A52 road

UK road routebox
road= A52
length-mi=
length-km=
direction= East-West
start= Newcastle-under-Lyme
destinations= Stoke-on-Trent
Ashbourne
Derby
Nottingham
Grantham
Boston
Skegness
end= Mablethorpe
construction-date=
completion-date=
junctions= ukroadsmall|1104 ukroadsmall|1111 ukroadsmall|158 ukroadsmall|16 ukroadsmall|1121 ukroadsmall|17 ukroadsmall|152 ukroadsmall|15 ukroadsmall|607 ukroadsmall|1 ukroadsmall|46 ukroadsmall|6011 ukroadsmall|606 ukroadsmall|453 ukroadsmall|6514 ukmotorwaysmall|1 ukroadsmall|61 ukroadsmall|6 ukroadsmall|515 ukroadsmall|523 ukroadsmall|520The A52 is a major road in the East Midlands, England. It runs east from the junction with the A53 at Newcastle-under-Lyme near Stoke-on-Trent via Ashbourne, Derby, Stapleford, Nottingham, West Bridgford Bingham, Grantham, Boston and Skegness before terminating on the east Lincolnshire coast at Mablethorpe. In total, it is approximately convert|147|mi|km long.

The stretch between Derby and Nottingham is now also known as "Brian Clough Way" in honour of the late Derby County and Nottingham Forest manager.

The road used to start at Nantwich in Cheshire, but was renumbered to become the A500.

Route

Newcastle-under-Lyme - Derby

The road starts as "Ryecroft" from the roundabout with the A34 and B5367. It is dual carriageway until the next roundabout, forming part of the Newcastle ring road, with the A527 and A53. It passes the leisure centre on the right, then veers right at a junction with the B5045 (which continues on the main road), where it enters the borough of Stoke-on-Trent. As "Hartshill Road", it passes the University Hospital of North Staffordshire and enters the town of Stoke-upon-Trent. It takes two possible routes around the town centre, meeting the A500 D Road. It goes under the West Coast Main Line near Stoke-on-Trent railway station and becomes "Leek Road", passing one campus ( [http://www.staffs.ac.uk/facilities_management/buildings_and_estates/property_portfolio/buildings/stoke/Stoke44.php Leek Road] ) of Staffordshire University. It meets the A50 at a roundabout near Hanley. It meets the A5008 and A5009 (for Leek) at crossroads, where it turns right. There is a junction with the A5272 (for Berry Hill). As "Werrington Road" in Bucknall it passes the Mitchell High School and enters Staffordshire and the borough of the Staffordshire Moorlands. It passes through Ash Bank and Staffordshire, then meets the A520 (for Leek) at crossroads , then overlaps the A522 (for Cheadle). It passes through Kingsley, and meets the A521 and B5053 (for Ipstones). It passes through Whiston and meets the B5417 (for Oakamoor). It meets the A523 (for Leek) and passes through Swinscoe, then briefly enters East Staffordshire.

The road enters Derbyshire and the Derbyshire Dales district where it crosses the River Dove over the Hanging Bridge near the junction with the B5032 at Mayfield close to the "Queens Arms Hotel". The £3m convert|1.5|mi|km|sing=on Ashbourne Relief Road opened in October 1994. There is a roundabout for the exit to Ashbourne and one with the A515. The road climbs up the side of the Dove Valley, and there is a central overtaking/crawler lane. The roundabout with the eastern exit to Ashbourne is near an old airfield which is now an [http://www.george-dutton.co.uk/main.htm industrial estate] . The area around the next section of road to Derby has links with Bonnie Prince Charlie. It passes through Brailsford and the "Rose and Crown" and at Kirk Langley, there is a junction with the B5020 for Mickleover. It passes Mackworth, the " [http://www.pub-explorer.com/derbyshire/pub/mundyarmsmackworth.htm Munday Arms] " and " [http://www.marstonsinns.co.uk/Home/hotels/hotel-derby/mackworth-hotel Mackworth Hotel] ", with part of the Mackworth Estate to the south and [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/c.nharris/MarkeatonPark.htm Markeaton Park] . Entering Derby as "Ashbourne Road", it meets the busy A38 at a roundabout, and Esso "Mackworth Service Station". It passes the "Shell Friargate" garage on the left. From here to the dual-carriageway is a popular pub crawl, with many student residences close by for the University of Derby, such as [http://www.derby.ac.uk/derby-halls-of-residence/halls/st-christophers-court St Christopher's Court] . Close by to the north is the new Markeaton [http://www.derby.ac.uk/markeaton campus] of the university. The road splits into east and west sections, passing St John the Evangelist [http://derby-guide.co.uk/westend_church2.html church] on the left, with the easterly section being "Agard Street" and the westerly section being "Friargate". From the [http://www.bbc.co.uk/derby/features/2002/connecting_derby/phase_two.shtml traffic lights] at the eastern end of both, the road becomes "Ford Street", passing the [http://www.friargatestudios.co.uk Friargate Studios] .

Derby - Nottingham

It overlaps the A601 Derby Inner Ring Road, which is called "St Alkmunds Way" and was opened on July 30 1972, although the bridge across the Derwent opened in January 1968. From the Radio Derby building (to the west of the city centre) to Nottingham, it is dual-carriageway. It crosses the River Derwent, the A601 leaves to the south, and it passes under the Midland Main Line as "Eastgate". There is the "Pentagon Island" Grade Separated Junction (GSJ) with the A61 near Chaddesden and the Texaco "Pentagon Service Station". The westbound-direction is not grade-separated and meets the roundabout, thus causing many severe queues at rush-hour. Westbound traffic would be better choosing another route from 8 - 9am. It passes a large Costco, and the next junction is a GSJ for the Wyvern Retail Park, and passes a KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut and Sainsbury's. Near Spondon, there is a large GSJ with the A5111 Derby outer ring road ("Raynesway" - home of Rolls-Royce Marine Power Operations), also near a large Asda. The £4.4m half-mile Borrowash Bypass Extension opened in May 1980.

