A50 road - Definition and Overview

Current Route

From North to South

The A50 road is in two parts as follows:

• The centre of Warrington via Junction 20 of the M6, Knutsford, Holmes Chapel, Kidsgrove and Stoke on Trent to Junction 24A the M1 near Kegworth via Derby's southern bypass.
• Junction 22 of the M1 to the centre of the City of Leicester which is its southernmost point.

However it used to be a much longer route.

Previous Routes

North of Leicester

Before the dual carriageway section bypassing Derby was built, it formerly went through Burton-upon-Trent and Ashby-de-la-Zouch to Leicester, but that section is now designated the A511 road.

South of Leicester

It used to terminate at Hockcliffe in Bedfordshire at a junction with the A5.

• The section from Leicester to Northampton is now designated the A5199 having been down-classified when the A14 was built to deter drivers from assuming it was a high-grade road, which it is not.

• The section south of Northampton was down-classified when the M1 was built as it runs parallel with the motorway and is an unsuitable alternative.
  • Between Northampton and Newport Pagnell it is now the B526.
  • From Newport Pagnell to Woburn it is the A5130 save for a stretch between Newport Pagnell and Junction 14 of the M1.
  • From Woburn to Hockcliffe it is the A4012.