Long before the managed motorway system, speed cameras, traffic jams and tailbacks, the M62 was just an idea — and a mammoth job for road builders.

The motorway linking Liverpool and Hull via Manchester and Leeds was first proposed in the 1930s as two separate routes but eventually built as one continuous motorway, costing more than £760m in today's money.

These fascinating pictures show the first Yorkshire section of the M62, between Saddleworth Moor and Outlane, taking shape, as well as the creation of the motorway bridge at Scammonden 45 years ago.

Scammonden Bridge was the longest single-span non-suspension bridge in the world when it was built.

These days the motorway has to cope with an average daily traffic flow of 144,000 vehicles and is prone to gridlock between Leeds and Huddersfield.

The Milnrow to Outlane section of the M62 opened in December 1970 (the motoway opened in stages between 1970 and 1976) — were you among the first drivers to use it?

Email your memories of the early days of the M62 to SamanthaRobinson@trinitymirror.com.

Many of these pictures are available to buy from the Kirklees Image Archive - for information on the collection and how to purchase images follow this link

For more nostalgia, check out our galleries of Huddersfield markets from years gone by and memories of markets in markets in Dewsbury, Batley, Birstall and Heckmondwike.

Or raise a glass to Huddersfield's pub history with our gallery of drinking holes .