Cheshire Motorway Infrastructure.
M53
In the 1960's, Vauxhall Motors decided to build a car factory at Hooton, Ellesmere Port, on the site of a disused airfield. However, the existing road access was totally inadequate.
A new road network was required within the immediate area, to serve the development. Not only was it essential for the supply of raw materials, and as a reasonable means of access for employees, but it was required also for the delivery of finished vehicles to markets in all parts of the country and abroad.
The site was close to Ellesmere Port itself, at the western end of the Manchester Ship Canal, and near to the Docks at Birkenhead and Liverpool.
In particular, access was needed to the A41, the major road between Chester and Birkenhead.
In view of the employment which the factory would bring to the area, the Cheshire County Council was keen to assist in the development. Following negotiations with the Company it was agreed that a new dual two-lane carriageway road would be constructed from a junction with the A41 at Hooton, and a junction with the A5032 immediately north of Ellesmere Port, both of which would be grade separated. The latter would link directly into the site of the new factory and its cost would be met by the Company.
Both the factory and the 2½ mile long road, known initially as the 'Hooton Industrial Road', were built concurrently by the same Contractor.
Although primarily serving the needs of the factory when completed in 1968, it soon became apparent that there was an expanding need for even better facilities. It was decided, therefore, to extend the road southwards, through Ellesmere Port for a further 2½ miles, as far as the A5117 and to provide grade separated junctions. On completion of this section, in the summer of 1975, and upgrading to a dual two-lane carriageway standard, the whole length was designated as the M531, the first 'county motorway' in Cheshire.
M56
As a first stage, a Preliminary Report was prepared in November of that year into the investigations which had been carried out into the proposal for an extension as far as Little Stanney. At this point, it would connect with the proposed extension of the Ellesmere Port Motorway M531.
It was envisaged that, in due course, it would be extended further to cross the proposed Dee Barrage. Until this was constructed, however, M56 traffic would cross the Dee at either Queensferry or via the proposed Chester Southerly By-pass.
In August 1969, a second Report was prepared justifying the extension as far as Dunkirk, on A5117, at a point between the A41 and A540 junctions. It was considered that the improvement of the existing route was not practicable due to the nearby extensive oil refineries, pipelines, and a recently constructed sewage treatment works. It had been built across peat deposits and subsidence was still evident.
The statutory procedures which were commenced in 1973 were in respect of proposals for
1. the completion of the Hapsford Interchange by the addition of west facing slip roads
2. dual three-lane carriageways from Hapsford to Stoak,
3. the M56/M531 Stoak Interchange, and
4. dual two-lane carriageways from Stoak to Dunkirk.
Cheshire Interchange Spring 2014
Cheshire Motorway Infrastructure.
M53
In the 1960's, Vauxhall Motors decided to build a car factory at Hooton, Ellesmere Port, on the site of a disused airfield. However, the existing road access was totally inadequate.
A new road network was required within the immediate area, to serve the development. Not only was it essential for the supply of raw materials, and as a reasonable means of access for employees, but it was required also for the delivery of finished vehicles to markets in all parts of the country and abroad.
The site was close to Ellesmere Port itself, at the western end of the Manchester Ship Canal, and near to the Docks at Birkenhead and Liverpool.
In particular, access was needed to the A41, the major road between Chester and Birkenhead.
In view of the employment which the factory would bring to the area, the Cheshire County Council was keen to assist in the development. Following negotiations with the Company it was agreed that a new dual two-lane carriageway road would be constructed from a junction with the A41 at Hooton, and a junction with the A5032 immediately north of Ellesmere Port, both of which would be grade separated. The latter would link directly into the site of the new factory and its cost would be met by the Company.
Both the factory and the 2½ mile long road, known initially as the 'Hooton Industrial Road', were built concurrently by the same Contractor.
Although primarily serving the needs of the factory when completed in 1968, it soon became apparent that there was an expanding need for even better facilities. It was decided, therefore, to extend the road southwards, through Ellesmere Port for a further 2½ miles, as far as the A5117 and to provide grade separated junctions. On completion of this section, in the summer of 1975, and upgrading to a dual two-lane carriageway standard, the whole length was designated as the M531, the first 'county motorway' in Cheshire.
M56
As a first stage, a Preliminary Report was prepared in November of that year into the investigations which had been carried out into the proposal for an extension as far as Little Stanney. At this point, it would connect with the proposed extension of the Ellesmere Port Motorway M531.
It was envisaged that, in due course, it would be extended further to cross the proposed Dee Barrage. Until this was constructed, however, M56 traffic would cross the Dee at either Queensferry or via the proposed Chester Southerly By-pass.
In August 1969, a second Report was prepared justifying the extension as far as Dunkirk, on A5117, at a point between the A41 and A540 junctions. It was considered that the improvement of the existing route was not practicable due to the nearby extensive oil refineries, pipelines, and a recently constructed sewage treatment works. It had been built across peat deposits and subsidence was still evident.
The statutory procedures which were commenced in 1973 were in respect of proposals for
1. the completion of the Hapsford Interchange by the addition of west facing slip roads
2. dual three-lane carriageways from Hapsford to Stoak,
3. the M56/M531 Stoak Interchange, and
4. dual two-lane carriageways from Stoak to Dunkirk.
Cheshire Interchange Spring 2014