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A50 road

Route map:
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A50 shield
A50
Route information
Length98.2 mi[1] (158.0 km)
History1984-85 (Construction start and end)
Major junctions
Southeast end A6 in Leicester
Major intersections A46 in Groby

M1 in Markfield
A6 near Aston-on-Trent
A52 in Hanley
A53 in Hanley
A34 in Church Lawton
A54 in Holmes Chapel
M6 near Grappenhall

A56 in Grappenhall
North end A49 at Warrington
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
CountiesLeicestershire
Derbyshire
Staffordshire
Cheshire
Primary
destinations
Stoke on Trent
Uttoxeter
Derby
Road network
A49 A51
A50 west of junction 5
Welcome Break Services on Derby Southern Bypass[2].
A50 close to Stoke-on-Trent.
The A50 passing through Frog Island, Leicester

The A50 is a major trunk road in England between Warrington and Leicester; historically it was also a major route from London to Leicester.

Route

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The current A50 runs south-east from Warrington via Junction 20 of the M6, Knutsford, Holmes Chapel, Kidsgrove and Stoke on Trent to Junction 24 of the M1 near Kegworth, via Derby's southern bypass. From there it is concurrent with the M1 until Junction 22, where it runs into the City of Leicester.

The section from junctions 24a (in Lockington-Hemington) and 24 (in Kegworth) of the M1 is the former A6, and has not been widened. It has only three lanes westbound from junction 24a.

The Stoke-and-Derby section was originally intended to be part of an M64 motorway but this project was cancelled in the 1970s.

Proposed development

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In November 2013 it was reported that funding would be being made available for improvements to the section around Uttoxeter, with work starting no later than 2015/16.[3] A few days earlier the MP was lobbying for the improvements, stating that improvements were needed to the traffic islands for safety reasons and to improve traffic flow.[4] There are plans for 700 new houses to the west of Uttoxeter and to the south of the A50.[5][needs update]

History

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The old A50

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Prior to the opening of the M1, the A50 route was one of two main routes from London to the north-west via Leicester, until it was replaced during the 19th century by what has become the A6. A third route between London and Leicester was via the A5 to Old Stratford, A508 to Market Harborough and thence the A6. That route and the A50 route both passed through Northampton which was a significant calling point on many coaching routes until the arrival of the railways.

Until the M1 opened, the A50 used to terminate at Hockliffe in Bedfordshire at a junction with the A5.

When the M1 motorway opened alongside the old route south of Northampton it was down-classified as:

  • B526 between Northampton and the Newport Pagnell bypass.
  • A509 between the Newport Pagnell bypass and Junction 14 of the M1.
  • A5130 between Junction 14 and Woburn
  • A4012 between Woburn and Hockcliffe.

From that point until the 1990s the southern point of the A50 was at a junction with the A508 in Kingsthorpe, Northampton.

In the 1990s, with the opening of the A14 and to discourage traffic from using the road between Leicester and Northampton, the old route was re-designated as A5199 between Leicester and Northampton.

At the same time the A50 became the A511 north of Leicester, between Burton upon Trent and Ashby-de-la-Zouch to Leicester when the dual carriageway section bypassing Derby was completed.

The current route

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Part of the route mirrored the plans for the original M64 motorway, with three lanes in some sections – notably between Kegworth and the A6 near Derby.

The new A50 route was opened in stages between March 1985 and 1999, with using various temporary designations:

  • 1985: 9-mile (14 km) £16m Blythe BridgeUttoxeter section from the north-west.
  • 1992: £2.6m Etwall bypass, opened as the A516.
  • 1995: 6-mile (9.7 km) £30.4m Hatton, Hilton and Foston bypass, opened by John Watts as the A564.
  • 1997 (June): 3-mile (4.8 km) £52m section 1 of Blythe Bridge – Queensway.
  • 1997 (September): the £109.5m 14.9-mile (24.0 km) Derby Southern Bypass (opened by Helene Hayman, Baroness Hayman, Minister for Roads at the DETR), as the A564.
  • 1997 (September): The A6 Derby Spur.
  • 1997 (November): the 1-mile (1.6 km) £21m section 2 of Blythe Bridge – Queensway.
  • 1998: 5-mile (8.0 km) £20.6m Doveridge Bypass as the A564.
  • 1999: the delayed A50/M1 junction 24a improvements.

On completion, the Southern Derby Bypass was re-designated as the A50, being maintained privately by Connect A50 Ltd. Much of this new section of road is made of concrete.

