The M63 used to lie between jcn 12 (M62, M602) and jcn 25 (A560 and old M66) of the new M60. It served all of south west Manchester, from the Irwell Valley to Stockport.
An integral part of the Manchester Orbital, this carried a huge amount of traffic bound for south Manchester, Birmingham, North Wales, Stockport and the airport. Once the eastern M60 is completed, the volume of traffic will increase.
The M63 started life as the M62, from the A580 in the north to the A56 in Stretford. This stretch was completed by 1963 according to AA63, and was the first section of the M62 to be built. Eventually the M62 was extended to Liverpool to the west and Leeds to the east. After this occurred, the stretch was renumbered M63.
The M63 has now become part of the M60 Manchester Orbital Motorway, and consequently has disappeared.
I have fond memories of the M63, which resembles a speedway heading south from the M62 jcn. At one point around Trafford Park, it appears almost to hit some tower blocks, but quickly bends to the right. Always choked with traffic and extremely bendy, the M63 was the route to pick up relatives flying from and arriving at Manchester Airport. Also, I dated a young lady from Stockport for a while, and I was amazed at the bizarre little junctions around there. The M63 will be sadly missed, but the M60 project is too important and necessary to have too many regrets. Long live the M60.