Spaghetti Junction, which cost a frugal £10.8 million to build, celebrates it’s 40th Anniversary this year, having been opened on the 24th May 1972.
Cutting the official opening tape 40 years ago, Environment Secretary, Peter Walker, proclaimed Spaghetti Junction “the most exciting project in the history of the road system.” It was certainly an incredible engineering feat, built on 559 concrete-and-steel columns up to 80ft high with five different levels that would stretch for 13.5 miles if it could be unravelled.
A block of flats, a factory, a pub, a bank and 160 houses were all bulldozed to make way for Spaghetti Junction, not to mention 250,000 fish which had to be re-located from a local pond. Initially coachloads of daytrippers came to visit this Ninth Wonder of the World. It took four years to complete the construction just north of Birmingham city centre. When it was opened in 1972, it was lauded as a great feat of engineering, but this was in the Golden Age of Motoring when petrol was 35p a gallon (around 8p a litre). Nowadays, like most of the 1960s and 1970s concrete constructions, Spaghetti Junction is seen as an eyesore and a total monstrosity!! As bad as it is aesthetically, it’s no better as a practical road system – it’s concrete chaos!!
If Spaghetti Junction were humanised, it’s 40th Birthday Party would be well attended as nearly two billion vehicles have caressed it’s tarmac. And if Spaghetti Junction were a shy, retiring human, and preferred a quiet night out rather than a party, surely it would opt for a meal in an Italian Restaurant?!! :-)
Five Songs to Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Spaghetti Junction’s Opening –
1) 10cc – Life is a Minestrone
2) AC/DC – Highway To Hell
3) Talking Heads – Road To Nowhere
4) Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive
5) Driver 67 – Car 67
If you know a couple who are about to celebrate a 40th Anniversary or someone a 40th Birthday, you can order their favourite vinyl record or CD; single, album or album cover; framed and 
mounted as a picture disc souvenir. You can also personalise it with an inscribed / engraved plaque…… ORDER NOW…….. http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/
Framed vinyl records with a personalised plaque, make a unique present or original gift for many a special celebration ie a Wedding ( Wedding First Dance Song ), an Engagement Party ( Our Song ), a House Warming Party ( New Home ), a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th Birthday, a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!! THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!
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