Old Photos

Covering two phases of the A33 being replaced by the M3 in various stages of the conversion.

Covering construction of the motorway around Southampton, Fareham and Portsmouth, as well as Havant and Chichester.

Covering the construction of the A3(M), and upgrades to the A3 between Clanfield and Petersfield (Butser Hill area).

Covering the crossroads at Stoney Cross and Picket Post, and the construction of the Bournemouth Spur Road.

Covering upgrades at Bullington Cross, Whitchurch, Litchfield and Whitway.

Construction and roadworks on the M4 in South Wales.

Photos of the M62 in West Yorkshire, plus signs and trucks on the M6 and A74.

More colour photos of the M1, M2, M4, M5, M6, M10, M11, M25, M27, M50, M61, M62, M69, M275, A1(M), A20(M), A40(M), A102(M), taken from various Public Information Films.

A gantry sign in Liverpool city centre, from the early 1960s. It looks like Byrom Street, but Liverpool is a difficult place to match up old images.

The A35 Redbridge Causeway near Southampton being upgraded to a dual carriageway. The Totton Bypass isn't finished yet but the exit for Totton is. On the right is the original causeway, and you can also see the two railway lines which pre-date the A35. The causeway had a single gantry until it was removed in 2006.

The junction of Lodge Road and Portswood Road in Southampton. That house on the left had to be knocked down to allow Thomas Lewis Way to join in. It was on borrowed time, as this was once the planned route of the M272.

A messy gantry over the M5 southbound at J30 near Exeter, with catenary lighting also visible.

Another messy sign, at the M5 southbound offslip at J30 (Sandygate). It has since been widened several times. Some of the signs here lasted until 2017.

An aerial view of the A30 running through Hatch, near Basingstoke, in 1970.

Heading south on the M5 in the late 1970s. The road sign says: "Delays and Weight Restrictions at Severn Bridge. All traffic for Wales use M50".

The Anderson sign for Strensham services, which hung on long after it should have been removed.

An old-style sign for Membury services, pictured in the 1980s.

A publicity photo for the opening of a new road in Park Gate, Fareham.

The A605 between the two Thrapston roundabouts in 1991. The new A14 bypass has been built, but it won't be called the A14 until it extends all the way to Catthorpe. As a result, you can see the sign in the distance gives it no number; this sign was patched and still survives in 2020. The sign in the foreground calls the road to Kettering the A604 and the road to Northampton (now A45) the A605.

The M25, looking clockwise at J21A, pictured in the early 1990s.

Congestion on the M25 anti-clockwise at J12. On the right is the short-lived offside hard shoulder.

The variable speed limit ("smart motorway") trial on the M25, in 1995. This section of road was photographed extensively. The road had already been widened, and it has since been widened to six lanes.

The A63 Hendon Road in Hull, before the area was regenerated.

A Major petrol station in Hull.

The new Hampshire traffic control room in 1999, with CRT TVs.

The monitors all show different approaches to Redbridge Roundabout, Millbrook Roundabout and M27 J4.

The M1 northbound at J24, before it was widened and given gantries.

Looking south on the M1 at J34, towards the Tinsley Viaduct, before it was strengthened. The Tinsley cooling towers are visible.

Driving up the M1 at J8 in 2007. It's hardly an old photo, but enough has changed that it feels old, with the catenary lighting and the patched gantry.

There are a few related pictures on other websites which may be of interest:

• Old service station postcards
• The old A32 through Fareham