M61 motorway

M61
M61 highlighted in blue Show interactive map Shown in North West England Show map of North West England Shown with the UK motorway network Show UK motorways map Junctions of the M61 Show map of M61 junctions
Route information
Maintained by National Highways
Length	22.4 mi[citation needed] (36.0 km)
Existed	1969–present
History	Constructed 1969–1970
Major junctions
Southeast end	A580 – Manchester
Major intersections	A666(M)  – Wardley M65 (J9) – Preston
Northwest end	M6 – Preston
Location
Country	United Kingdom
Primary destinations	Bolton Chorley Manchester Preston Wigan
Road network
Roads in the United Kingdom Motorways A and B road zones
← M60 → M62

The M61 is a motorway in North West England between Manchester and Preston, linking the M60 Manchester orbital motorway with the M6 motorway.

It runs from the A580 near Wardley and heads northwest past Bolton, Horwich and Chorley to join the M6 near Bamber Bridge, just north of the junction between the M6 and M65. It runs parallel to the A6, to its northeast, for the entirety of its length, essentially bypassing the towns and villages the A6 runs through between Manchester and Preston.