LMARS - A580 East Lancashire Road

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A580
The East Lancashire Road

This road has the distinction of being one of the first purpose built pre-motorway roads. Many sources claim it is the first one, but this was proven to be erroneous as in 1927 a similar arterial road was constructed between Wolverhampton and Birmingham, and opened as the A4123. The A580, however, is longer, and traversed more rural country than the A4123 did, hence the confusion.

Opened in 1934, the same year as the Queensway Mersey Tunnel, the A580 was to become a major traffic artery between the port of Liverpool and the city of Salford. It never actually got as far as Manchester at any point, and it also struggled to get into the city centre of Liverpool - the main road pretty much gives up at the A5058 Queen's Drive ring road, and becomes a twisty city street the rest of the way in, with an odd branch road as well.

However, despite this, the A580 could not be considered a complete success - until it was connected to the M6 in 1963 it only really connected the fringes of two urban areas, and was more a bypass of the congested A57 than anything else. The original road was a three lane single carriageway with space for 'express lanes' either side. These were never constructed and instead the road was widened to a dual two lane set up in the 1950s and 60s.

Detrunked in 2004, the road has since suffered speed limit reductions to 60mph, and has had lighting installed along several stretches. The road can still be congested, but as it is now bypassed by the M62 to the south some of the pressure has been eradicated.

Further Reading
A580 opening booklet (Lancashire historic highways)
A580 Roads x 10 entry (SABRE)

The current photo gallery spans from the eastern terminus in Pendlebury through the junction with the A570 at Windle Island. The remainder of the route will be photographed in the near future.

	The start of the A580 is on the A6 Broad Street in Pendlebury. This dual carriageway was rather destructive and completely changed this area of the city beyond recognition. The original junction here was more of a simple fork.
	The East Lancashire Road within Salford is dual three lane with a 50mph restriction. There are houses with dedicated frontage roads for most of this section.
	Owing to the numerous signalised junctions, the A580 here is not a particularly fast route out of the city, but it is one of the better ones.
	There is a lane drop at the junction with the M61. There is no access to the M60 mainline from this point, that is reached via the A575 or A572.
	The engineering marvel that is the Worsley Braided Interchange is not really visible from this angle, but some of the flyovers are in view. There are 18 lanes side by side at one point of this sprawling complex.
	Access to the A575 for Bolton is from this junction. There is some unusual signage regarding using the right lane.
	Since detrunking, a vast proportion of the A580 has seen small scale changes to it. Some of these have worked better than others.
	The junction with the A577 to Wigan is here Wigan traffic can also use the A579 Atherleigh Way, but these are cumbersome options from this side of the town.
	Approaching the unusual jughandle junction with the A572. Traffic here must turn left to turn right, as the signs state.
	A generic view of the road's relatively straight alignment across the South Lancashire plain.
	There are some roundabouts on the A580 - this is the first from the Salford end with the A574.
	Approaching the A579 Atherleigh Way, which was constructed on top of an abandoned railway.
	A cramped double junction is here at Lowton St. Mary's.
	The other part of the Lowton St Mary's junction. Golborne is to the right.
	Another roundabout, this one with the A573 outside of Golborne. The next major junction is with the M6.
	From Boothstown, the limit has been 60mph. This short 1.5 mile section remains as National Speed Limit.
	Approaching the often congested M6 junction 23. This was modified to become a 'hamburger' layout some time after the original construction in 1963. This junction also provides access to the A49.
	Right turns are prohibited, all motorway and A49 traffic must perform a circuit of the original roundabout.
	Once the road enters St. Helen's it resumes the 60mph. This section was the first to be reduced.
	There are still numerous signalised junctions west of the M6.
	Pewfall junction is another signalised crossroads. The new A58 Blackbrook Bypass will see the A58 number move location in this area.
	More frontage roads alongside the A580 here, near the A571 junction.
	The distinctive Windle Cutting features this overbridge.
	The junction with the A570 at Windle Island, converted to a signalised crossroads some time after the opening of the Rainford Bypass in 1950, is quite spacious.

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LMARS is dedicated to the memory of my friend's sister, Amy, who was killed in a road accident. We shall not forget.
All material on LMARS is property of Bryn Buck, unless otherwise stated. I will permit usage of my photographs on any website, provided some form of credit is given, and/or a link to LMARS. You needn't ask for permission if you do as I request. Many thanks!