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A5

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A5
Location Map ( geo)
Cameraicon.png View gallery (315)
From:  London (TQ278809)
To:  Holyhead (SH248241)
Via:  Milton Keynes, Tamworth, Cannock, Telford, Shrewsbury
Distance:  252 miles (405.5 km)
Meets:  M1, M69, M42, M6, M54, A40, A41, A43, A55
Former Number(s):  A5122
Old route now:  A5183, B5404, B5061, B4380, A5064, A458, B5009, B5070
Primary Destinations
Highway Authorities

National Highways • Transport for London • Welsh Government • Barnet • Brent • Gwynedd • Isle of Anglesey • Staffordshire • Telford and Wrekin • Westminster


North & Mid Wales TRA
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 - Thorn
A5 Chalton – Gailey
A5 Gailey – Telford
(M54) Telford
A5 Telford - Bangor
A5 Bangor and Llanfair PG bypasses
A5 Bangor – Holyhead

Route

The A5 on Anglesey with Snowdon in the background and the new A55 to the left

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 and then crossing onto Anglesey to terminate at Holyhead. Despite more recent routes competing for the same route, such as the M1, M6 and A55, it still remains an important route connecting London with the Midlands, and as a scenic major road across North Wales.

See Route Segments: Central London - BrockleyDunstable - Stony StratfordStony Stratford - CrickCrick - TamworthTamworth - GaileyGailey - TelfordTelford - ChirkChirk - Betws-y-CoedBetws-y-Coed - BangorBangor - Holyhead

History

Shrewsbury 1954: The original Shrewsbury bypass
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.

The Roman route ran from Marble Arch to Wroxeter. Telford's road was constructed in the 1820s after the Port of Holyhead was chosen as the principal ferry port to Dublin and the rest of Ireland. Until roads were classified in 1923, traffic took Telford's route via Coventry, Birmingham and Wolverhampton, while the old Watling Street was revived as a major road bypassing these settlements.

In more recent history, several bypasses and realignments have been added to the route.

Notable locations and improvements

Glyn Bends, Ty Nant

A5 Ty Nant 2009.jpg
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

A5menai.jpg
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
May 2017 Dunstable Northern Bypass Dual carriageway bypass and link to M1 J11A Chalton
2005 Weeford – Fazeley Dual carriageway bypass
March 2003 Nesscliffe Bypass 2.9 mile dual carriageway. Opened on 21 March 2003 by John Spellar, Transport Minister.
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
July 1995 Fazeley, Two Gates and Wilnecote Bypass Dual carriageway bypass. 4.75 miles. Opened on 10 July 1995 by David Lightbrown, MP for East Staffordshire (per the 24 August 1995 Birmingham Evening Mail). Contractor was Alfred McAlpine Ltd., cost £26 million.
December 1992 Little Brickhill Bypass Dual carriageway. Official opening on 15 December 1992. Tender cost £5.838 million, total cost £8.773 million.
August 1992 Shrewsbury 2nd Bypass and M54 Link Dual carriageway except for A458 to Montford Bridge. Official opening was on 11 August 1992. Contractors were Edmund Nuthall for Emstrey to Montford Bridge and Alfred McAlpine for the bypass section from Emstrey to Battlefield and link from Preston Island to M54 J7. Tender costs were £63.96 million including the A49 Bypass to Battlefield.
April 1991 Chirk Bypass Single carriageway. Opened April 1991 per Hansard, cost £12 million. The section opened was south of Halton Roundabout since the spur had opened with the Newbridge Bypass on 8 June 1990. It included the 450m long and 26m high Ceirog Viaduct. Contractor Christiani and Neilson.
June 1990 Chirk Bypass Spur Single carriageway. Opened as part of A483 Newbridge Bypass on 8 June 1990 by Wyn Roberts, Minister of State for Wales. The spur was between Halton Roundabout and Whitehurst Roundabout (this was prior to the Chirk Bypass opening in April 1991).
December 1986 Oswestry and Gobowen Bypass Single carriageway. Opened 22 December 1986, 6 months ahead of schedule. Actually routed the A5 nearer to Oswestry to join A483.
1983 Bangor Bypass Now classified as A55
October 1980 Milton Keynes Bypass The 9.6 mile D2 dual carriageway from Old Stratford Roundabout to Kelly's Kitchen Roundabout (south of Bletchley) was completed in October 1980 per the Policy for Roads in England: 1981 Report. Outturn works cost £23.7 million.
1971 Britannia Bridge Capel-Y-Graig - Llanfair, later renumbered as A55 in 2000.
March 1966 Wall Bypass Opened as single carriageway road. The second carriageway to make the dual carriageway was opened 27 June 1967.
December 1963 Atherstone Bypass Dual carriageway. The 2 mile road was opened on 16 December 1963 by Ald. Sir William Dugdale. The contractor was A. Monk and Co. and cost £600,000. Carriageways were 24 foot wide and there were 8 bridges.
May 1957 Markyate Bypass Single carriageway. The 1.25 mile road was officially opened on 12 June 1957 by Viscountess Davidson, M.P. for Hemel Hempstead. It had been in use since late May 1957. Cost £250,000. 10,000 vehicles per day were diverted from the village.
1956 Loughton Bypass Single carriageway. The 0.6 mile road was completed in the year to 31 March 1957 per the 1956-57 Roads in England and Wales Report, and before the first accident on 11 June 1956. 30 foot carriageway with bridge over Shenley Road and slip roads on south-western side. Not shown on OS one inch maps until the 1968 edition. Later renumbered as V4 (Milton Keynes) with the new slip roads removed.
May 1933 Shrewsbury Bypass Single carriageway. The 3 mile original bypass was opened on 23 May 1933 by the Princess Royal at a ceremony at the Shelton end. It was 60 foot wide with a 30 foot carriageway and cost £130,000. It employed 100 men for 2 years.
1932 St George's Bypass, Oakengates Single carriageway. An unemployment relief scheme.
April 1926 Gobowen Bypass Single carriageway. The 0.5 mile original bypass which bypassed Gobowen Crossroads was opened on 13 April 1926. The first bypass in Shropshire.
1826 Menai Bridge Built by Thomas Telford
1815 Waterloo Bridge, Betws-y-Coed Built by Thomas Telford

