From Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki
| A5 |
 |
|
|
| 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 • Brownhills • Cannock • Central London • Dunstable • Hinckley • Holyhead • Llangollen • London • Milton Keynes • Oswestry • Rugby • Shrewsbury • St Albans • Tamworth • Telford • |
| Highways Authorities |
|
Highways Agency • Transport Wales • Anglesey • Brent • Harrow • Staffordshire • Telford & 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.
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
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
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
|
Links
Highways Agency
Welsh Assembly
Pathetic Motorways
roadsUK
