M61 motorway

M61 shield
M61
MapM61 highlighted in blue

Shown in North West England

Shown with the UK motorway network

Junctions of the M61
Route information
Maintained by National Highways
Length22.4 mi[citation needed] (36.0 km)
Existed1969–present
HistoryConstructed 1969–1970
Major junctions
Southeast end A580 – Manchester
Major intersections

A666(M)  – Wardley

Northwest end M6 – Preston
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
Primary
destinations
Road network
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.