External links

National Highways

Pathetic Motorways




A5
Sections
Projects
Junctions
Abbey Hill Roundabout • Anglesey Arms Roundabout • Antelope Roundabout • Bayston Hill Roundabout • Brockley Interchange • Caldecotte Interchange • Canons Corner • Carreg Bran Interchange • Centurion Junction • Chalton Interchange • Churchbridge • Churncote Roundabout • Cluddley Interchange • Crackleybank Interchange • Crick Interchange • Cross in Hand • Dalar Hir Interchange • DIRFT Rugby East Roundabout • DIRFT Rugby North Roundabout • Dodwells Roundabout • Dordon Roundabout • Druid Junction • Dunstable Crossroads • Edgebold Roundabout • Emstrey Island • Felton Butler Roundabout • Five Crosses • Forge Interchange • Friars Wash • Gailey Interchange • Gailey Island • Gibbet Roundabout • Glan Menai Junction • Glascote Interchange • Gledrid Roundabout • Grendon Roundabout • Halfway House Roundabout (Northants) • Halton Roundabout • High Cross • Higham Roundabout • Hockliffe Crossroads • Hollinswood Interchange • Holly Lane Roundabout • Kelly's Kitchen Roundabout • Kilsby • King Harry Junction • Limekiln Bank Roundabout • Little Brickhill Interchange • Llys y Gwynt Interchange • Longford Island • Longshoot • M42 J10 • Mancetter Roundabout • Marble Arch • Marylebone Flyover • Mile End Roundabout • Mile Oak Junction • Muckley Corner • Nant Turnpike Interchange • Norton Canes Interchange • Old Stratford Roundabout • Park Street Roundabout • Peahen Crossroads • Pen Caledog Interchange • Pickmere Roundabout • Portway Roundabout (Milton Keynes) • Preston Island • Priorslee Interchange • Priorslee Roundabout • Queens Head Junction • Red Gate • Redmoor Roundabout • Rising Sun (Brownhills) • Sheeps Lane Roundabout • Smockington Hollow • Staples Corner • Stretton Baskerville • The Column Roundabout • The Turf • Thorn Roundabout • Tove Roundabout • Ventura Park Interchange • Wall Island • Waterloo Bridge (Caernarfonshire) • Watford Crossroads • Weedon Crossroads • Weedon Roundabout • Weeford Interchange • Whitehurst Roundabout • Whittington Roundabout • Wolfshead Roundabout • Woodcote Roundabout • Wynns Corner
Services
Crossings
Roads
Places
Miscellaneous
Related Pictures
View gallery (315)
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Bangor (Caernarfonshire)
A1-A99
The First 99           A1  •  A2  •  A3  •  A4  •  A5  •  A6  •  A7  •  A8  •  A9  • A10 • A11 • A12 • A13 • A14 • A15 • A16 • A17 • A18 • A19
A20 • A21 • A22 • A23 • A24 • A25 • A26 • A27 • A28 • A29 • A30 • A31 • A32 • A33 • A34 • A35 • A36 • A37 • A38 • A39
A40 • A41 • A42 • A43 • A44 • A45 • A46 • A47 • A48 • A49 • A50 • A51 • A52 • A53 • A54 • A55 • A56 • A57 • A58 • A59
A60 • A61 • A62 • A63 • A64 • A65 • A66 • A67 • A68 • A69 • A70 • A71 • A72 • A73 • A74 • A75 • A76 • A77 • A78 • A79
A80 • A81 • A82 • A83 • A84 • A85 • A86 • A87 • A88 • A89 • A90 • A91 • A92 • A93 • A94 • A95 • A96 • A97 • A98 • A99
Motorway sectionsA1(M): (South Mimms - Baldock • Alconbury - Peterborough • Doncaster Bypass • Darrington - Birtley)
A3(M) • A8(M) Baillieston spur • A38(M) • A48(M) Cardiff spur • A57(M) • A58(M) • A64(M) • A66(M) • A74(M) • A92(M)
DefunctA1(M) Newcastle CME • A2(M) Medway Towns Bypass • A4(M) • A5(M) • A8(M) Renfrew bypass • A14 • A14(M) • A18(M) • A20(M) • A36(M)
A40(M): (Westway • Denham -Stokenchurch) • A41(M) • A42 • A46(M) • A48(M): (Port Talbot bypass • Morriston bypass) • A62(M) • A88 • A99
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