A55

A55

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North Wales Expressway

From:

Holyhead (SH247821)

To:

Chester (SJ430686)

Via:

Bangor, Conwy

Length:

88 miles (141.6 km)

Meets:

A487, A5, A470, A547, A548, A525, A494, A550, A483, A51, A56, M53

Primary Destinations

Bangor • Chester • Conwy • Holyhead • Queensferry •

Highways Authorities

Highways Agency • NMWTRA

Traditional Counties

Anglesey • Caernarfonshire • Cheshire • Denbighshire • Flintshire

Route outline (key)

A55

Holyhead – Chester

Junction List

Junc	Eastbound	Westbound
—	Start of Road	Docks, Station and Car Park
-	A5	A5
-	A5154	A5154
1	B4545	B4545
2	A5153 (A5)	A5153 (A5)
3	A5, A5025, Services	A5, A5025, Services
4	A5	A5
5	A5, A4080	A5, A4080
6	A5, A5114	A5, A5114
7	A5152	A5152
7A	—	A5
8	A5025	A5025
8A	—	A5
9	A487	A487
10	A4087	A4087
11	A5, A4244	A5, A4244
12	Tal-y-bont	Tal-y-bont
13	Abergwyngregyn	Abergwyngregyn
14	Llanfairfechan	Llanfairfechan
15	Llanfairfechan	Llanfairfechan
15A	Penmaenmawr	—
16	Penmaenmawr	Penmaenmawr
16A	—	Dwygyfylchi
17	A547	A547
18	A546	A546
19	A470, A547	A470, A547
20	A547, B5113, B5115	A547, B5113, B5115
21	B5113	B5113
22	(A547)	(A547)
23	A547, Services	A547, Services
23A	A548	—
24	A547	A547
24A	St George Llan San Siôr	—
—	Services	Services
25	Bodelwyddan	Bodelwyddan
26	St Asaph Business Park	St Asaph Business Park
27	A525	A525
27A	—	A525
28	B5429	(B5429)
29	Rhuallt	Rhuallt
30	-	Tremeirchion
31	A5026, A5151, B5122	A5026, A5151, B5122
32	A5026, B5123	A5026
32A	—	B5123
—	—	Halkyn
33	A5119	A5119
33A	Northop Hall	B5126
—	Services	Services
33B	—	A494
34	A494	A494
35	A550	A550
36	A5104	-
37	-	(A5104)
38	A483	A483
39	A41	A41
40	A51	A51
M53 J12	M53, A56	Start of road

Route

Part of the A55 near Colwyn Bay

Main Article: A55 route

The A55 is the main road in North Wales. It is a very high quality road, much of it rebuilt in the 1990s, which today forms the main road linking Chester to Holyhead. Apart from the Britannia Bridge, which remains S2 and a short bit of S2 in Holyhead, it is wholly D2. Some sections of the A55 are even a secret motorway.

History

The road deck of the Britannia Bridge in 1982. This was numbered A5

Main Article: A55 history

The A55 being the main road between the ferry port of Holyhead and England, it was always going to gain upgrades. Originally built by Thomas Telford, over the years it has had various upgrades on its route.

Notable locations and improvements

Penmaenbach Tunnels

The eastern portal of the eastbound tunnel

Main Article: Penmaenbach Tunnels

The Penmaenbach Tunnels are a pair of tunnels found at Penmaenbach. The eastbound tunnel is the original one from 1932 while the newer one was built in the 1980s. The eastbound tunnel replaced a coastal road built by Thomas Telford.

Pen-y-Clip Tunnels

This is where the two carriageways split/rejoin at the western portal of the 1990's tunnel

Main Article: Pen-y-Clip Tunnels

The Pen-y-Clip Tunnels have much the same story as the Penmaenbach Tunnels though its westbound tunnel was built a decade later. Unlike the Penmaenbach Tunnels, though, the pre-tunnel route has been reinstated for pedestrian use.

Britannia Bridge

The Britannia Bridge in Winter.

Main Article: Britannia Bridge

The Britannia Bridge was originally built as a rail bridge for the LNWR for its line to Holyhead. It has a less favourable crossing point than the Menai Bridge. The original version of the bridge was a tubular bridge and was part of the route for Irish mail as part of the Union with Ireland. In 1970, the bridge was burnt down and a new one was built using the original pillars. A road deck was built as part of the A5. It gained the A55 number in 1999.

Opening dates

Year	Section	Notes
1999	Anglesey	New build D2. Replaces the A5 as the trunk road.
1976	Chester Bypass	D2 bypass.
1971	Britannia Bridge	Rebuild of railway bridge.
1935	Pen-y-clip Tunnel	New-build tunnel
1932	Penmaenbach Tunnel	New-build tunnel