The M69 is a 15.7-mile-long (25 km) dual three-lane dual carriageway motorway in Leicestershire and Warwickshire, England. It runs between junction 21 of the M1 near Leicester and junction 2 of the M6 near Coventry. It opened in 1977.
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|---|---|---|---|---|
 M69 highlighted in blue_map.svg) Shown with UK motorway network | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by National Highways | ||||
| Length | 15.7 mi (25.3 km) | |||
| Existed | 1976–present | |||
| History | Constructed 1976–77 | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| North-east end | Leicester | |||
 M6 motorway  /  M1 motorway | ||||
| South-west end | Coventry | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United Kingdom | |||
| Primary destinations | Nuneaton, Hinckley | |||
| Road network | ||||
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History
editThe motorway, also known at the time as the 'Coventry – Leicester Motorway'[1] was completed in 1977 following a public inquiry in 1972.[2] It took traffic from the A46, which was subsequently downgraded.
Route
editStarting at the north-eastern suburbs of Coventry at junction 2 of the M6, the motorway crosses the Coventry Canal and then continues north-east past Bulkington and west of Wolvey before turning more easterly to run south of Hinckley (junction 2, known locally as 'Reacharound Island' because of the limited slip roads). It then crosses the Birmingham to Peterborough railway line terminating in the vicinity of suburban Enderby and Braunstone to the south-west of Leicester junction 3, where it meets the M1 with continuation along the A5460/A563 towards Leicester.
The M69 has no motorway service area given that this function is fulfilled at present by Leicester Forest East services and Corley services in close proximity to the start and end points of this relatively short motorway.
Proposed developments
editThere is an aspiration to construct a new slip road and road bridge for traffic travelling southbound on the M1 to join the M69.[3]
Plans for a service station were announced in November 2023, to be located at junction one at the Stretton Baskerville roundabout. Welcome Break's application will be the first service station for the route.[4] The route has been without services for over 50 years and currently has a 26-mile unserviced stretch, which exceeds the government's maximum recommendation of 14 miles between heavy goods vehicle stations.[5]
Junctions
edit| County | Location | mi | km | Junction | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | Coventry | 0 | 0 | M6 J2[coord 1] | M6 – Birmingham, Manchester A4600 – Coventry A46 – Coventry |
road continues south as A46 |
| — | 6.2 | 10.0 | 1[coord 2] | A5 – Tamworth, Rugby B4109 – Hinckley |
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| Leicestershire | 8.9 | 14.3 | 2[coord 3] | B4669 – Hinckley, Sapcote | No Northbound entrance or Southbound exit | |
| Leicester | 15.7 | 25.3 | M1 J21[coord 4] | M1 – Nottingham, Northampton, London A5460 – Leicester |
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1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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- Coordinate list
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Motorways Programme HC Deb 4 May 1971 vol 816 cc332-5W". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 4 May 1971. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ The Motorway Archive – M69 Archived 16 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "M1/M69 Public Consultation Information – The new solution". Highways Agency. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ Amy Phipps & Julia Breens (11 November 2023). Plans for first service station on M69 near Burbage. BBC. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ Bid to build new motorway service station in Leicestershire would be first for M69 after almost 50 years. Leicester Mercury (11 November 2023). Retrieved 14 November 2023.