Meir Interchange

Meir Interchange is the junction of the A50 and the A520 in a suburb of Stoke-on-Trent. The A520 is itself a bypass running from Stone to Leek. Until the junction was upgraded in the 1990s, it was a signalised crossroads.

Meir Tunnel

Meir Tunnel under construction in 1996

The junction was upgraded in 1998 with the construction of 260 metre long Meir Tunnel as part of wider A50 improvements in the area. The tunnel takes A50 traffic under the junction, this effectively turned the junction into a roundabout interchange.

Schemes were initially put forward in the 1980s to tunnel the A50 under Meir and build a bridge to carry the A520 over a pedestrianised area, however this was opposed by local residents who did not want the area to change significantly. Following three further public inquiries in the 1990s which saw the A520 bridge part of the scheme dropped, and the tunnel lengthened, construction started in April 1995 after the £21.3m contract was awarded to Amey Construction.

Significant disruption and diversions took place as the tunnel was constructed, for a time the A50 was diverted to the south along what is now Pickford Place and Saracen Way.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
A50	Uttoxeter/Derby, Blythe Bridge
A50	City Centre, Newcastle, Longton, Fenton, Stoke, Hanley
A520	Leek
A520	Stone, Meir Heath