A553
| A553 | ||||
| Location Map ( geo) | ||||
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| From: | Hoylake (SJ215888) | |||
| To: | Birkenhead (SJ323887) | |||
| Distance: | 7.6 miles (12.2 km) | |||
| Meets: | A540, A551, A554, B5151, A5088, A5027, A5029, A552 | |||
| Primary Destinations | ||||
| Highway Authorities | ||||
| Traditional Counties | ||||
| Route outline (key) | ||||
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The A553 runs along the top end of the Wirral peninsula, from Hoylake to Birkenhead.
The route starts as a continuation of the A540 at the roundabout by the railway station in Hoylake, which is in the north-west corner of the Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council's area. Interestingly, you have a choice of direct-ish road or rail routes from here to Liverpool.
The A553 travels east through Meols to Moreton where there's an island junction with the A551, then on over the "River" Fender and the M53 to another island junction in Bidston: this time with the A554. This section is dualled.
The next island junction (with the A5088) is unusual in that it has the church of St James in the middle, and seven roads meet here. It is no longer a roundabout but a series of T-junctions.
The A5027 comes and goes as we pass Birkenhead Park and continue on our straight east-southeast course (Laird Street / Park Road / Conway Street) across the A5029 to end on the A552.
The road does actually carry on on the other side of the roundabout, but as an unclassified approach to the Queensway Tunnel. At one time this was also the A553, which originally ended on the A41 Chester Street.
