Editing M6 motorway

{{Short description|Longest motorway in England}}
{{About|the motorway in England|other roads|M6 (disambiguation)#Roads{{!}}M6 § Roads}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{infobox road
| country = GBR
| type = M
| route = 6
| length_mi = 232.2
| direction_a = Southeast
| terminus_a = [[Catthorpe]]<br /><small>{{coord|52.4004|N|1.1752|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, southern terminus}}</small>
| counties = {{flatlist|
* [[Leicestershire]]
* [[Warwickshire]]
* [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]
* [[Staffordshire]]
* [[Cheshire]]
* [[Merseyside]]
* [[Greater Manchester]]
* [[Lancashire]]
* [[Cumbria]]
  }}
| destinations = {{flatlist|
* [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]]
* [[Coventry]]
* [[Birmingham]]
* [[Walsall]]
* [[Wolverhampton]]
* [[Cannock]]
* [[Stafford]]
* [[Stoke-on-Trent]]
* [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]]
* [[Crewe]]
* [[Warrington]]
* [[Wigan]]
* [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]]
* [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]]
* [[Kendal]]
* [[Penrith, Cumbria|Penrith]]
* [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]]
  }}
| direction_b = Northwest
| terminus_b = [[Gretna, Scotland|Gretna]]<br /><small>{{coord|54.9930|N|3.0482|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, northern terminus}}</small>
| established = 1958
| history = Opened: 1958<br />Latest extension: 2008
| junction = {{plainlist|
* [[File:UK-Motorway-M1.svg|x20px]]<br />[[M1 motorway]]
* [[File:Junction 2.svg  |x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M69.svg     |x20px]]<br />J2 → [[M69 motorway]]
* [[File:Junction 3a.svg |x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M6 Toll.svg |x20px]]<br />J3a → [[M6 Toll]]
* [[File:Junction 4.svg  |x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M42.svg     |x20px]]<br />J4 → [[M42 motorway]]
* [[File:Junction 4a.svg |x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M42.svg     |x20px]]<br />J4a → [[M42 motorway]]
* [[File:Junction 6.svg  |x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-A38 (M).svg |x20px]]<br />J6 → [[A38(M) motorway]]
* [[File:Junction 8.svg  |x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M5.svg      |x20px]]<br />J8 → [[M5 motorway]]
* [[File:Junction 10a.svg|x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M54.svg     |x20px]]<br />J10a → [[M54 motorway]]
* [[File:Junction 11a.svg|x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M6 Toll.svg |x20px]]<br />J11a → [[M6 Toll]]
* [[File:Junction 20.svg |x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M56.svg     |x20px]]<br />J20 → [[M56 motorway]]
* [[File:Junction 21a.svg|x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M62.svg     |x20px]]<br />J21a → [[M62 motorway]]
* [[File:Junction 26.svg |x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M58.svg     |x20px]]<br />J26 → [[M58 motorway]]
* [[File:Junction 29.svg |x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M65.svg     |x20px]]<br />J29 → [[M65 motorway]]
* [[File:Junction 30.svg |x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M61.svg     |x20px]]<br />J30 → [[M61 motorway]]
* [[File:Junction 32.svg |x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M55.svg     |x20px]]<br />J32 → [[M55 motorway]]
* [[File:Junction 45.svg |x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-A74 (M).svg |x20px]]<br />J45 → [[A74(M) motorway]]
  }}
| e-road = {{Jct|country=EUR|E|05}}, {{Jct|country=EUR|E|18}}, {{Jct|country=EUR|E|22}} and {{Jct|country=EUR|E|24}}
| map = {{switcher
  | {{maplink-road|frame-height=330|from=M6 motorway.map}}M6 highlighted in blue{{hr}}
  | Show interactive map
  | [[File:M6 motorway (Great Britain) map.svg|frameless|x330px]]<br />Shown with UK motorway network{{hr}}
  | Show UK motorways map
  }}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = 
| maint = [[National Highways]]
| photo = Spaghetti-Junction-Crop.jpg
| photo_notes = [[Gravelly Hill Interchange]], best known as ''Spaghetti Junction'' in [[Birmingham]], 2008
| previous_type = M
| previous_route = 5
| next_type = M
| next_route = 6 Toll
}}
The '''M6 motorway''' is the longest motorway in the United Kingdom. It is located entirely within England, running for just over {{Convert|230|mi|km}} from the [[Midlands]] to the border with Scotland. It begins at Junction 19 of the [[M1 motorway|M1]] and the western end of the [[A14 road (England)|A14]] at the [[Catthorpe Interchange]], near [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]] before heading north-west.  It passes [[Coventry]], [[Birmingham]], [[Wolverhampton]], [[Stoke-on-Trent]], [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]], [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] and [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] and runs between [[Manchester]] and [[Liverpool]] before terminating at Junction 45 near [[Gretna, Scotland|Gretna]]. Here, just short of the Scottish border it becomes the [[A74(M) and M74 motorways|A74(M)]] which continues to [[Glasgow]] as the M74. Its busiest sections are between junctions 4 and 10a in the West Midlands, and junctions 16 to 19 in Cheshire; these sections have now been converted to [[Active traffic management|smart motorways]].

It incorporated the [[Preston By-pass]], the first length of motorway opened in the UK and forms part of a motorway "Backbone of Britain", running north–south between London and [[Glasgow]] via the industrial North of England. It is also part of the east–west route between the Midlands and the east-coast ports. The section from the M1 to the [[M6 Toll]] split near [[Birmingham]] forms part of the unsigned [[International E-road network|E-road]] [[European route E24|E&nbsp;24]] and the section from the M6 Toll and the [[M42 motorway|M42]] forms part of [[European route E05|E&nbsp;05]].

==Route==
The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the [[M1 motorway|M1]] and the [[A14 road (England)|A14]] in [[Catthorpe]] near [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]] in central England. It passes [[Coventry]], [[Birmingham]],  [[Stafford]], [[Wolverhampton]] and [[Stoke-on-Trent]].<ref name="Short2011">{{cite book|author=Frommer's Short|title=The Borders and Galloway Regions, Scotland: Frommer's ShortCuts|edition=I|series=1|volume=I|date=22 December 2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|location=London|isbn=978-1-118-27111-7|pages=56–|chapter=4}}</ref> The motorway has major junctions with the [[M56 motorway|M56]] and [[M62 motorway|M62]] near [[Warrington]], giving access to [[Chester]], [[Manchester]] and [[Liverpool]]. It also meets the [[M65 motorway|M65]] at Junction 29, south of Preston, which connects [[Blackburn]] and [[Burnley]], and the [[M55 motorway|M55]] at junction 32, north of Preston which links it to [[Blackpool]].<ref name="M6 Route Management Strategy: Warrington to the Scottish Borders : Final Strategy Summary Brochure, January 2004">{{cite book|editor=Highways Agency|title=M6 Route Management Strategy: Warrington to the Scottish Borders : Final Strategy Summary Brochure, January 2004|edition=I|series=1|volume=1|year=2004|publisher=Highways Agency|location=Scotland|page=54|chapter=1}}</ref> The M6 then heads north past [[Wigan, Greater Manchester|Wigan]], [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] and [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]].<ref name="RoseMacaroon2012">{{cite book|author1=Lesley Anne Rose|author2=Michael Macaroon|author3=Vivienne Crow|title=Frommer's Scotland|edition=I|series=I|volume=I|date=6 January 2012|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|location=London|isbn=978-1-119-99276-9|pages=424–|chapter=36}}</ref> After the latter two cities it passes through [[Cumbria]] with some parts very close to the edge of the [[Lake District]] with a short stretch within the [[national park]] boundaries and then passes [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] on its way to [[Gretna, Scotland|Gretna]],<ref name="Baldwin(M.S.)2004">{{cite book|last1=Baldwin|first1=Peter|last2=Porter (M.S.)|first2=John|last3=Baldwin|first3=Robert|editor=Thomas Telford|title=The Motorway Achievement|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ndZVcax375EC&pg=PA836|access-date=9 July 2012|edition=One|volume=I|year=2004|publisher=Thomas Telford|location=London|isbn=978-0-7277-3196-8|pages=836–|chapter=72}}</ref> before the motorway becomes the [[A74(M) motorway|A74(M)]] a few hundred metres short of the Scottish border.<ref name="management">{{cite book|editor=Highways Agency|title=M6 Route Management Strategy: Warrington to the Scottish Borders : Final Strategy Summary Brochure, January 2004|edition=I|series=1|volume=1|year=2004|publisher=Highways Agency|location=Scotland|page=73|chapter=1}}</ref><ref name="google56">{{cite book|author=Frommer's Short|title=The Borders and Galloway Regions, Scotland: Frommer's ShortCuts|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YNWrbtodFUUC&pg=PT56|access-date=9 July 2012|edition=I|volume=I|date=22 December 2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|location=Scotland|isbn=978-1-118-27111-7|pages=56–|chapter=3}}</ref>

