of a motorway. The north section is proper motorway, wide gently curving mostly, but once you get closer to Ellesmere Port is basically a dual carriageway with turn off after turn off. Thankfully the junction at Cheshire Oaks got redesigned which improved the end of the M53.

[Jonny_The_Organism]

From working on motorways for over 20 years.... all your episodes are extremely exciting episodes!... dry witty humorous sarchasm goes a long way

[johngriffiths]

Been waiting for this one as it’s “my motorway”. My Grandad worked on it and I’ve been up and down it more time than I care to imagine.

As always another great video.

[peteryoung]

"No, It's just a waste of money"🤣🤣🤣🤣The way you said it, made me laugh.

[tomovids]

Been on the edge of my seat since the mention in the M56 video

[stevebrown]

Ah the You Bet theme at the end - classic - one of the best Saturday Night programmes ever made. Beats all the singing/dancing talent show crap we're subjected to these days!

[Scwirral]

About 25 years ago I was chatting to fairly senior navy chap. I made some throw away comment about not understanding why the M53 had been built as a motorway rather than a much less expensive dual carriageway. He told me there had been a cold war plan for the Americans to ship everything they had into the docks on both sides of the Mersey and then transport tanks, troops, etc in two parallel movements on M53 and M62 across to ports on the east coast if it had all kicked off.

[AnyoneForToast]

The locations and framing of your pieces to camera, are sir, most wonderful. Beauty within brutality.
I particularly enjoy the hidden giggles that you don't bother to point out.
It makes one feel worthy of enjoying your work.

[gerrymckenna]

Very informative and entertaining. Great piece of detective work with the British Geological Survey Map @ 3:21

[Rlea]

Great vid, explains why the m53 goes from being a decent motorway for the first part to a complete basket case where it met the m531 👍

[acespark]

Thanks John great video about the M53 as a kid me and my mates would play on it while it was being built. Namely junction 2 and the Moreton spur. Often being chased around by the security bods. One time we got a bulldozer started didn't know how to stop it and accidentally drove it into the river fender.

[jerryw]

If you are researching, scipting, recording, editing and uploading each of these episodes within a week, then hats off to you sir!

[thdayblue]

My weekly dose of my 'guilty pleasure'. Thanks Jon, as always.... Brilliant

[flyingmyles]

the description of the users of the abandoned road.... brilliant 🤣😂

[mnccbbt]

I have happy memories of driving four family members to a wedding in Bebbington years ago. Having got onto the M531 (as it was then), I was told by one of my back-seat drivers that I was going on the wrong motorway as I continued north-west along the M53 after the road changed name. As we were already late (not my fault!), tensions got a bit heated but we arrived at the church with a couple of minutes to spare. It is amazing the trivia that comes back that you thought you had forgotten.