M650
Where was it?
Near Keighley, Yorkshire
There's no motorway there!
True enough - but there was meant to be...
I see... Yet another "unbuilt motorway"?
Yes, that's it.
Well, get on with it!
OK, the M650 was planned in the early 1970s to bypass the Aire Valley towns of Keighley and Bingley, and would have ended near Shipley.
What happened?
Simple really - it was cancelled in the same timeframe as many other schemes were lost, such as the London Ringways and M64.
It's a bit odd, though, all alone in this valley in Yorkshire
True enough, but if you look carefully at a map of the area, you'll notice a couple of things...
What things?
Well, you're quite close to the northern side of Bradford - and the story of the Bradford North Radial Motorway is told on the M606 page.
If you go a little to the west, over the Lancashire border you come to the town of Colne, eastern end of the M65.
Now put two and two together...
Ah, I get it! Another motorway link across the Pennines!
Bingo! You're good, aren't you?
I have my moments. Anyway, how's about getting a proper look at that map showing the route then?
OK then, here you go...
Toby Speight has also prepared a comparison between the planned M650 and the modern A650 upgrade. This map can be found here.
Can I comment on this motorway?
Of course! Contact me and I'll put them here!
Have any other visitors commented?
Stuart Mitchell:
Having driven a lot down the A650 from Skipton to Bradford, this has to be one of the most needy bits of improvement in the UK. Leeds/Bradford is a huge conurbation but the roads to the north are dire. Bingley bypass does go some way (and it is a pretty impressive road) but a continuation of the M65 is really what was needed.
The M650 was the first motorway (as far as I know) to be heckled to non-existence! Yet improved cross-pennine links would have dramatically improved the economy of Bradford.
James Fletcher adds [July 08]:
Adding to Stuart Mitchell's comments it would have done wonders for the Lancashire valleys of Burnley, Colne and Nelson, not to mention Gateway to the Dales Skipton. I used to do this route every weekend for 3 years, the section through Bingley was dire, Bradford was no problem!