==History==
{{anchor|Preston By-pass}}{{anchor|Preston by-pass}}

===Planning and construction===
The first section of the motorway and the first motorway in the country was the [[Preston By-pass]]. It was built by [[Tarmac Group|Tarmac Construction]] and opened by the [[British Prime Minister|Prime Minister]] [[Harold Macmillan]] on 5 December 1958.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbrd.co.uk/histories/openingbooklets/pdf/prestonbypass.pdf |title=Preston Bypass Opening (Booklet) |access-date=20 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229185452/http://www.cbrd.co.uk/histories/openingbooklets/pdf/prestonbypass.pdf |archive-date=29 February 2008}}</ref> In January 1959 the Preston by-pass was closed because of rapid surface deterioration over a stretch of {{convert|100|yd|m}} "due to water freezing and then thawing". Motorists were diverted to the old road while the UK road research laboratory at Harmondsworth pondered the importance of surface water drainage.<ref name="PracticalMotorist1959">{{cite magazine |title=The Preston By-pass-Enquiry Needed |magazine=Practical Motorist and Motor Cyclist |volume=5 |issue=57 |page=803 |date=March 1959}}</ref>

The second phase of construction was completed in 1960, forming the Lancaster by-pass. Some {{convert|100|mi|km}} south, the Stafford by-pass was completed in 1962.<ref name="Engineers1981"/><ref name="surveyor">{{cite book|title=Surveyor|edition=XII|series=1|volume=XII|year=1978|publisher=The St. Bride's Press|location=London|page=35|chapter=III}}</ref> By 1965, the remaining sections of motorway Stafford–Preston and Preston–Lancaster had been completed. 1966 saw junction 11 to 13 completed. 1968 saw the completion of the [[Walsall]] to Stafford link as well as the Penrith by-pass some {{convert|150|mi|km}} north in [[Cumberland]]. In 1970, the Lancaster–Penrith link was completed, along with a short section of motorway by-passing the south of Walsall. The most northerly section of the motorway also opened in 1970, running to the designated terminus north of Carlisle. By 1971 the full route was completed between the junction with the M1 motorway at Rugby and the [[A38 road]] several miles north-east of Birmingham city centre,<ref name="Engineers1981">{{cite book |title=The Highway Engineer |url={{GBurl|cPRVAAAAMAAJ}} |access-date=9 July 2012|year=1981 |publisher=Institution of Highway Engineers |page=23}}</ref> including [[Bromford Viaduct]] between [[Castle Bromwich]] (J5) and [[Gravelly Hill]] (J6), which at {{Convert|3.5|mi|km}} is the longest viaduct in Great Britain.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ciht.org.uk/motorway/m5m6midlink.htm |title=Midland Links Motorways. M5 (J1 to J3) and M6 (J13 to J1) |publisher=[[Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation]] |access-date=31 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207125434/http://www.ciht.org.uk/motorway/m5m6midlink.htm |archive-date=7 February 2012  }}</ref><ref name="(M.S.)2002">{{cite book |title=The Motorway Achievement – Frontiers of Knowledge and Practice |editor-first1=Ron |editor-last1=Bridle |editor-first2=John |editor-last2=Porter |url={{GBurl|7Yqxyefv-VAC|page=539}} |year=2002 |volume=2 |publisher=Thomas Telford |isbn=978-0-7277-3197-5 |pages=539–}}</ref>

Junction 6 in Birmingham, which opened in May 1972, is widely known as [[Gravelly Hill Interchange|Spaghetti Junction]] because of its complexity and round and curvy-like design. On the elevated ground between [[Shap]] and [[Tebay]], the north and south-bound carriages split apart.<ref name="Carpenter2011">{{cite book|first=T. G. |last=Carpenter|title=Construction in the Landscape: A Handbook for Civil Engineering to Conserve Global Land Resources |url={{GBurl|3vm90DLrfEYC|page=143}}|access-date=9 July 2012|date=27 January 2011|publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-84407-923-0 |pages=143–}}</ref> At this point a local road (to [[Scout Green]]) runs between the two carriageways without a link to the motorway.<ref name="The spectator">{{cite book|title=The Spectator |url={{GBurl|D24HAQAAIAAJ}}|access-date=9 July 2012|year=1980 |publisher=F. C. Westley |volume=245 |issue=2}}</ref>

The section of the M6 that runs over Shap Fell in Cumbria at [[Shap Summit]] is {{convert|1036|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level, one of the highest points on any motorway in the UK (Junction 22 of the [[M62 motorway|M62]] on Moss Moor is higher). The [[civil engineer|motorway engineers]] here chose to follow the route of the [[Lancaster and Carlisle Railway]] engineered by [[Joseph Locke]] (now part of the West Coast Main Line) where the motorway runs in a split-level cutting above the railway in the descent from Shap Fell through the Lune Gorge into southern Cumbria.<ref name="Government1965">{{citation |title=The Municipal Journal |volume=73 |year=1965 |publisher=Ministry of Housing and Local Government}}</ref>

The northbound entry slip road at Lancaster (Junction 34) was unusually short, presenting problems for traffic joining the motorway. The M6 crosses the [[River Lune]] at this point and unless the bridge had been made wider, there was no space to build a longer slip road. This junction was upgraded from an earlier emergency-vehicles-only access point, which explains the substandard design.<ref name="CommitteeCommons2005">{{cite book |author1=House of Commons: Transport Committee |title=Road Pricing: The Next Steps; Seventh Report of Session 2004–05 |date=2 August 2005 |publisher=The Stationery Office |isbn=978-0-215-02566-1 |pages=46–}}</ref> The construction of the [[Heysham to M6 Link Road]] (The Bay Gateway) has completely re-modelled this junction with a wide additional bridge over the River Lune and other works repositioning slip roads with new acceleration lanes to modern standards.

The route was originally intended to replace the old [[A6 road (England)|A6]], which it does along the northern section starting with the Preston Bypass. However, a much closer approximation to the overall actual route of the M6 (heading north from its southern terminus) is provided by following the [[A45 road|A45]], [[A34 road|A34]], [[A50 road|A50]], [[A49 road|A49]], then the [[A6 road (England)|A6]].<ref name="achievement2">{{cite book |title=The Motorway Achievement – The British Motorway System: Visualisation, Policy and Achievement |volume=1 |url={{GBurl|ndZVcax375EC|page=469}} |editor-first1=Peter |editor-last1=Baldwin |editor-first2=Robert |editor-last2=Baldwin |year=2004 |publisher=Thomas Telford |isbn=978-0-7277-3196-8 |pages=469–}}</ref> South of Preston, the A6 route is instead supplemented by the [[M61 motorway|M61]] as far as [[Manchester]], with the [[M60 motorway|M60]] acting as a bypass around the city. South of Manchester, there is no true motorway replacement for the old road. The [[M1 motorway|M1]] acts as a bypass for long-distance traffic in the south, from the [[Kegworth]] junction near [[Nottingham]], to [[Luton]] and [[St. Albans]] near London; but, it is not an alternative for local traffic as the routes diverge by more than {{Convert|15|mi|km}} while passing through [[Northamptonshire]]. Across the [[Pennines]], the old road remains the main local through-route, and long-distance fast traffic between [[Derby]] and Manchester must instead take either the [[A50 road|A50]] and M6, or M1 and M62.<ref name="motorway archive 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.ciht.org.uk/motorway/m5m6midlink.htm |title=M6 |work=The Motorway Archive. Midland Links Motorways |publisher=[[Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation]] |access-date=9 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207125434/http://www.ciht.org.uk/motorway/m5m6midlink.htm |archive-date=7 February 2012}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=July 2012}}

