| Country: | GBR |
| Type: | M |
| Route: | 65 |
| Maint: | |
| Length Mi: | 25.8 |
| Direction A: | West |
| Direction B: | East |
| Terminus A: | Preston South |
| Counties: | Lancashire |
| Destinations: | |
| Terminus B: | Colne |
| Established: | 1981 |
| History: |
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| Junction: |
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| Map: | M65 motorway in North West England map.svg |
| Previous Type: | M |
| Previous Route: | 62 |
| Next Type: | M |
| Next Route: | 66 |
The M65 is a motorway between Preston and Colne in Lancashire, England. It runs from Bamber Bridge just south of Preston, through major junctions with the M6 and M61 motorways, east past Darwen, Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley, Brierfield, Nelson and ends at Colne.
The M65 was opened in the following sections:[1]
The first section of the motorway was opened in 1981, connecting Burnley to Brierfield. Over the years, several extensions were made, the largest being the link from Whitebirk to the M6 and M61 motorways in 1997.[2] [3] [4]
This extension was the scene of a standoff between construction security workers and protesters forming part of the environmental direct action movement. Protesters occupied abandoned buildings in Darwen, parts of Stanworth Woods near Feniscowles and needed to be physically removed.[5]
Junctions 1a to 6 were opened 18 December 1997 by Jack Straw, Home Secretary and Member of Parliament (MP) for Blackburn. The opening ceremony took place on the westbound carriageway beneath junction 5 at Guide with a heavy police presence as protesters threatened to bring a halt to the proceedings.
Much of the 1997 extension was relaid shortly after it opened with a new, quieter tarmac because the amount of road noise had been so great that it prevented birds of prey (mainly owls) from foraging effectively.
Originally, the M65 was planned to go via the town centre of Blackburn.[6]
The motorway is maintained by National Highways up to Junction 10 with Lancashire County Council taking over responsibility from this junction until the end of the motorway at Junction 14.
According to the statutory instrument that authorised its construction, the road is officially classified as a 'special link road to connect the [M65/M61 roundabout] with the all-purpose road known as Tramway Lane'.[8] According to Lancashire County Council, it is the 'M61 Link Tramway Lane to Junction 9' and is part of the M61.[9] In 2007, the approach signs from Walton Summit were modified to read 'M61', but the signs still mark the roundabout at the eastern end.
Each motorway in England requires that a statutory instrument be published, detailing the route of the road, before it can be built. The dates given on these statutory instruments relate to when the document was published, and not when the road was built. Provided below is an incomplete list of statutory instruments relating to the route of the M65.
The entire route is in Lancashire.