A5300 road
{{Short description|Road in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox road
|country=GBR
|type=A
|route=5300
|length_mi=3
|established=1996
|image=Knowsley Expressway north from Water Lane bridge.jpg
|image_notes=View towards Tarbock Island from Water Lane
|direction_a=
|terminus_a = {{jct|country=GBR|A|562}}
|direction_b=
|terminus_b = {{jct|country=GBR|M|62}}
|junction =
|destinations=
}}
The A5300 or Knowsley Expressway is a major road in Merseyside, England. It runs {{convert|3|mi}} from its junction with the A562 to its junction with the M62, where it becomes the M57, providing a major north–south route through the borough. Along its course it crosses the Liverpool to Manchester Line Southern route. The road cost £47.3 million ({{inflation|UK|47334000|1995|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}){{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo980112/text/80112w04.htm |title=Road Schemes 1998 |work=Millbank Systems |date=12 January 1998 |accessdate=9 June 2018}} when it was constructed during 1995–1996.
History
The idea of the extension dates back to the early 1970s, when Lancashire County Council was responsible for the region. When Knowsley Metropolitan Borough came into existence around 1986, they prioritised the need for construction of the route and in 1988, appointed consultants to examine the feasibility. Following traffic surveys, it was confirmed that a dual carriageway link road was needed. In total, nine alternate routes were assessed for consideration but many were rejected on environmental grounds. In 1989, Knowsley approached the Department for Transport regarding funding for their preferred route and arranged a 50% grant towards the cost. A public inquiry was needed due to 48 pieces of land needed from private owners to build the road on. Balfour Beatty were confirmed as the chosen constructor in the summer of 1993.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99083889 |title=£50m new route nearing completion |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=21 February 1996 |page=18}}
Initial groundwork commenced in September 1993{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99082986 |title=Gearing up for the new link road |newspaper=Runcorn Weekly News |date=16 September 1993 |page=8}} and during early construction, ancient roof tiles dating back to 167 AD were unearthed alongside the path of the new road.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99082939 |title=Digging up the past |newspaper=Runcorn Weekly News |date=3 February 1994 |page=11}}
The Expressway was constructed during 1995–1996, during which time over {{convert|24|ha}} of woodland was planted along the embankments.{{cite web |url=https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/wood/23814/knowsley-expressway/ |title=Knowsley Expressway – A Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council wood |work=Woodland Trust |accessdate=14 April 2017}} The road took around two and a half years to construct, which involved re-routing streams and planting around half a million trees.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99082138 |title=MP gets set to open motorway link road |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=28 March 1996 |page=9}} The road was opened on 15 April 1996 by Eddie O'Hara MP and the first cars travelled along the road from 2pm the same day. It was estimated that the road would take around 35,000 vehicles each day.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99082703 |title=Expressway to success |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=15 April 1996 |page=14}}
During development, Knowsley schools ran a competition for their school pupils to name the new road. The competition was won by a Halsnead Community Primary School pupil who named it the Knowsley Expressway.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99081793 |title=School pupil names new road |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=12 April 1996 |page=16}} As with other projects, the A5300 is a downgraded extension of a motorway, in this case the M57.
Improvements
In 2016, Knowsley Council announced a £5.3m investment to improve the expressway's southern junction with Speke Road, to focus on reducing congestion during peak time and ensure future demand can be met by expected economic growth.{{cite news |url=https://www.liverpoollep.org/news/5-3-million-investment-for-knowsley-expressway-and-speke-road-junction/ |title=Knowsley Council has announced an investment of £5.3 million to improve the Knowsley Expressway and Speke Road junction |work=Liverpool Local Enterprise Partnership |date=20 January 2016 |accessdate=14 April 2017}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?client=public&X=347500&Y=387500&scale=50000&width=700&height=400&gride=353096.831333927&gridn=390952.550978589&lang=&db=freegaz&coordsys=gb Aerial Photo]
{{GB A road zone 5}}
{{coord|53.38402|N|2.7998|W|type:landmark_region:GB_dim:5000|display=title}}
{{Commons category}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:5-5300}}
{{England-road-stub}}