A59 road

A59 road is a primary arterial route in England linking Liverpool area suburbs to York via St Helens, Warrington, Wigan, Bolton, Rochdale, Burnley, Clitheroe, Skipton, and Harrogate. The corridor connects multiple historic towns, industrial centres, market towns and commuter belts, intersecting trunk routes such as the M6 motorway, M62 motorway, A1(M), and regional networks around Lancashire and North Yorkshire. Its alignment traverses landscapes including the Pennines, the Forest of Bowland, and the Ribble Valley.

Route

The route begins near Prescot close to Knowsley and proceeds northeast through St Helens where it meets local routes serving Rainhill and Sutton. It continues toward Warrington crossing the River Mersey and intersecting corridors to Chester and Manchester. Moving across Cheshire into Greater Manchester, the road passes near Wigan and links urban nodes such as Leigh and Atherton before reaching the western fringes of Bolton and Rochdale. From Rochdale it climbs into the western slopes of the Pennines passing through Rawtenstall, traversing the Rossendale Valley toward Burnley and Pudsey before entering the Ribble Valley near Clitheroe. Eastward the A59 passes Skipton and skirts Ilkley and Harrogate before terminating at York, adjacent to connections serving Selby and Malton.

History

The corridor traces medieval packhorse and coaching routes linking Liverpool’s port with inland markets at York and Leeds. Industrialisation saw the route evolve with improved turnpikes linking textile towns like Burnley and Rochdale to shipping at Liverpool and Hull. Railway competition from Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and later London and North Western Railway altered traffic patterns, while 20th-century road numbering under the Ministry of Transport formalised the A-class designation. Postwar upgrades paralleled projects such as sections of the M62 motorway and bypasses around Clitheroe and Skipton, reflecting shifts driven by the Beeching cuts-era rail closures and growth in private motoring.

Junctions and notable features

Key junctions include interchanges with the M6 motorway near Wigan providing links north to Carlisle and south to Birmingham, and with the M62 motorway near St Helens connecting Hull and Liverpool. The route crosses the River Ribble at Clitheroe and skirts the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, visible from sections near Longridge. Notable structures and places on or adjacent to the corridor include Harewood House near Leeds, the Roman remains at Ribchester, the textile heritage sites of Burnley and Rochdale Town Hall, and proximity to cultural landmarks such as York Minster and Liverpool Cathedral. Junctions provide access to heritage railways like the East Lancashire Railway and national rail stations at Skipton railway station, Clitheroe railway station, and Harrogate railway station.

Traffic and safety

Traffic volumes on the route vary from busy commuter flows between Liverpool suburbs and Bolton to rural segments across the Yorkshire Dales used by tourist traffic bound for Ilkley and Skipton. Accident hotspots have been recorded near complex intersections with the A1(M) and where the road negotiates steep gradients in the Pennines, prompting schemes by local highways authorities including Lancashire County Council and North Yorkshire County Council to implement safety measures. Freight traffic connects ports such as Liverpool Docks and logistics hubs serving Manchester Airport and industrial estates in Warrington and Bolton, influencing junction capacity and maintenance priorities.

Future developments and proposals

Proposals under consideration by local planning bodies and transport agencies have included bypasses for market towns, junction improvements near Clitheroe and Skipton, and measures to reduce congestion around Warrington and Harrogate. Strategic plans aligned with regional growth initiatives aim to improve resilience to extreme weather, informed by studies involving National Highways and regional transport partnerships such as Transport for the North. Discussions around active travel and park-and-ride facilities link to initiatives in York and Harrogate promoting sustainable access. Potential upgrades may interact with broader projects like Northern Powerhouse transport proposals and freight diversion strategies related to Port of Liverpool expansion.

Category:Roads in England