Once all sections of the motorway were constructed, and it was finally all linked together, the result was an uninterrupted motorway length of {{convert|230|mi}}.<ref name="Surveyor">{{cite book|title=Surveyor|year=1978|publisher=The St. Bride's Press|page=21}}</ref><ref name="ServicesInformation1970">{{cite book|author1=British Information Services|author2=Great Britain. Central Office of Information|title=Survey of British and Commonwealth affairs|url={{GBurl|8xIiAQAAIAAJ}}|access-date=9 July 2012|edition=I|series=One|volume=I|date=1 January 1970|publisher=Published for British Information Services by Her Majesty's Stationery Office|location=England, United Kingdom|chapter=I}}</ref><ref name="DivisionServices1979">{{cite book|author1=Central Office of Information |title=Inland transport in Britain|url={{GBurl|6EpnAAAAMAAJ}}|access-date=9 July 2012|year=1979|publisher=H.M.S.O.|isbn=978-0-11-700989-9}}</ref>

===Operational===
[[File:M6 motorway, Cheshire, 1969.jpg|thumb|left|The M6 in [[Cheshire]] (1969)]]

In July 1972, the  Minister for Transport Industries, [[John Peyton, Baron Peyton of Yeovil|John Peyton]], announced that {{convert|86|mi|km}} of UK motorway particularly prone to fog would benefit from lighting in a project which "should be" completed by 1973.<ref name="Autocar197207">{{cite magazine |title = News: Motorway lighting |magazine=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] | volume =  137 |issue= 3,978 |page =19| date = 13 July 1972}}</ref> Sections to be illuminated included the M6 between junctions 10 and 11, and between junctions 20 and 27.<ref name=Autocar197207/>

In March 2006, after 15 years of debate,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbrd.co.uk/futures/upgrade/m6.shtml|title=M6 Carlisle&nbsp;— Gretna |work=CBRD |publisher=[[Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation]] |access-date=20 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027043810/http://www.cbrd.co.uk/futures/upgrade/m6.shtml|archive-date=27 October 2007}}</ref> the government authorised the construction of a {{convert|6|mi|adj=on}} extension of the M6 from its then northern terminus near Carlisle to the Anglo-Scottish border at [[Gretna, Scotland|Gretna]] (the so-called "[[A74 road#Cumberland Gap|Cumberland Gap]]"), where it links into the existing [[A74(M) and M74 motorways|A74(M)]].<ref>{{cite web|title=M6 Carlisle to Guards Mill Extension |publisher=Highways Agency |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/5069.aspx |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/5069.aspx |archive-date=10 August 2012|access-date=3 May 2014}}</ref> The road opened on 5 December 2008, the 50th anniversary of the M6 Preston By-pass.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/northextension/|title=M6 North Extension, United Kingdom|work=Road Traffic Technology|access-date=20 January 2008}}</ref> The project, which was a mixture of new road and upgrade of the existing A74, crosses the West Coast Main Line and had an estimated costs of £174&nbsp;million. It completed an uninterrupted motorway from just south of [[Dunblane]] (via the [[M9 motorway (Scotland)|M9]], the recently opened [[M80 motorway|M80]] section near [[Cumbernauld]] and the [[M73 motorway|M73]]) in the north to [[Exeter]] (via the [[M5 motorway|M5]]) and to [[London]] (via both the [[M42 motorway|M42]]/[[M40 motorway|M40]] and the [[M1 motorway|M1]]) in the south.<ref name="Institute2006">{{cite book|author=Royal Town Planning Institute |title=Planning: for the natural and built environment|edition=1|volume=I|year=2006|publisher=Planning Publications|location=London|page=14|chapter=I}}</ref>

{{location map+|United Kingdom motorways
|float=right
|width=350
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{{Location map~|United Kingdom motorways|label={{nowrap|[[Charnock Richard MSA|Charnock Richard]]}}|position=left|lat=53.630425|long=-2.691779|mark=Black pog.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom motorways|label={{lower|[[Corley services|Corley]]}}|position=left|lat=52.47224|long=-1.548005|mark=Black pog.svg}}
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{{Location map~|United Kingdom motorways|label=[[Rugby services|Rugby]]|position=right|lat=52.40809|long=-1.24573|mark=Green pog.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom motorways|label=[[Sandbach services|Sandbach]]|position=left|lat=53.13987|long=-2.33665|mark=Red pog.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom motorways|label=[[Southwaite Services|Southwaite]]|position=left|lat=54.79765|long=-2.87101|mark=Green pog.svg}}
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{{Location map~|United Kingdom motorways|label=[[Tebay MSA|Tebay]]|lat=54.45|long=-2.608|mark=Blue pog.svg}}
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|caption=M6 service areas<br />Operators:{{spaces|em}}{{nowrap|[[File:Green pog.svg|8px]] [[Moto Hospitality|Moto]]{{spaces|em}}}}{{wbr}}{{nowrap|[[File:Red pog.svg|8px]] [[Roadchef]]{{spaces|em}}}}{{wbr}}{{nowrap|[[File:Black pog.svg|8px]] [[Welcome Break]]{{spaces|em}}}}{{wbr}}{{nowrap|[[File:Blue pog.svg|8px]] [[Westmorland Motorway Services|Westmorland]]}}
}}
The [[M6 Toll]], Britain's first [[toll road|toll motorway]], which bypasses the [[West Midlands conurbation]] to the east and north of Birmingham and Walsall and was built to alleviate [[traffic congestion]] through the West Midlands, opened in December 2003. Before the opening of the toll motorway, this section of the M6 carried 180,000 vehicles per day at its busiest point near [[Wolverhampton]] (between the junctions with the M54 and M5 motorways), compared with a design capacity of only 72,000 vehicles. Usage, at about 50,000 vehicles, was lower than expected and traffic levels on the M6 were only slightly reduced as a result. The high toll prices, which were set by the operating company and over which the [[Government of the United Kingdom|UK Government]] has no influence until 2054, were blamed for the low usage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/documents/one_year_after_study.pdf|title=One year after study|publisher=Highways Agency|date=11 August 2005|access-date=24 January 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091115051216/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/documents/one_year_after_study.pdf |archive-date = 15 November 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=October 2021}}{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} Much traffic continues to use the M6 or the continued on the M1 and took the [[A50 road|A50]] or [[A52 road|A52]].<ref name="Highways & road construction international">{{cite book |title=Highways & Road Construction International |volume=41 |year=1973}}</ref> {{As of|July 2012}} the road between Junctions 3A and 11A now carries 120,000 motor vehicles every day.<ref name="Commons1984">{{cite book|author=Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons|title=Parliamentary debates: Official report|year=2012|publisher=H.M. Stationery Off.}}{{full citation needed|date=October 2021}}</ref>

A proposed extension to the M6 Toll known as the '[[M6 Toll|M6 Expressway]]', which would have continued from the M6 Toll as far as [[Knutsford]], at which point much of the existing M6 traffic leaves the M6 for [[Manchester]], was abandoned in 2006 due to excessive costs, anticipated construction problems<ref name="Decision on M6 Upgrade Announced">{{cite web|title=Decision on M6 Upgrade Announced |publisher=News Distribution Service for the Government and Public Sector |url=http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=215626&NewsAreaID=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504023744/http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=215626&NewsAreaID=2 |archive-date=4 May 2008|access-date=3 May 2014}}</ref> and disappointing levels of use of the M6 Toll.

