A5081

The A5081 provides a major link between the M60 and Trafford Park, and into Manchester city centre from The Trafford Centre and Trafford Park.

It provides a vital link in the road network to the West of Manchester, providing the primary access to the industrial estates of Trafford Park, and also forming part of a major access route to The Trafford Centre Shopping Complex and associated leisure facilities at Trafford Quays. Thus at both weekdays and weekends the road can often become congested.

Route

Village Way

The road begins at the White City Circle junction (with the A56 and A5063) near to the White City Retail Park in Old Trafford, Manchester. From here it continues towards Trafford Park as a mixture of D2 and S4. It passes the edge of Old Trafford football stadium and a number of developments and industrial parks. The Imperial War Museum North is also visible from the road, being only a short distance north on the Manchester Ship Canal. As it approaches the middle of Trafford Park, there are a number of roundabouts and traffic-light-controlled junctions providing access to the different parts of the industrial estate; there are also a few level crossings for the disused Trafford Park Railway, which used to be the main method of transport around the area. The road passes the Trafford Park Hotel, and the Village, and then a short distance away it comes to the southern terminus of the A576 towards Eccles.

The road looks as though it was intended to have a flyover of the A576 roundabout due to the amount of greenery in the middle of the road. It then continues as a high standard mixture of D2 and D3, with a GSJ providing access to the suburbs of Trafford, onto the B5211 and the Trafford Centre. An access from the Eastbound carriageway provides another access to the Trafford Centre. It then proceeds to its terminus roundabout with the M60 Junction 9; here it also meets the B5158 towards Urmston, and local roads towards Stretford and Altrincham.

History

The A5081 came into being in the mid-1920s when the short B5216 was upgraded to Class I status. This road ran for about half a mile between the A5063 and the entrance to Trafford Park, ending on an unclassified road. It seems that the original route of the A5081 was identical to that of the B5216, although by 1935 the road had been extended west through Trafford Park and on to the A575 (present B5211) to the south of Barton-upon-Irwell.

After the then-M62 opened in 1960 the A5081 was rerouted to join the new motorway and the old road into Barton renumbered B5214. The motorway has been renumbered twice - for several years the A5081 ended on M63 J4 but this is now M60 J9.

Named Junctions

Image	Name	Classified Road(s)	Grid Reference	More Info	Map
	White City Circle	A56 / A5063 / A5067	SJ812963		SABRE • Google • geo
	Village Circle		SJ796967		SABRE • Google • geo
	Parkway Circle	A576 / B5214	SJ783969		SABRE • Google • geo
	Lostock Circle	M60 / B5158	SJ774957		SABRE • Google • geo