OPENED in December 1971, the A666 St Peter’s Way is the heavily-used thoroughfare in and out of Bolton, providing connections to East Lancashire and Manchester.

These pictures show its evolution from when the Croal Valley contained little but its eponymous river, spanned by railway viaducts.

Catchily known as the Croal Valley Urban Motoway during development, it was latterly named St Peter’s Way.

Already carrying the number of the beast, the A666 quickly become infamous for several bad crashes and suicide attempts and acquired the nickname The Devil’s Highway.

Points of interest among these images include a view of Bolton Wanderer’s former stadium.