In October 2007, following a successful trial on the [[M42 motorway|M42]] in the West Midlands, the government announced that two stretches of the M6 would be upgraded to allow the [[hard shoulder]] to be used as a normal running lane during busy conditions under a scheme called [[active traffic management]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/article3096713.ece|title=Hard-shoulder scheme to go nationwide|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=27 October 2007|access-date=25 January 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027051954/http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/article3096713.ece|archive-date=27 October 2007}}</ref> The two stretches, between junctions 4 and 5 and between junctions 10a and 8, are two of the busiest sections on the entire motorway.<ref name="achievement">{{cite book |title=The Motorway Achievement – The British Motorway System: Visualisation, Policy and Achievement |volume=1 |url={{GBurl|ndZVcax375EC|page=693}} |editor-first1=Peter |editor-last1=Baldwin |editor-first2=Robert |editor-last2=Baldwin |year=2004 |publisher=Thomas Telford |isbn=978-0-7277-3196-8 |page=693 |chapter=16: Safety research at the Transport Research Laboratory |first=D. M. |last=Colwill}}</ref> It was then proposed that the system could be extended onto other stretches of the M6 while the government undertook a feasibility study to determine other likely locations for this technology to be used.<ref name="achievement1">{{cite book |title=The Motorway Achievement – The British Motorway System: Visualisation, Policy and Achievement |volume=1 |url={{GBurl|ndZVcax375EC|page=694}} |editor-first1=Peter |editor-last1=Baldwin |editor-first2=Robert |editor-last2=Baldwin |year=2004 |publisher=Thomas Telford |isbn=978-0-7277-3196-8 |pages=694– |chapter=16: Safety research at the Transport Research Laboratory |first=D. M. |last=Colwill}}</ref> The stretch between junctions 4 and 5 was completed during December 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/pressreleases/highways-agency-transport-minister-opens-england-s-second-hard-shoulder-running-scheme-348172|title=Highways Agency: Transport Minister opens England's second Hard Shoulder Running Scheme|website=MyNewsDesk|access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref> while the stretch between junctions 10a and 8 was completed during March 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hard shoulders opens on busy M6 by Birmingham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-12814297|website=BBC News|date=22 March 2011|publisher=BBC News|access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref> This was then followed by a stretch between junctions 5 and 8 which started construction in April 2012 and was completed in October 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=M6 Birmingham Box ATM Phase 3 |url=https://www.roads.org.uk/road-schemes/m6-birmingham-box-atm-phase-3 |website=Roads.org |access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref>

After plans of the government to improve reliability and capacity between Junctions 11 by [[Cannock]] and Junction 19 near Knutsford it favoured a new motorway in 2004, 'The Expressway' following a roughly parallel course to the existing M6.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/encouragingbetteruseofroadsa5919|title=Encouraging better use of roads and the M6|publisher=Department for Transport|access-date=20 January 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070811065448/http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/encouragingbetteruseofroadsa5919  |archive-date = 11 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="Committee2010">{{cite book|author=Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee|title=The Severn crossings toll: third report of session 2010–11, report, together with formal minutes and written evidence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k50RNr2_iIUC&pg=PA58|access-date=9 July 2012|date=22 December 2010|publisher=The Stationery Office|isbn=978-0-215-55570-0|pages=58–}}</ref> In July 2006, the government announced its decision to abandon the Expressway proposal, and favoured widening accompanied by demand-management measures,<ref name="Decision on M6 Upgrade Announced"/> and launched a study to consider options for providing additional capacity.<ref>{{cite web|title=M6 Jct 11A – 19 (Increasing Capacity) Study |publisher=Highways Agency |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/11587.aspx |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/11587.aspx |archive-date=10 August 2012|access-date=3 May 2014}}</ref> After the stretch between junction 10a and 13 was upgraded to a managed motorway in February 2016,<ref>{{cite web |title=M6 J10A-13 Smart Motorway |url=https://www.roads.org.uk/road-schemes/m6-j10a-13-smart-motorway |website=Roads.org |access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref> it was then proposed to introduce a managed motorway between junction 13 and 19,<ref>{{cite web|title=M6 Junctions 13–19 Managed Motorway|url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/m6-junctions-13-19-managed-motorway/}}</ref> later divided into two separate stretches, between junctions 16 and 19 and junctions 13 and 15.<ref>{{cite web|title=Big six share £1.5bn smart motorway contracts|url=http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/big-six-share-15bn-smart-motorway-contracts|website=The Construction Index|access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref> The stretch between junctions 16 and 19 started construction in December 2015<ref>{{cite web|title=M6 junctions 16-19: smart motorway|url=http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/m6-junctions-16-19-smart-motorway/|website=Highways England|access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref> and was completed in March 2019<ref>{{cite web |title=M6 smart motorway upgrade between Crewe and Knutsford opens |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-47695629# |website=BBC News |date=25 March 2019 |access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref> while construction on the stretch between junctions 13 and 15 commenced in March 2018<ref>{{cite web|title=M6 junction 13 to junction 15 smart motorway|url=https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/west-midlands/m6-junction-13-to-junction-15-smart-motorway/#documents|website=National Highways|date=22 May 2020 |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref> and was completed in August 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=M6 motorway upgrade now fully open |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2022/08/15/m6-motorway-upgrade-now-fully-open/ |website=Express & Star |date=15 August 2022 |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref>

In April 2021, the M6 gained [[Rugby services|the first motorway service station]] to be built for thirteen years. Located off Junction 1 at Rugby and opened on 30 April 2021, the facility, run by [[Moto Hospitality]], includes the largest electric vehicle charging facility in the UK, run by [[Ecotricity]] and [[Gridserve]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Trinkwon |first=Will |date=30 April 2021 |title=Electric Highways opens UK's largest EV motorway charging station |url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry-news-environment/electric-highways-opens-uk%E2%80%99s-largest-ev-motorway-charging-station |work=Autocar |location= |access-date=30 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Madeleine |date=30 April 2021 |title=More than 100 jobs created at UK's first electric vehicle motorway services in Rugby |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/more-100-jobs-created-uks-20490633 |work=The Coventry Telegraph |location= |access-date=30 April 2021}}</ref>

==Current developments==
===J10 improvements===
Work started in 2020 to reconstruct the bridges above the motorway at junction 10, due to frequent congestion at peak times, due to be completed in 2024 at a cost of £78,000,000.<ref>{{cite web |title=M6 junction 10 improvement |url=https://highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/west-midlands/m6-junction-10-improvement/ |website=Highways England |date=19 May 2020 |access-date=10 February 2021}}</ref>

===J4 to J10A Dynamic Hard Shoulder enhancements===
Work started in March 2022 to upgrade the existing Dynamic Hard Shoulder smart motorway to add newer safety features to the motorway, such as a concrete central reservation, new emergency areas and drainage improvements. Currently, this work does not have an end date proposed.<ref>{{cite web |title=M6 junctions J4 to J10A Dynamic Hard Shoulder Enhancements |url=https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/west-midlands/m6-junctions-4-to-10a-dynamic-hard-shoulder-enhancements/#overview/ |website=National Highways |date=22 March 2023 |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref>

===J21A to J26 smart motorway===
Work started in early 2021 to upgrade the M6 from junction J21A to J26 to the all lane running standard of smart motorway, with an estimated cost of between £100 million - £250 million. The smart motorway was originally due to be fully open in 2023, but is now delayed until 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=M6 junctions J21A to J26 Smart Motorway |url=https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/north-west/m6-junction-21a-to-26-motorway-upgrade/ |website=National Highways |date=22 March 2023 |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref>

