A5

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From:

London (TQ278809)

To:

Holyhead (SH248241)

Via:

Milton Keynes, Tamworth, Cannock, Telford, Shrewsbury

Length:

263 miles (423.2 km)

Meets:

M1, M69, M42, M6, M54, A40, A41, A43, A55

Primary Destinations

Bangor • Betws-y-Coed • Brent Cross • Brownhills • Cannock • Central London • Dunstable • Hinckley • Holyhead • Kilburn • Llangollen • London • Milton Keynes • Oswestry • Rugby • Shrewsbury • St Albans • Tamworth • Telford •

Highways Authorities

Highways Agency • NMWTRA • Brent • Harrow • Isle of Anglesey • Staffordshire • Telford and Wrekin

Traditional Counties

Anglesey • Bedfordshire • Buckinghamshire • Caernarfonshire • Denbighshire • Hertfordshire • Leicestershire • Merionethshire • Middlesex • Northamptonshire • Shropshire • Staffordshire • Warwickshire

Route outline (key)

A5	Marble Arch - Maida Vale
A5	Maida Vale – Borehamwood
A5	Borehamwood - Redbourne
A5	Redbourne – Gailey
A5	Gailey – Telford
(M54)	Telford
A5	Telford - Bangor
A5	Bangor – Holyhead

Route

The A5 couldn't have a more varied route, starting out in the centre of London, cutting its way across the centre of the country before starting a winding route through the mountainous areas of North Wales before crossing onto Anglesey and terminating at Holyhead.

See Route Segments: Central London - Brockley • Friars Walsh - Stony Stratford • Stony Stratford - Crick • Crick - Tamworth • Tamworth - Gailey • Gailey - Telford • Telford - Chirk • Chirk - Betws-y-Coed • Betws-y-Coed - Bangor • Bangor - Holyhead

History

Main Article: A5 history

The A5 has a long and interesting history, largely following the Roman Watling Street, and later in the 1800s improved by Thomas Telford. In more recent history, several bypasses and realignments have been added to the route.

Notable locations and improvements

Glyn Bends, Ty Nant

Main Article: Glyn Bends, Ty Nant

The Glyn Bends were located on the A5 near Ty Nant in North Wales. In 1994 work started to bypass this section of the A5 with a new cutting to the North, which opened in 1996.

Menai Bridge

Main Article: Menai Suspension Bridge

The Menai suspension bridge was built by Thomas Telford to carry his Holyhead Road across the Menai Straits. Its chains are made from wrought iron which supported a wooden deck.

Opening Dates

Month	Year	Section	Notes
	2005	Weeford – Fazeley	Dual carriageway bypass
	2003	Nesscliffe Bypass	Dual carriageway bypass
	2002	M6 Toll	New Junction at Churchbridge, Wall & Weeford
	2002	M6 Toll	New bridge and roundabout (New Town, Staffordshire)
	1996	Ty Nant Cutting	Short bypass of the Glyn Bends
August	1992	Shrewsbury bypass	Dual carriageway bypass of existing bypass.
July	1995	Fazeley Two Gates Wilnecote Bypass	Dual carriageway bypass
December	1986	Oswestry bypass	Single carriageway bypass, actually routing the A5 closer to the town.
	1983	Bangor bypass	Now classified as A55
October	1980	Bletchley – Stoney Stratford	Dual carriageway bypass
	1930s	Shrewsbury bypass	Original single carriageway bypass
	1826	Menai Bridge	Built by Thomas Telford
	1815	Waterloo Bridge, Betws-y-Coed	Built by Thomas Telford