Strategically placed in the center of British Isles, the Midlands is a vital location from the point of view of motorway communications. The M1, M5, and M6 all pass through the region; together with the M40 and M42, they form the nucleus of the country s motorway network, and without them the country could not function. The densely populated areas of Birmingham and the West Midlands as well as the beautiful rural countryside of Herefordshire and Shropshire all presented the engineers with a huge variety of challenges. This engaging study describes the planning, design, and construction of all sections of the motorways in the Midlands. It is infused with personal accounts from engineers on the ground and offers a first-hand look at their astounding work."