==Junctions==
{{GeoGroup|section=Junctions}}
Data from [[driver location signs]] are used to provide distance and carriageway identifier information. Where a junction spans several hundred metres (yards) and the start and end distances are known, both distances are shown.<ref>Driver Location Signs, M6 J4-18(map) Highway Authority 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2012.</ref><ref>Driver Location Signs, Highway Agency Area 10 (map) – Highway Authority, 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2012.</ref>
{{clear}}
{| style="margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em;" class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#0079C1; text-align:center; color:white; "
| colspan="6" | '''M6 motorway junctions'''
|-  style="colour:white; text-align:center; colour:white;"
| mile
| km
| North-Westbound exits (A carriageway)
| Junction
| South-Eastbound exits (B carriageway)
| Coordinates
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
|''Motorway continues as'' [[A74(M) motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''A74(M)'''</span>]] ''towards [[Scotland]]''
| rowspan=2 | J45<br />
| ''Start of motorway'' [[File:UK motorway symbol.svg|x20px]]
| {{coord|54.9930|N|3.0482|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, northern terminus}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|313.2
| 504.3
| [[Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway|Gretna]] [[B7076 road|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''B7076'''</span>]], [[Longtown, Cumbria|Longtown]] [[A6071 road|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''A6071'''</span>]]
| {{no2}} ''No access (on-slip only)''
| {{coord|54.9930|N|3.0482|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J45}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| colspan=3 | ''[[River Esk, Dumfries and Galloway|River Esk]]''
| {{coord|54.9748|N|3.0092|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, River Esk}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|309.6<br />309.2
|498.2<br />497.5
|''[[Todhills Rest Area]]''
| ''Services''
| ''[[Todhills Rest Area]]''
| {{coord|54.9516|N|2.9796|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Todhills Rest Area}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|307.6<br />307.3
|495.1 <br /> 494.6
| [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] (North), [[Galashiels]] [[A7 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A7'''</span>]]
| J44<br />
| [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] [[A7 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A7'''</span>]], [[Workington]] [[A689 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A689'''</span>]]
| {{coord|54.9301|N|2.9463|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J44}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| colspan=3 | ''[[River Eden, Cumbria|River Eden]]''
| {{coord|54.9093|N|2.8953|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, River Eden}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|303.8<br />303.5
|488.9 <br /> 488.4
| [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]], [[Hexham]], [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] [[A69 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A69'''</span>]]
| J43
| [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]], [[Hexham]], [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] [[A69 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A69'''</span>]]
| {{coord|54.8953|N|2.8869|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J43}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|301.1<br />300.7
|484.6 <br /> 484.0
| [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] (South) [[A6 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A6'''</span>]]
| J42
| [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] [[A6 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A6'''</span>]]
| {{coord|54.8576|N|2.8784|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J42}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''[[Southwaite services]]''
| ''Services''
| ''[[Southwaite services]]''
| {{coord|54.7991|N|2.8711|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Southwaite Services}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|288.7<br />288.4
|464.6 <br /> 464.1
| [[Wigton]] [[B5305 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''B5305'''</span>]]
| J41
| [[Wigton]] [[B5305 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''B5305'''</span>]]
| {{coord|54.693|N|2.7917|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J41}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|285.5 <br /> 285.2
|459.5 <br /> 459.0
| [[Penrith, Cumbria|Penrith]], [[Workington]], [[Brough, Cumbria|Brough]] [[A66 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A66'''</span>]]
| J40
| [[Penrith, Cumbria|Penrith]], [[Keswick, Cumbria|Keswick]], [[Brough, Cumbria|Brough]] [[A66 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A66'''</span>]]
| {{coord|54.6531|N|2.7602|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J40}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|274.4<br />274.0
|441.6 <br /> 441.0
| [[Shap]] [[A6 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''(A6)'''</span>]]
| J39
| [[Shap]], [[Kendal]] [[A6 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''(A6)'''</span>]]
| {{coord|54.5083|N|2.6498|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J39}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''[[Tebay services]]''
| ''Services''
| ''[[Tebay services]]''
| {{coord|54.4513|N|2.6080|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Tebay Services}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| colspan=3 | ''[[River Lune]]''
| {{coord|54.4411|N|2.5950|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, River Lune}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|268.9<br />268.5
|432.7 <br /> 432.1
| [[Brough, Cumbria|Brough]] [[A685 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A685'''</span>]], [[Appleby-in-Westmorland|Appleby]] [[B6260 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''B6260'''</span>]]
| J38
| [[Kendal]], [[Brough, Cumbria|Brough]] [[A685 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A685'''</span>]]
| {{coord|54.4368|N|2.5969|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J38}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|260.3<br />260.0
| 418.9 <br /> 418.4
| [[Kendal]], [[Sedbergh]] [[A684 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A684'''</span>]]
| J37
| [[Kendal]], [[Sedbergh]] [[A684 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A684'''</span>]]
| {{coord|54.3310|N|2.6229|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J37}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| {{no2}} ''No access''
| ''Services''
| ''[[Killington Lake services]]''
| {{coord|54.3150|N|2.6391|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Killington Lake Services}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|252.7<br />252.3
| 406.7 <br /> 406.0
| [[Barrow-in-Furness|Barrow]], [[Kendal]] [[A590 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A590'''</span>]] [[A591 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''(A591)'''</span>]], [[Kirkby Lonsdale]] [[A65 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A65'''</span>]]
| J36
| [[Skipton]], [[Kirkby Lonsdale]] [[A65 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A65'''</span>]], [[Barrow-in-Furness|Barrow]] [[A590 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A590'''</span>]]
| {{coord|54.2364|N|2.7165|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J36}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''[[Burton-in-Kendal services]]''
| ''Services''
| {{no2}} ''No access''
| {{coord|54.1782|N|2.7339|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Burton-in-Kendal Services}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
|  ''Entering [[Cumbria]]''
|
|  ''Entering [[Lancashire]]''
| {{coord|54.1701|N|2.7370|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|245.1<br />244.6
| 394.4 <br /> 393.6
| [[Carnforth]], [[Morecambe]] [[A601(M) motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''A601(M)'''</span>]] [[A6 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''(A6)'''</span>]]
| J35
| [[Carnforth]], [[Morecambe]] [[A601(M) motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''A601(M)'''</span>]] [[A6 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''(A6)'''</span>]]
| {{coord|54.1287|N|2.7498|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J35}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|240.8<br />240.6
| 387.6 <br /> 387.2
| [[Kirkby Lonsdale]], [[Heysham]], [[Morecambe]], [[Heysham Port|Heysham]] [[File:UK traffic sign symbol S34.2.svg|x12px]] [[A683 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A683'''</span>]], [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] [[A589 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''A589'''</span>]]
| J34
| [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]], [[Morecambe]], [[Heysham]] [[A683 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A683'''</span>]]
| {{coord|54.0716|N|2.7711|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J34}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|234.6<br />234.3
| 377.6 <br /> 377.1
| [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] (South) [[A6 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''A6'''</span>]]
| J33
| [[Garstang]], [[Fleetwood]] [[A6 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''A6'''</span>]]
| {{coord|53.9825|N|2.7807|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J33}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''[[Lancaster (Forton) services]]''
| ''Services''
| ''[[Lancaster (Forton) services]]''
| {{coord|53.9621|N|2.7602|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Lancaster (Forton) Services}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| colspan=3 | ''[[River Wyre]]''
| {{coord|53.9539|N|2.7514|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, River Wyre}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|221.5<br />221.0
| 356.5 <br /> 355.7
| [[Blackpool]], [[Fleetwood]] [[M55 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M55'''</span>]]<br />[[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] (N) [[A6 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''(A6)'''</span>]]
| J32
| [[Blackpool]], [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] (N) [[A6 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''(A6)'''</span>]] [[M55 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M55'''</span>]]
| {{coord|53.8068|N|2.6978|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J32}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|219.5<br />219.3
|353.2 <br /> 352.9
| [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] (E), [[Longridge, Lancashire|Longridge]] [[B6242 road|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''B6242'''</span>]]
| J31A
| {{no2}} ''No access (on-slip only)''
| {{coord|53.7889|N|2.6583|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J31A}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''[[River Ribble]]''
| rowspan=2 | J31
| [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]], [[Clitheroe]] [[A59 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A59'''</span>]]
| rowspan=2 | {{coord|53.7649|N|2.6359|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J31}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] (C), [[Blackburn]] (N), [[Clitheroe]] [[A59 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A59'''</span>]]
| ''[[River Ribble]]''
|- style="text-align:center;"
|215.4<br />214.9
|346.6 <br /> 345.9
| {{no2}} ''No access (on-slip only)''
| J30
| [[Manchester]], [[Bolton]] [[M61 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M61'''</span>]], [[Leeds]] [[M62 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M62)'''</span>]], [[Blackburn]] [[M65 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M65)'''</span>]]
