M69 motorway

The M69 is a dual three-lane motorway in Leicestershire and Warwickshire. It runs for 25 kilometres between junction 21 of the M1 near Leicester and junction 2 of the M6 near Coventry. The motorway opened in 1977 after a public inquiry in 1972. It was built to take traffic off the A46, which was then downgraded. A planned spur to Braunstone was never completed. The M69 was first proposed in 1970 and construction began in 1975. The 13-kilometre section from Burbage to Enderby was built by Alfred McAlpine. The 14-kilometre section from the A5 to the M1 opened in December 1976. The full motorway was opened in July 1977 by John Horam at Wolvey Road bridge in Bulkington. The route crosses the Coventry Canal and the Birmingham to Peterborough railway line. It passes south of Hinckley and ends near Enderby and Braunstone. There are no service areas on the M69 itself, but Leicester Forest East and Corley services lie close to its start and end. A new service station is planned at junction 1 near Stretton Baskerville.