Sheffield's Forgotten Motorways. | The A61(M)

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In the 1970s, before Climate Change was even a thing at all, cities across the UK embarked on a journey to reclaim their status and their economic prosperity after most of them had been bombed in World War 2. This regeneration and rebirth of the UK city gave planners and the public a new chance to rethink the city, and so they did. With new and relatively affordable housing being built like a factory production line, cities now have both the space and the funds to justify making motorways to cities and in Leeds case into cities. In this video we discuss Sheffield Forgotten Motorway the A61(M) and how it didn't get built and how Leeds beat them to it, just to regret it half a century later.
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Sources:
1) www.haydnvernal...
2) pathetic.org.u...
3) Sheffield a City on the Move (1960's & 1970s) • Video
4) citymonitor.ai...
5) www.leeds-live...
6) www.westyorks-...
7) Sheffield Supertram Wikipedia en.wikipedia.o...
References:
1) Music:
1) Epidemic Sound Affiliate Link: share.epidemic...
2) KZbin Audio Library: www.youtube.co...
3) CC BY 4.0 | Chris Zabriskie - It Will Make you Feel Better If You Put It In The Right Place (chriszabriskie...)
4) CC BY 4.0 | Chris Zabriskie - I Did the Thing I Said I'd Never Do (chriszabriskie...)
5) CC BY 4.0 | Chris Zabriskie - Hitchcock Would Have Fucked Up Charade (chriszabriskie...)
2) Maps:
1) Google Maps: www.google.com...
2) OpenStreetMap: www.openstreet...
3) Stock and Archive Footage:
1) National Library of Scotland Map of Sheffield 1947 CC BY 4.0 (maps.nls.uk/in...)
2) The Marshall Plan At Work in Great Britain 1951 Public Domain (archive.org/de...)
3) Map of Motorways in the United Kingdom Public Domain (en.wikipedia.o...)

[@stephenholt4670]

2:15 I'm not sure we necessarily "stole the idea from the Americans". The first true motorway in the world was actually in Italy in 1924, between Milan and Varese, although there was one opened in New York later thag year. And they were common across Europe by the time we started building ours, generally called "autostrada", "Autobahn" or some other term that translates more or less to "motorway".

[@Thoroughfare]

Yeah, you're right. The main reason I said "stole it from the Americans" is that I was referencing the interstate highway system that sprang up under Eisenhower. But it comes off as if I am suggesting they invented the concept, which they didn't. Sorry, I should have been clearer.

[@UK.RoadsCyclingandTransport]

Just found this channel and I'm loving it already

[@jamesbrook16]

I used to often cycle in to Leeds from Wetherby in the mid 1970s. We used to often cycle that section of motorway! The M58.

[@jamesbrook16]

It’s interesting how you allude to local objections to motorways and expressways through cities. You can see how they divide local communities, physically as well as philosophically. I lived in Nottingham in the 1980s and 1990s. Many of the roads in the centre were 2, 3 even 4 lanes wide operating as a one way system, an urban expressway if you like. Crossing them you really took your life in your hands! Having returned decades later, it’s interesting how they’ve pretty well all been turned back into conventional 2 way roads. Much more pedestrian friendly! What I hate most about Leeds is the crazy one way system carving up the centre! They should follow Nottingham’s lead and return the roads to the residents!

[@sglenny001]

I'm the opposite I used to live in in Doncaster i saw it as great on its way to become a city now it is an city i see many people agrue its dead but i disangrre the city grown to how i would expect the people of the 50s would see the furture of Doncaster. Although i now live in Nottingham i feel more at home if you know what I mean

[@jamesbrook16]

@@sglenny001, Parliament Street in Nottingham used to be 4 lanes in one direction and divided the city. The Market Square used to be gridlocked with cars looking for a few elusive parking places. The planners have done a great job of returning the City to the people instead of letting the car rule.

[@sglenny001]

@@jamesbrook16 yes they have its tram also helps this

[@jamesbrook16]

@@sglenny001, I left just as they were installing the first trams. I would also add and a great bus service. But I would say that as I spent 10 years working for Nottingham City Transport! I may be biased!

[@sglenny001]

@@jamesbrook16 you have my dream job

[@Andrewjg_89]

What about the M67 Motorway that could of extend from Denton Island Interchange (M67/M60 junction) East of Manchester to Sheffield and would possibly go via Huddersfield with deep cuttings, bridges and tunnels. As well as new junctions being built and the M67 would of ended where it would meet with the M1 to the south of Sheffield and near to the M18 junction and Rotherham.

[@Speedkam]

M67 were heading for Barnsley not Sheffield.

[@jonjohnson2844]

Bit further north than that, the Stocksbridge Bypass is allegedly the partially built other end of the M67 and links to the M1 at Tankersley

[@rogerwilco2]

You can also commute to work on public transport, bicycles and such things. You can never build enough roads to satisfy demand, if you only have cars.

[@Martin-88]

As a Sheffielder, all I will say is good luck to anyone riding a bike in Sheffield!

[@jasinere35]

@@Martin-88 been there done that & yes its a nightmare not helped either by the tram system that tends to hog parts of the road

[@jamesbrook16]

@@jasinere35, tram tracks are also a nightmare for thin bicycle wheels!