| {{coord|53.7343|N|2.6477|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J30}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|213.9<br />213.5
|344.3 <br /> 343.6
| [[Burnley]], [[Blackburn]], [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] (S) [[M65 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M65'''</span>]]
| J29
| [[Burnley]], [[Blackburn]] [[M65 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M65'''</span>]]
| {{coord|53.7162|N|2.6608|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J29}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|212.3<br />211.9
|341.6 <br /> 341.0
| [[Leyland, Lancashire|Leyland]] [[B5256 road|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''B5256'''</span>]] [[A49 road|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''(A49)'''</span>]]
| J28
| [[Leyland, Lancashire|Leyland]] [[B5256 road|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''B5256'''</span>]]
| {{coord|53.6959|N|2.6776|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J28}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''[[Charnock Richard services]]''
| ''Services''
| ''[[Charnock Richard services]]''
| {{coord|53.6315|N|2.6908|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Charnock Richard Services}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|204.8
| 329.6
|  ''Entering [[Lancashire]]''
| rowspan=2 | J27
| [[Wigan]], [[Parbold]] [[A5209 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A5209'''</span>]]
| rowspan=2 | {{coord|53.5897|N|2.6944|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J27}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|204.4
| 329.0
| [[Parbold]], [[Standish, Greater Manchester|Standish]], [[Chorley]] [[A5209 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A5209'''</span>]]
|  ''Entering [[Greater Manchester]]''
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
|colspan="3"| ''[[Gathurst Viaduct]]''
| {{coord|53.5617|N|2.7009|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Gathurst Viaduct}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|200.8<br />200.5
|323.1 <br /> 322.6
| [[Skelmersdale]], [[Liverpool]], [[Southport]] [[M58 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M58'''</span>]]
| J26
| [[Skelmersdale]], [[Liverpool]], [[Southport]] [[M58 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M58'''</span>]]
| {{coord|53.5341|N|2.6980|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J26}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|198.0<br />197.8
|318.7 <br /> 318.3
| [[Wigan]], [[Ashton-in-Makerfield|Ashton]] [[A49 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A49'''</span>]]
| J25
| {{no2}} ''No exit (on-slip only)''
| {{coord|53.5018|N|2.6597|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J25}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|196.9<br />196.5
|316.9 <br /> 316.3
| {{no2}} ''No exit (on-slip only)''
| J24
| [[St Helens, Merseyside|St Helens]], [[Ashton-in-Makerfield|Ashton]] (no entry - exit only) [[A58 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A58'''</span>]]
| {{coord|53.4867|N|2.6529|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J24}} 
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
|  ''Entering [[Greater Manchester]]''
|
|  ''Entering [[Merseyside]]''
| {{coord|53.4802|N|2.6440|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|195.6<br />195.2
|314.8 <br /> 314.1
| [[St Helens, Merseyside|St Helens]], [[Liverpool]], [[Southport]] [[A580 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A580'''</span>]]
| J23
| [[Manchester]], [[Liverpool]], [[Newton-le-Willows|Newton]] [[A580 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A580'''</span>]]
| {{coord|53.4713|N|2.6336|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J23}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|192.4
|309.6
|  ''Entering [[Merseyside]]''
| rowspan=2 | J22
| [[Warrington]] (North) [[A49 road|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''A49'''</span>]]
| rowspan=2 | {{coord|53.4401|N|2.5841|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J22}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|192.1
|309.1
| [[Newton-le-Willows|Newton]] [[A49 road|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''A49'''</span>]], [[Leigh (Greater Manchester)|Leigh]] [[A579 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A579'''</span>]]
|  ''Entering [[Cheshire]]''
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=2 | 191.0<br />190.5
| rowspan=2 | 307.4 <br /> 306.5
| [[Leeds]], [[Bolton]], [[Manchester]] (N) [[M62 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M62'''</span>]]
| rowspan=2 | J21A
| [[Manchester]], [[Bolton]], [[Leeds]] [[M62 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M62'''</span>]]
| rowspan=2 | {{coord|53.4259|N|2.5559|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J21A}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Liverpool]], [[Warrington]] (N), [[Southport]] [[M57 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M57)'''</span>]] [[M62 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M62'''</span>]]
| [[Liverpool]] [[M62 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M62'''</span>]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
|188.3<br />188.0
| 303.0 <br /> 302.5
| [[Warrington]] (Ctr & East), [[Irlam]] [[A57 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A57'''</span>]]
| J21
| [[Warrington]] (Central), [[Irlam]] [[A57 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A57'''</span>]]
| {{coord|53.3978|N|2.5099|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J21}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
|colspan="3"| ''[[Thelwall Viaduct]]''
| {{coord|53.3898|N|2.5058|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Thelwall Viaduct}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|185.6
| 298.7
| rowspan=2 | [[North Wales]], [[Chester]], [[Runcorn]] [[M56 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M56'''</span>]]<br />[[Warrington]] (South), [[Lymm]] [[A50 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A50'''</span>]]<br />''[[Lymm|Lymm Truck Stop]]''
| rowspan=2 |J20<br />''Services''
| [[Macclesfield]], [[Warrington]] (S) [[A50 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A50'''</span>]], Lymm [[B5158 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''B5158'''</span>]]<br />''[[Lymm|Lymm Truck Stop]]''
| {{coord|53.3604|N|2.5091|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J20}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|185.3<br />184.5
| 298.2 <br /> 296.9
| [[North Wales]], [[Chester]], [[Runcorn]], [[Manchester]] (S & {{rail-interchange|air}}) [[M56 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M56'''</span>]]{{cref2|Note 1}}
| {{coord|53.3585|N|2.5080|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J20A}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''End of [[Smart motorway|variable speed limit]]'' [[File:UK traffic sign 671.svg|x15px]]
| rowspan=2 | J19
| ''Start of [[Smart motorway|variable speed limit]]'' [[File:UK traffic sign 879.svg|x15px]]
| rowspan=2 | {{coord|53.3116|N|2.4176|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J19}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|180.3<br />179.9
|290.2 <br /> 289.5
| [[Manchester]], [[Manchester Airport|Manchester]] {{rail-interchange|air}} [[M56 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M56)'''</span>]] [[A556 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A556'''</span>]]
| [[Northwich]], [[Macclesfield]], [[Knutsford]] [[A556 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A556'''</span>]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''[[Knutsford services]]''
| ''Services''{{cref2|Note 2}}
| ''[[Knutsford services]]''
| {{coord|53.3008|N|2.4016|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Knutsford Services}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|172.2<br />171.9
|277.2 <br /> 276.7
| [[Chester]], [[Northwich]], [[Middlewich]] [[A54 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A54'''</span>]]
| J18
| [[Chester]], [[Northwich]], [[Middlewich]] [[A54 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A54'''</span>]]
| {{coord|53.2004|N|2.3875|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J18}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|168.9<br />168.3
|271.3 <br /> 270.8
| [[Congleton]], [[Sandbach]] [[A534 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A534'''</span>]]
| J17
| [[Congleton]], [[Sandbach]] [[A534 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A534'''</span>]]
| {{coord|53.1532|N|2.3467|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J17}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''[[Sandbach services]]''
| ''Services''
| ''[[Sandbach services]]''
| {{coord|53.1390|N|2.3365|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Sandbach Services}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|162.6
| 261.7
|  ''Entering [[Cheshire]]''
|rowspan=3 | J16
| [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]], [[Stoke-on-Trent]] (North), [[Crewe]], [[Nantwich]] [[A500 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A500'''</span>]]
|rowspan=3 |  {{coord|53.0686|N|2.3336|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J16}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''Start of [[Smart motorway|variable speed limit]]'' [[File:UK traffic sign 879.svg|x15px]]
| ''End of [[Smart motorway|variable speed limit]]'' [[File:UK traffic sign 671.svg|x15px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
|162.3
| 261.2
| [[Nantwich]], [[Crewe]] [[A500 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A500'''</span>]]
|  ''Entering [[Staffordshire]]''
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''[[Keele services]]''
| ''Services''
| ''[[Keele services]]''
| {{coord|52.9936|N|2.2894|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Keele Services}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|153.1<br />152.9
| 246.4 <br /> 246.1
| [[Stoke-on-Trent]], [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]] [[A500 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A500'''</span>]]
| J15
| [[Stoke-on-Trent]], [[Stone, Staffordshire|Stone]] [[A500 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A500'''</span>]], [[Derby]] [[A50 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''(A50)'''</span>]]
| {{coord|52.9756|N|2.2263|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J15}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''[[Stafford services]] (northbound)''
| rowspan=2| ''Services''
| {{no2}} ''No access''
| {{coord|52.8839|N|2.1686|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Stafford Services (Northbound)}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| {{no2}} ''No access''
| ''[[Stafford services]] (southbound)''
| {{coord|52.8739|N|2.1649|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Stafford Services (Southbound)}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|142.0<br />141.8
| 228.6 <br /> 228.2
| [[Stone, Staffordshire|Stone]], [[Stafford]] (N) [[A34 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A34'''</span>]] 
| J14
| [[Stafford]] (N) [[A34 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A34'''</span>]] 
| {{coord|52.8265|N|2.1456|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J14}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''End of [[Smart motorway|variable speed limit]]'' [[File:UK traffic sign 671.svg|x15px]]
| rowspan=2 | J13
| ''Start of [[Smart motorway|variable speed limit]]'' [[File:UK traffic sign 879.svg|x15px]]
| rowspan=2 | {{coord|52.7636|N|2.1079|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J13}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|136.8<br />136.5
| 220.1 <br /> 219.6
| [[Stafford]] (S & C) [[A449 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A449'''</span>]] 
