[2] The road was built to provide better access between the Port of Liverpool and the industrial areas of East Lancashire around Manchester.

[1] Although the sections within Liverpool were dual carriageway from the beginning, a few short stretches through Salford continue to use the original three-lane layout.

Many of the original 1930s bridges remain; they were built from steel in preparation for any future expansion as they would be easier to replace than ones constructed from moulded concrete.

Despite linking North West England's largest cities, the East Lancs remained isolated from the rest of the UK's national road network.

Both ends of the highway began in high-density urban areas that were not close to any comparable infrastructure that could assist rapid transit connections.