Wigan Album

I presume the Gathurst viaduct was under construction back in early 1962.

I believe that section of the M6 was finally opened to the general public in the summer of 1963.

Alfred McAlpine's were probably the biggest construction company around at the time who built the majority of Britain's motorways throughout the 1960s and 70s.

Their site office for many years was at 'Crow's Nest', near Windy Harbour farm where Orrell Windows are now based.

CJ

CJAlan....Your dates, 1962 and 1963 are correct. From 1963, the M6
northbound reached the outskirts of Lancaster, and southbound
got to just south of the town of Stafford.

"Crows Nest" office was the one of 2 main offices for the M6 construction period 1961-63. The other was Charnock Richard which was where the van was based. McAlpines' main HQ was at Hooton on the Wirral and remained so until they were taken over by Carillion. When I started with McAlpine in July 1961, my 1st week was spent at "Crows Nest" office before being assigned to Mossy Lea Road office then ended up at Kitt Green hence the photographs. McAlpine constructed the M6 Preston -Lancaster and that was finally completed late 1965. Photographs of the construction can be viewed on Album-Work -M6 Motorway

Thank you Barrie for your info, I will take a look at
Album-Work-M6 Motorway, I am sure it will provide
me with some great interest. Cheers, Ray.

1962/3 sounds about right, I recall the diversion of Orrell Road for the construction of the bridge. We had moved to Orrell but I still bused it to Lamberhead Green Primary until taking the 11 plus in 1964. The Windy Arbour McA depot was still operational until at least the early 1970s, Mr Ashton interviewed me there for an under-graduate trainee position. When I worked with them after graduating the 'marketing' vibe at the time was that they were the only company to have built a complete motorway, the M61 (one of their many firsts and achievements)