| [[Stafford]] (S) [[A449 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A449'''</span>]] 
|- style="text-align:center;"
|131.6<br />131.2
|211.8 <br /> 211.1
| [[Telford]] [[M54 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M54)'''</span>]] [[A5 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A5'''</span>]] 
| J12
| [[North Wales]], [[Telford]] [[M54 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M54)'''</span>]], [[Wolverhampton]], [[Cannock]] [[A5 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A5'''</span>]] 
| {{coord|52.6890|N|2.1035|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J12}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| {{no2}} ''No access (on-slip only)''
| J11A<br />([[TOTSO|{{abbr|TOTSO|Turn off to stay on}}]] SB)
| [[Southern England|The South]] [[M6 Toll|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M6 Toll'''</span>]]
| {{coord|52.6695|N|2.0743|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J11A}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|128.7<br />128.4
|207.2 <br /> 206.7
| [[M6 Toll|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M6 Toll)'''</span>]], [[Cannock]] [[A460 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A460'''</span>]]
| J11
| [[Wolverhampton]], [[Cannock]] [[A460 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A460'''</span>]]
| {{coord|52.6584|N|2.0644|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J11}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''[[Hilton Park services]]''
| ''Services''
| ''[[Hilton Park services]]''
| {{coord|52.6434|N|2.0565|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Hilton Park Services}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|127.0<br />126.7
|204.4 <br />203.9
| North & Mid Wales, [[Telford]], [[Wolverhampton]], [[Shrewsbury]] [[A5 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''(A5)'''</span>]] [[M54 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M54'''</span>]]
| J10A
| {{no2}} ''No access (on-slip only)''
| {{coord|52.6302|N|2.0490|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J10A}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
|
|rowspan=2|
|  ''Entering [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]''
| {{coord|52.6187|N|2.0321|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|  ''Entering [[Staffordshire]]''
|
| {{coord|52.6169|N|2.0304|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|123.3<br />122.9
|198.4 <br /> 197.8
| [[Walsall]], [[Wolverhampton]] (C & E) [[A454 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A454'''</span>]]
| J10
| [[Wolverhampton]] (C & E), [[Walsall]] [[A454 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A454'''</span>]]
| {{coord|52.5849|N|2.0143|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J10}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|121.7<br />121.5
|195.8 <br /> 195.6
| [[Wednesbury]] [[A461 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A461'''</span>]]
| J9
| [[Wednesbury]] [[A461 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A461'''</span>]]
| {{coord|52.5665|N|2.0032|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J9}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|119.9
| 193.0
| [[South West England|The South West]], [[Birmingham]] (W & S), [[West Bromwich]] [[M5 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M5'''</span>]]
| J8<br />
| [[South West England|The South West]], [[Birmingham]] (W & S), [[West Bromwich]] [[M5 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M5'''</span>]]
| {{coord|52.5571|N|1.9767|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J8}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|118.4<br />118.1
| 190.6 <br /> 190.1
| [[Birmingham]] (N), [[Walsall]] [[A34 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A34'''</span>]]
| J7<br />
| [[Birmingham]] (N) [[A34 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A34'''</span>]]
| {{coord|52.5531|N|1.9340|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J7}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|114.2<br />113.9
| 183.8 <br /> 183.3
| [[Birmingham]] (C) [[A38(M) motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''A38(M)'''</span>]] <br />[[Birmingham]] (NE) [[A38 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A38'''</span>]]
| [[Gravelly Hill Interchange|J6]]<br />
| [[Birmingham]] (NE), [[Lichfield]] [[A38 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A38'''</span>]]<br />[[Birmingham]] (E & C) [[A38(M) motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''A38(M)'''</span>]] 
| {{coord|52.5101|N|1.8638|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J6}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
|colspan=3 | ''[[Bromford Viaduct]]''
| {{coord|52.5060|N|1.8290|W|dim:5000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Bromford Viaduct}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|110.9<br />110.8
|178.5 <br /> 178.3
| [[Birmingham]] (E), [[Sutton Coldfield]] [[A452 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A452'''</span>]]
| J5<br />
| {{no2}} ''No access (on-slip only)''
| {{coord|52.5093|N|1.7891|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J5}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
|
|
|  ''Entering [[Warwickshire]]''
| {{coord|52.5130|N|1.7536|W|display=inline}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|108.8<br />108.6
|175.1 <br /> 174.8
| {{no2}} ''No access (on-slip only)''
| J4A
| [[North East England|The North East]] [[M1 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M1)'''</span>]], [[North West England|The North West]] [[M6 Toll motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M6 Toll)'''</span>]], [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]] [[M42 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M42(N)'''</span>]]<br />[[South West England|The South West]] [[M5 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M5)'''</span>]], [[London]] (S & W) [[M40 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M40)'''</span>]], [[Birmingham]] (S), [[Birmingham International railway station|Birmingham International]] [[File:British Rail - colour reversed logo.svg|x15px]], [[Birmingham Airport|Birmingham]] {{rail-interchange|air}}, [[National Exhibition Centre]] [[M42 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M42(S)'''</span>]]
| {{coord|52.5100|N|1.7471|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J4A}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
|  ''Entering [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]''
|
|
| {{coord|52.4786|N|1.7150|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|106.0
|170.6
| ''Start of [[Smart motorway|variable speed limit]]'' [[File:UK traffic sign 879.svg|x15px]]
| rowspan=2 | J4
| [[Coventry]] (S & W), [[Birmingham]] (E), [[National Exhibition Centre|N.E.C.]], [[Birmingham International railway station|Birmingham International]] [[File:British Rail - colour reversed logo.svg|x15px]], [[Birmingham Airport|Birmingham]] {{rail-interchange|air}} [[A446 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A446'''</span>]]
| rowspan=2 | {{coord|52.4768|N|1.7072|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J4}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|105.7
|170.1
| [[Coleshill, Warwickshire|Coleshill]] [[A446 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A446'''</span>]]<br />[[South West England|The South West]] [[M5 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M5)'''</span>]], [[Birmingham]] (S), [[Solihull]], [[Birmingham International railway station|Birmingham International]] [[File:British Rail - colour reversed logo.svg|x15px]], [[National Exhibition Centre|N.E.C.]], [[Birmingham Airport|Birmingham]] {{rail-interchange|air}} [[M42 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M42'''</span>]]
| ''End of [[Smart motorway|variable speed limit]]'' [[File:UK traffic sign 671.svg|x15px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| [[North West England|The North West]] [[M6 Toll|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M6 Toll'''</span>]], [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]] [[M42 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M42(N)'''</span>]]
| J3A<br />([[TOTSO|{{abbr|TOTSO|Turn off to stay on}}]] NB)
| {{no2}} ''No access (on-slip only)''
| {{coord|52.4739|N|1.6717|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J3A}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
| ''[[Corley services]]''
| ''Services''
| ''[[Corley services]]''
| {{coord|52.4715|N|1.5463|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, Corley Services}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|96.9<br />96.4
|155.9 <br /> 155.2
| [[Coventry]] (North), [[Nuneaton]], [[Bedworth]] [[A444 road|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A444'''</span>]]
| J3
| [[Coventry]] (N), [[Nuneaton]] [[A444 road|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A444'''</span>]], [[Bedworth]] [[B4113 road|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''B4113'''</span>]]
| {{coord|52.4630|N|1.4938|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J3}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
|  ''Entering [[Warwickshire]]''
|
|  ''Entering [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]''
| {{coord|52.4580|N|1.4827|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
|  ''Entering [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]''
|
|  ''Entering [[Warwickshire]]''
| {{coord|52.4400|N|1.4400|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|93.7<br />93.3
|150.8 <br /> 150.1
| [[Coventry]], [[Warwick]] [[A46 road|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A46'''</span>]]<br /> [[Leicester]], [[Hinckley]] [[M69 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M69'''</span>]]
| J2
| [[M1 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M1(N))'''</span>]], [[Leicester]] [[M69 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M69'''</span>]], [[Coventry]] (E) [[A46 road|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A46'''</span>]]
| {{coord|52.4379|N|1.4298|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J2}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|85.6<br />85.2
|137.8 <br /> 137.1
| [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]] [[A426 road|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A426'''</span>]]<br />''[[Rugby services]]''
| J1<br />''Services''
| [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]], [[Lutterworth]] [[A426 road|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A426'''</span>]]<br />''[[Rugby services]]''
| {{coord|52.4081|N|1.2457|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, J1}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
|
|  ''Entering [[Warwickshire]]''
|
|  ''Entering [[Leicestershire]]''
| {{coord|52.4060|N|1.2096|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|85.2
|137.1
| ''Start of motorway'' [[File:UK motorway symbol.svg|x20px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[M1 motorway|M1]] [[Catthorpe Interchange|J19]]<br />
| [[Southern England|The South]], [[London]], [[Northampton]] [[M1 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M1(S)'''</span>]]
| rowspan=2 | {{coord|52.4004|N|1.1752|W|dim:4000_region:GB|display=inline|name=M6, southern terminus}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
| 
| [[Northern England|The North]], [[Leicester]] [[M1 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M1(N)'''</span>]]
| ''End of motorway [[File:Mauritius Road Signs - Information Sign - End of Motorway.svg|x20px]]<br />Road continues as'' [[A14 road (England)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A14'''</span>]] ''towards [[Kettering]]''
|}
;Notes
{{cnote2 Begin|liststyle=disc}}
{{cnote2|Note 1|'''1:''' Southbound offslip for the [[M56 motorway|M56]] signed as J20A.}}
{{cnote2|Note 2|'''2:''' Unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles.}}
{{cnote2 End}}

