of the belfry installation was completed in 2015. Transport Blackrod is served by Blackrod railway station on the Manchester to Preston Line which opened in 1841 and where there was a branch line to Horwich. Mineral lines served the various collieries. The main road through the township was the A6, Manchester to Preston road which now bypasses the town centre. The B5408 goes through the town. There are roads to Horwich and Aspull. The M61 motorway, part of the national motorway network between the M60/M62 (Manchester orbital motorway) and the M6 (Preston) was opened on 28 November 1969 by Fred Mulley, Minister of Transport. See also Listed buildings in Blackrod References Bibliography External links Photos and information about Blackrod GENUKI: Blackrod genealogy Towns in Greater Manchester Civil parishes in Greater Manchester Geography of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton