In 1959, the first 72-mile stretch of England's first intercity Motorway, the M1, was opened by Transport Minister Ernest Marples It ran from junction 5 (Watford) and junction 18 (Crick/Rugby), and included two spurs, the M10 and M45. It was built at a rate of about a mile every 8 day, and cost £16 million. This, the first of four construction phases, was part of a planned 400-mile network of motorways. (The Preston Bypass had earlier been built to motorway standards, but later was named part of the M6.) When the M1 opened, many cars travelled at 90 to 100 mph. Others ran out of fuel or broke down. By 6 Nov, two lorry drivers had died.With extensions, it is the major north-south London to Yorkshire route. «[Image: (left) Marples on a police car radio performed the opening with a “calling all cars” message to remove the barriers at all motorway junctions; (right) Construction at junction 14, 9 May 1959 showing bridges 43 and 44.]