M18
M18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location Map ( geo) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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From: | Thurcroft (SK479884) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To: | Rawcliffe (SE677211) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance: | 26 miles (41.8 km) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Meets: | M1, M62, M180, A1(M) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Highway Authorities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Traditional Counties | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route outline (key) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Junction List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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For the similarly numbered motorway in Ireland, see M18 (Republic of Ireland).
Motorway linking M1, A1(M), M180 and M62 in southern Yorkshire. For traffic from the South and Midlands to the North-East of England, the M18, A1(M) and A1 can be regarded as a better route than the northernmost 40 miles of the M1.
The M18 is heavily used by lorries heading to the ports of Grimsby and Hull from the south. It is D3M from the M1 to junction 2, then D2M to junction 5, where it becomes D3M again. In June 2014, work is starting to add a third lane to the northbound carriageway between junctions 2 and 3.
During planning, debate was held about how close the road should get to Doncaster. The more distant route was chosen, requiring link roads at J3 and J4.
Planning
The Southern section is labelled on some maps, such an an undated Cleveland/Foldex map (ca1963), as A1(M).
In early December 1975, there was a public enquiry into the last £23m seven mile section of the M18 Rotherham to Goole motorway, in Doncaster - the section from Wadworth Viaduct (junction 2) to Armthorpe (West Moor Interchange, junction 4). Jeremy Burford of the DoE chaired the discussion. The main purpose of this last section was to relieve pressure on roads in Doncaster, and on the A614. At the time, the Armthorpe to Hatfield section was about to start construction in that month.
Construction
W & C French of Buckhurst Hill (Essex) built the first section of the M18, from the M1 to the A1(M), being given the £5m contract for 8.5 miles on 26 January 1966.
In late August 1970, Sir Alfred McAlpine & Sons were given a contract for £4.7m to build the 2.5-mile Thorne by-pass. With the A18(M) Tudworth Link, the length of road was 3.6 miles.
In December 1976, a year after the public enquiry, Dowsett Engineering Construction (Dow-Mac of Tallington, Lincolnshire) were given a £9.5m contract for the last section of the M18, junctions 2 to 4.
Junctions and Notable Locations
List of Named Junctions
Most junctions on the M18 have names as well as junction numbers, these names sometimes come from the construction name, some are more popular names developed after the motorway opened.
In Roads For Prosperity, an additional junction between 1 and 2 was proposed, where the road met the B6094. Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council would have constructed a new road to connect this junction to Conisbrough, until it was dropped in the late 1990s.
Wadworth Viaduct
Wadworth Viaduct connects the M18 and the A1(M) Doncaster Bypass. The junction is number 2 on the M18, and number 35 on the A1(M). The junction is a large three-level stacked roundabout, with a free flow link from the M18 eastbound to A1(M) northbound.
Services
Doncaster (North) services
Doncaster (North) services is a single-site MSA located on the junction between M18 and M180. It is operated by Moto, and opened in 2000.
Hatfield services
Hatfield services is a uncompleted MSA located a short distance south of the present Doncaster (North) services. One of its sliproads is currently used for Doncaster (North) signage.
Streetlighting
Philips MA60's are the main streetlighting used.
Opening Dates
- The first section of the M18 (Thurcroft to Wadworth) opened on 21st December 1967 by Stephen Swingler.
- Thorne bypass opened June 1972
- Thorne to the M62 Langham Interchange opened on 17th June 1975; this section had been planned to open by 1972.
- Armthorpe to Hatfield opened on Thursday August 11th 1977.
Links
Roads.org.uk
Roads UK
Pictures