The section forming the eastern part of the Mancunian Way is a motorway and is officially designated as the A635(M) though there is no road sign with this designation,[1] and the signs at the entrance of Mancunian Way westbound show A57(M).

The section between Greenfield and Holmfirth, which passes across Saddleworth Moor, is known locally as the Isle of Skye Road after a public house that was at Wessenden Head until it was demolished in the 1950s after a fire.

In 2012, after an increase of car incident rates on the moors, a 50 mph speed limit was put in place between Greenfield and the boundary with Kirklees.

[4][5] The grave sites of victims are located adjacent to the road above Greenfield, close to an area called Hollin Brown Knoll, which overlooks the 3 reservoirs: Dovestone, Yeoman and Greenfield.

[citation needed] A section of the road at the Manchester end had to be closed in August 2015 after it collapsed following unusually torrential rain.