Junction list

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CountyLocationmi[1]kmJctDestinationsNotes
LeicestershireLeicester0.00.0 A6 (St Margaret's Way) – City centre, LoughboroughSoutheastern terminus
1.82.9 A563 (New Parks Way / Glenfrith Way) – Leicester (S & N), Glenfield
Groby3.25.1 A46 to M1 south / M69 – Newark, Anstey, Leicester (N)Leicester signed southbound only
Markfield7.912.7 M1 south – The South, London
A511 west (Little Shaw Lane) / Cliffe Lane – Ashby, Coalville, Stanton, Thornton
Southeastern terminus of M1 concurrency; eastern terminus of A511; M1 junction 22
7.9–
18.4
12.7–
29.6
See M1 junctions 22-24A
Kegworth
Lockington
boundary
18.4–
19.9
29.6–
32.0
M1 north – The North, Nottingham (N)
A453 (A6 southlocation1=Nottingham (S))
The North signed northbound only; northwestern terminus of M1 concurrency; southeastern terminus of A6 concurrency; M1 junction 24-24A
Hemington
Castle Donington
boundary
20.4–
21.0
32.8–
33.8
1B6540 – Long Eaton, Hemington, Lockington, Shardlow, Castle Donington, SawleyHemington and Lockington signed northwestbound only
DerbyshireAston-on-Trent21.835.1Shardlow Gravel PitNo southeastbound exit
Shardlow22.636.4Derby South services
Aston-on-Trent23.5–
24.1
37.8–
38.8
2 A6 north – Derby, Alvaston, ShardlowShardlow signed southeast only; northwestern terminus of A6 concurrency
Swarkestone
Chellaston
boundary
25.7–
26.1
41.4–
42.0
3 A514 to B587 – Swadlincote, Melbourne, Chellaston, Swarkestone, Allenton
Willington
Burnaston
Etwall
boundary
31.0–
31.8
49.9–
51.2
4 A38 / B5008 to M1 – Birmingham, Burton upon Trent, Derby, Willington
Hilton33.5–
34.1
53.9–
54.9
A516 east – Derby, Etwall, Hilton, HattonWestern terminus of A516
Foston and Scropton37.360.0 A511 east – Burton upon Trent, Foston, Scropton, Hatton, TutburyFoston signed northwest only, Tutbury southeast only; western terminus of A511
38.161.3Foston, BoylestoneSoutheast exit and entrance
38.461.8HM Prison Foston HallNorthwest exit and entrance
Sudbury39.363.2End freeway
39.363.2 A515 south / Aston Lane – Lichfield, Sudbury, Kings Bromley, Aston, Aston HeathAston and Aston Heath signed southeast only; southeastern terminus of A515 concurrency
40.3–
40.7
64.9–
65.5
A515 north – Ashbourne, Cubley, DoveridgeJunction; Doveridge signed northwest only; northwestern terminus of A515 concurrency
Doveridge42.969.0DoveridgeJunction; southeast exit and northwest entrance
StaffordshireUttoxeter44.171.0 To A518 – Stafford, Uttoxeter
44.972.3 A518 west / B5030 – Uttoxeter, Rocester, Ashbourne, StaffordUttoxeter signed northwest only; eastern terminus of A518
45.7–
46.1
73.5–
74.2
A522 – Uttoxeter, Upper Tean, CheadleJunction
Forsbrook53.686.3A521 north – Tean, Blythe Bridge, CheadleBlythe Bridge and Cheadle signed northwest only
Fulford54.4–
54.7
87.5–
88.0
A521 / A520 – Cheadle, StoneJunction
Fulford
Forsbrook
Stoke-on-Trent
boundary
55.0–
55.3
88.5–
89.0
A521 north – Blythe Bridge, CaverswallJunction
Meir55.0–
56.2
88.5–
90.4
A520 – Leek, Stone, MeirJunction
Longton56.0–
56.9
90.1–
91.6
A5007 west – Normacot, Longton (E)Junction; eastern terminus of A5007
56.5–
57.3
90.9–
92.2
A5005 / A5035 / B5039 – Longton, Stone, TrenthamJunction
Heron Cross57.7–
57.9
92.9–
93.2
M6 / A34 – Stone, Newcastle upon Tyne
Fenton58.393.8King Street (A5007 east) – LongtonLongton signed northwest only; southeastern terminus of A5007 concurrency
58.594.1City Road (A5007 west) – StokeNorthwestern terminus of A5007 concurrency
Hanley60.497.2 A52 (Leek Road) to M6 / A53 – Newcastle-under-Lyme, Ashbourne, Leek, Stoke, Bucknall, Milton
60.998.0 A5008 west to M6 – Newcastle-under-LymeNewcastle signed northwest only; southeastern terminus of A5008 concurrency
61.298.5 Bucknall New Road (A5008 east) / A52 / A53 – Ashbourne, LeekNorthwestern terminus of A5008 concurrency
61.799.3Hanover Street (A5006 south) – City centreCity centre signed northwest only; northern terminus of A5006
62.199.9 A53 (Cobridge Road / Elder Road) to M6 / A500 – Newcastle, Leek, Etruria, Stoke, Milton
Tunstall63.8102.7Williamson Street (A5271 south) – Longport, StokeDestinations signed northwest only; southeastern terminus of A5271 concurrency
64.1103.2 The Boulevard (A5271 north) to A527 – BiddulphInformation signed northwest only; northwestern terminus of A5271 concurrency
64.9104.4 A527 (Reginald Mitchell Way / James Brindley Way) to M6 / A500 – Newcastle
CheshireChurch Lawton67.6108.8 A34 (Congleton Road) to M6 – Newcastle-under-Lyme, Birmingham, Congleton, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Scholar GreenBirmingham signed northwest only, Stoke southeast only
68.9110.9 A5011 south (Linley Road) / B5077 (Crewe Road) / M6 / A34 / A500 / A532 – NewcastleNorthern terminus of A5011
Rode Heath69.7112.2 A533 northwest (Sandbach Road) – Sandbach, NorthwichSoutheastern terminus of A533
Arclid73.3118.0 A534 (Congleton Road / Spark Lane) / M6 / A34 / A5061 – Nantwich, Warrington, Congleton, Sandbach, Crewe
Brererton74.6120.1 A5022 south (Holmes Chapel Road) to M6 / A534 / A500 – Sandbach, Crewe, Nantwich, StokeInformation signed northwest only; northern terminus of A5022
Holmes Chapel76.7123.4 A54 / M6 / A5061 / A51 / A535 / A537 – Middlewich, Congleton, Warrington, Chester, Alderley Edge, MacclesfieldOnly Congleton and Middlewich signed southeast
76.9123.8 A535 north (Macclesfield Road) to A537 – MacclesfieldSouthern terminus of A535
Knutsford84.9136.6 A537 east (Adams Hill) to B5085 / B5086 – Macclesfield, Mobberley, Knutsford Town Centre, Alderley Edge, WilmslowKnutsford signed northwest only, To B5086, Alderley and Wilmslow southeast only; western terminus of A537
85.2137.1 A5033 west (Northwich Road) to M6 / A51 / A559 – Chester, NorthwichTo A559 and Northwich signed northwest only; eastern terminus of A5033
Mere86.9139.9Mereside Road (A5034 north) – Bucklow Hill, AshleyDestinations signed northwest only; southern terminus of A5034
88.2141.9 A556 north to M56 – Manchester, AltrinchamAccess only to A556 north; Altrincham signed northwest only
Lymm
Grappenhall and Thelwall
boundary
92.3148.5 M6 to M56 / M62 – Birmingham, Preston, North Wales, Chester, Manchester, Liverpool, LeedsTo M62, Liverpool and Leeds signed southeast only; M6 junction 20
Grappenhall94.1151.4 A56 (Chester Road / Stockport Road) to M56 / A533 – Stockton Heath, Lymm, Runcorn, Manchester, ChesterTo M6, Runcorn and Manchester signed northwest only, Chester southeast only
Warrington95.2153.2 A5061 west – Town centreEastern terminus of A5061
96.6155.5 A57 (Manchester Road) to M6 – Town centre, Manchester, IrlamManchester signed northwest only, Irlam southeast only
97.1156.3 A574 north (Birchwood Way) to M62 – Leigh, Manchester, Padgate, BirchwoodSoutheastern terminus of A574 concurrency
98.2158.0 A49 (Winwick Road (A574 south)) to Hawley's Lane / M62 / M6 – Town centre, Wigan, Winwick, DallamNorthwestern terminus; northwestern terminus of A574 concurrency
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi


