The A5225 number was allocated to a route running between the M6 at Orrell and the M61 near J5.
The original proposal was for the M58 to be extended east to the M61 at a point roughly halfway between junctions 5 and 6 for which a bridge beneath the M61 was provided. This was never built.
In 1985 the scheme was revived as a trunk road. A consultation took place in 1989 with three route options including one following the original M58 proposals. The M58 route was not chosen and instead a route to the south of Westhoughton was selected and orders were published in 1993. This was for an all purpose road built to D2 standards although the section between the A49 and the next junction east would be D3. The eastern end of the route would tie in to Chequerbent Roundabout which would be completely rebuilt and a link would continue from there to the A58 east of M61 J5. This would enable some traffic heading to Bolton to avoid the Junction 5 roundabout. This scheme was withdrawn in 1996.
In 2003 Wigan Council planned a smaller scale scheme terminating on the A579 at Atherton with no extension to the M61 although at least one of the junctions was to be grade separated. This scheme was also abandoned.
An even smaller scheme was eventually started in 2018. This runs from the A49 to the B5238 and should be completed in spring 2020. This will eventually be extended to the M6 in due course. It is not known if it will be given the A5225 number.
