This article explores the origin and concept of motorways in the UK and looks back over half a century to the 1950s when part of the first inter-urban motorway in England, the M1, was designed and built. The paper describes the steps leading to the start of construction, the route and some aspects of the construction, highlighting some of the differences between this early pioneering work and present-day requirements. In particular, progress in survey methods, means of calculation and construction plant is highlighted. The paper also discusses the types of bridges used in this early scheme, the reasons for their choice and the ways in which they contributed to the very rapid construction for such a large project. Some of the ancillary items required to enable the road to be safely used for over 50 years of increasing traffic loads are also described.