M602 motorway

The M602 motorway is a short but important link in Greater Manchester. It runs for six kilometres between Worsley and Ordsall, guiding traffic into Salford and on towards Manchester city centre. The motorway bypasses Eccles, keeping heavy lorries away from the town’s streets. It was completed in two stages, first in 1971 and then in 1982. Originally it was meant to be part of a longer motorway called the South Lancashire Motorway. That plan was cancelled when the M62 was extended to link Liverpool and Manchester instead. The M602’s route shows how motorway plans changed in the 1970s. The M62 was rerouted to become the main Trans-Pennine route, leaving only a short section of the original M52. This leftover stretch became the M602. The motorway also appeared in the film 28 Days Later, where a blockade stood on the 42nd kilometre. Its junctions connect to the M60 and the M62, making it a useful route for drivers. Visitors driving the M602 see Salford’s industrial landscape on one side and Manchester’s skyline ahead. The road is wide and straight, designed for fast travel. Along the way there are signs to Eccles and Salford Quays. The motorway’s history is visible in the bridges and embankments built in the 1970s. It remains a practical route, carrying thousands of vehicles each day without fuss.