Prospect Hill Interchange

Prospect Hill Interchange is a twice-proposed junction on the M6 near Preston.

First Proposal

When the Preston Bypass opened, a junction at Prospect Hill with an east-west route was mentioned in the opening brochure. Plans show a simple roundabout interchange at the site, with motorway links in either direction.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
M6	Lancaster, Blackpool, Preston, Clitheroe (A59)
M6	Wigan, Leyland, Chorley
M58	Liverpool (A59), Bamber Bridge (A6)	Preston Southern Bypass
Belmont Link	Higher Walton (A675), Blackburn (A674)

Second Proposal

Sketch Map of 1969 North East Lancashire Project Study Report proposals

In 1969, the North East Lancs Development Plan wanted a fast route to the Calder Valley from the M6 at Preston. The M65 (as it later was built as) was to have recycled the original Preston Southern Bypass and Belmont Link plans, though with a larger interchange at Prospect Hill. As the M61 was opening, the junction would need to incorporate that motorway, which would merge into the M6 just to the south at Blacow Bridge. Stubs were made on the M61 for access to the new interchange, and the plan was to have a 4-level, partially free-flowing interchange at the site. The stubs were lost when the M61 was extended slightly as part of the widening of the M6 between J30-32 in 1995.

The 1973 plans to extend the M65 had one option (the Red Route) that would cross the M6 at Blacow Bridge, but all the other routes looked at meeting the M6 away from the M61 merge. Whilst most plans for Prospect Hill Interchange don't even show Cottage Lane, at least one plan shows Cottage Lane connecting to the 2nd level roundabout of Prospect Hill Interchange. If that had happened either the roundabout for this junction would have been given all-purpose status or Cottage Lane (a country lane) would have been given motorway status!

Layout of the junction

Routes

Route	To	Notes
M6	Lancaster, Clitheroe (A59), Blackpool (M55)
M6	Wigan, Leyland
M61	Manchester, Bolton
M65	Preston, Bamber Bridge (A6)
M65	Blackburn, Burnley

Links

• Pathetic Motorway Map of original plan
• SABRE discussion of later plan