SABRE
@sabre-roads.org.uk
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From the A1 to the V12, the members of SABRE (the Society for British and Irish Road Enthusiasts) explore the history and future of the British and Irish road networks. Why not join us? www.sabre-roads.org.uk
![The London - Birmingham Motorway : L. T. C. Rolt : John Laing and Son Ltd : [London] : 1959 : cover by : Terence Cuneo : the scene from an oil painting gives an overview of a temporary railway bridge over a newly dug cutting with, in the background, the new 'scar' of the outline of the road in the background cutting across a rural landscape. The title panel in 'motorway' blue, takes the form of a motorway traffic sign and includes the short-lived parallel line symbol proposed to denote motorways.
The cover to a marvellous 'glossy' brochure issued by the construction company John Laing and Son Ltd., the "builders of Britain's first major motorway' on the basis that this section of the M1 completed on 31 October 1959 post-dated that of the Preston By-pass section of the M6 in Lancashire that had opened on 5 December 1958. The booklet issued by Laing alongside the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation and the consulting engineers Sir Owen Williams & Partners tells of the remarkable period of construction of the Motorway between Luton, Dunchurch and Crick, where work began on 24 March 1958 in a field at Slip End at 1500hrs and that was completed in nineteen months.
The text, illustrations and photographs considers the surveying, planning, design and construction of the motorway that had been tendered in four contract sections in 1957 and awarded in January 1958. The text, written by noted author R. T. C. Rolt, conveys the sense that this work was to be considered alongside the heroic age of railway construction. The cover is taken from a painting by Terence Cuneo entitled "View from a helicopter, London - Yorkshire Motorway (Southern Section)" and reminds us of the extensive use of helicopter and radio technology to enable construction.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yqh2atawixxlb6ncx2fh73r6/bafkreihl3fhvevxt7r7d6epkmhhv4e2ugfg2hpiopfsgl47n4yghaapery)