Incidents

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Ravensbridge Dr, Leicester LE4 0BX, UK to B5327, Leicester LE4 0AJ, UK to A50, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 5BN, UK to A50, Goldenhill, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 5QH, UK to A50, Knutsford, UK to 129 A50, High Legh, Knutsford, UK to 248-238 A50, Grappenhall, Warrington, UK to A50, Warrington WA2 8JE, UK". Google Maps. Alphabet Inc. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  2. ^ Image from Wikimedia Commons June 2007
  3. ^ "UK government's infrastructure spending plan unveiled". BBC News. 4 December 2013.
  4. ^ "MP calls on Parliament for improvement to A50". UTTOXETER'S MP is calling on Parliament to make major improvements to the infrastructure of the A50 in a bid to improve safety for residents... The two islands on the A50 are a major bottle neck and regularly causes accidents. They cannot cope with the volume of traffic it has to deal with. Investment in improving these islands would improve traffic flow, stop accidents and make the lives of drivers in Uttoxeter a heck of a lot easier.
  5. ^ "Highways talk traffic over plan for 700 homes".
  6. ^ "M6 dash woman jailed over killing". 26 November 2009.
  7. ^ "Man dead and woman in critical condition after A50 police chase crash". 15 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Man dead and woman critical after A50 crash following police pursuit". 15 April 2018.
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KML is from Wikidata

Media related to A50 road (England) at Wikimedia Commons