==Legislation==

Each [[motorway]] in England requires that a [[statutory instrument]] be published, detailing the route of the road, before it can be built. The dates given on these statutory instruments relate to when the document was published, and not when the road was built. Provided below is an incomplete list of statutory instruments relating to the route of the M6.

* Statutory Instrument 1987 No. 252: County Council of West Midlands (M6 Motorway Junction 10) (Connecting Road) Scheme 1985 Confirmation Instrument 1987<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1987/Uksi_19870252_en_1.htm|title=S.I. 1987/252|publisher=Office of Public Sector Information|access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref>
* Statutory Instrument 1987 No. 2254: M6 Motorway (Catthorpe Interchange) Connecting Roads Scheme 1987<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1987/Uksi_19872254_en_1.htm|title=S.I. 1987/2254|publisher=Office of Public Sector Information|access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref>
* Statutory Instrument 1990 No. 2659: M6 Motorway: Widening between Junctions 20 and 21A ([[Thelwall Viaduct]]) and Connecting Roads Scheme 1990<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1990/Uksi_19902659_en_1.htm|title=S.I. 1990/2659|publisher=Office of Public Sector Information|access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref>
* Statutory Instrument 1991 No. 1873: M6 Motorway (Widening and Improvements Between Junctions 30 and 32) and Connecting Roads Scheme 1991<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1991/Uksi_19911873_en_1.htm|title=S.I. 1991/1873|publisher=Office of Public Sector Information|access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref>
* Statutory Instrument 1993 No. 1370: Lancashire County Council (Proposed Connecting Roads to M6 Motorway at Haighton) Special Roads Scheme 1992 Confirmation Instrument 1993<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1993/Uksi_19931370_en_1.htm|title=S.I. 1993/1370|publisher=Office of Public Sector Information|access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref>
* Statutory Instrument 1997 No. 1292: M6 Birmingham to Carlisle Motorway (At Haighton) Connecting Roads Scheme 1997<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1997/19971292.htm|title=S.I. 1997/1292|publisher=Office of Public Sector Information|access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref>
* Statutory Instrument 1997 No. 1293: M6 Birmingham To Carlisle Motorway (at Haighton) Special Roads Scheme 1997 Transfer Order 1997<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1997/19971293.htm|title=S.I. 1997/1293|publisher=Office of Public Sector Information|access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref>
* Statutory Instrument 1998 No. 125: The M6 Motorway (Saredon and Packington Diversions) Scheme 1998<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1998/19980125.htm|title=S.I. 1998/125|publisher=Office of Public Sector Information|access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of motorways in the United Kingdom]]
* [[:Category:M6 motorway service stations]]
* [[Murder of Jacqueline Ansell-Lamb]], a woman who was abducted and murdered while [[hitchhiking]] up the M6 in 1970

==Notes==
{{notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=SB|Southbound only}}
{{efn|name=NB|Northbound only}}
}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==

* {{cite book|last=Jackson|first=Mike|title= The M6 Sights Guide|year=2004|publisher=Severnpix|isbn=978-0954540210}}

==External links==
{{OSM relation|13010477|M6 motorway|link=yes}}
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{GeoGroup}}
* CBRD
** [http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/m6/ Motorway database – M6]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20061201054436/http://www.cbrd.co.uk/histories/openingbooklets/ Histories – opening booklets, including M6 Preston Bypass]
** Bad Junctions
*** [http://www.cbrd.co.uk/badjunctions/6-683 M6/A683]
*** [http://www.cbrd.co.uk/badjunctions/6-58 M6/M58]
*** [http://www.cbrd.co.uk/badjunctions/6-34 M6/A34]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060516011909/http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/historichighways/m6.asp Lancashire Historic Highways] – a page supplied by [[Lancashire County Council]] detailing the history of the M6 in North West England, and the construction of Preston Bypass, the UK's first motorway.
* [http://www.route6.co.uk/ Route 6]
* The Motorway Archive
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20080126114511/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m5m6midlink.htm Junctions 1 to 13]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311024310/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m6birmpres.htm Junctions 13 to 16]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311024230/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m6ches.htm Junctions 16 to 20]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20061102144619/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m6prewar.htm Junctions 20 to 29]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20081203091023/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m6preston.htm Junctions 29 to 32]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20061023221628/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m6lancbp.htm Junctions 33 to 35]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311024331/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m6westm.htm Junctions 35 to 40]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311024250/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m6penrith.htm Junctions 40 to 41]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311024320/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m6carlisle.htm Junctions 41 to 44]

{{Motorways in the United Kingdom}}
{{Motorways and Trunk Roads in England}}
{{Streets in Birmingham}}
{{Transport in Greater Manchester}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:6-0006m}}
[[Category:M6 motorway| ]]
[[Category:Motorways in England]]
[[Category:Proposed roads in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Roads in Cheshire]]
[[Category:Roads in Cumbria]]
[[Category:Roads in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Roads in the West Midlands (county)]]
[[Category:Transport in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Roads in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Transport in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Roads in Warwickshire]]
[[Category:Recipients of Civic Trust Awards]]