Further east, it is the main east-west route from Derby to Nottingham, connecting the two towns via the busy junction 25 of the M1 at Sandiacre, passing the "Shell Ockbrook" garage on the left near Ockbrook. The £250,000 three-mile (5 km) Borrowash Bypass opened in 1957, although the bridge at Ockbrook opened in 1969. The former route is partly the A6005. The five-mile (8 km) £2m Sandiacre Stapleford Bypass opened in December 1964, being built two years before junction 25 of the M1 had been opened although all the bridges and roundabout were part of the bypass. The former route is the B5010. It crosses the Nottingham section of the Midland Main Line, and the River Erewash and Erewash Canal, entering Nottinghamshire and the borough of Broxtowe.

"Bardill's Island" roundabout, which has been [http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/12676.aspx improved] , is with "Toton Lane" (B6003) which is for Stapleford and is near the George Spencer Foundation School and a garden centre. It passes through Bramcote at the roundabout with the A6007 next to [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/671786 Bramcote leisure centre] and becomes a three-lane dual carriageway, however the left lane is a bus lane. There is a right-turn at traffic lights for "Wollaton Road" (B6006) for Beeston near the " [http://www.pub-explorer.com/notts/pub/nurserymanbeeston.htm Nurseryman] " pub.

It enters the City of Nottingham at the A6464 "Priory" [http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/webcams/traffic_woodsideroad_webcam.shtml roundabout] ("Woodside Road" leading to the A6005) with the "Shell Priory " garage on the right, and the "Wollaton Park" [http://www.toby-carvery.co.uk/find-a-toby/wollatonpark.html Toby Carvery] pub on the left on "Wollaton Vale" road. To the left is Wollaton Park and nearby to the south is the University of Nottingham. The [http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/webcams/traffic_middletonboulevard_webcam.shtml junction] at the Queen's Medical Centre with the A6514 "Middleton Boulevard" was originally a roundabout, but became a GSJ, costing £3.7m in late 1983. The [http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/p37377225.html former] route through Nottingham is now the A6200, then down "Angel Row", "Wheeler Gate", "Lister Gate" then through what is now the Broadmarsh Centre and past the train station on "Carrington Street", through The Meadows as "Arkwright Street" to a point near the A60/A6011 junction, over Trent Bridge and along the current A6520 "Radcliffe Road". South of here it follows the former A614 as "Clifton Boulevard". There is a junction for "Abbey Street" (A6005 - former A453) which was originally a much smaller temporary flyover, but was improved in June 1990 at a cost of £5.5m, which is where the former A614 terminated. It crosses the Beeston Canal and Nottingham - Derby/Loughborough railway line and follows the Clifton Boulevard around the south of Nottingham. It overlaps the A453, then the A453 exits for the M1 and Clifton near the Texaco "Silverdale Service Station". One of the bridges over the Trent at [http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/webcams/traffic_cliftonbridge_webcam.shtml Clifton Bridge] includes a section of the former B680 (which became the A453)Fact|date=October 2007. It enters the borough of Rushcliffe and meets the A60 (for Ruddington), then the A606 at busy roundabouts. This £6m two mile (3 km) section from Gamston to Lings Bar opened in September 1981 as "Gamston Lings Bar Road". It passes close to Tollerton Airfield and a large Morrisons (former Safeway), and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/51950 crosses] the Grantham Canal meeting the former route at a busy [http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/webcams/traffic_gamstonlingsbar_webcam.shtml roundabout] near the " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/867820 Bridge] " pub. It will become a dual carriageway in 2011. The section from the QMC to the A606 "Wheatcroft Island" [http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/webcams/traffic_gamstonlingsbar_meltonroad_webcam.shtml roundabout] used to be the A614 until the Gamston section was opened. The former route of the A52 into Nottingham is now the A6200 and A6011.

Nottingham- Grantham

Heading east as "Radcliffe Road" with Bassingfield to the right, the road is [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/867707 dual-carriageway] until Radcliffe on Trent as "Grantham Road". There is the BP "Pierrepont Filling Station" next to a Little Chef just before the turn-off for Radcliffe on Trent. This stretch has SPECS [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/46863 cameras] along it. Close by is the Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre. The road goes past Upper Saxondale, then meets the A46 at a large roundabout, which has the "Shell Saxondale" garage. The road runs parallel for many miles with the Nottingham-Grantham railway. The road heads east through the Saxondale roundabout and past Bingham on the £2.6m two mile (3 km) Bingham [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/217532 bypass] opened in December 1986. The road passes the JET "Kings Service Station" on the left. There is a left turn for Scarrington, then it [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/447141 passes] a [http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/prisoninformation/locateaprison/prison.asp?id=434,15,2,15,434,0 prison] at [http://www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/doc.asp?cat=9575 Whatton] , near to where it crosses the River Smite. It passes the " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/163792 Vale of Belvoir] " hotel, and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/256832 after] Elton where it passes the " [http://www.diningpubs.co.uk/pub_details.asp?id=158 Manor Arms] ", it enters Leicestershire, the district of Melton, and the Vale of Belvoir at the start of the Bottesford [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/64389 bypass] , which opened in February 1989 with an extremely wide concrete £3m three mile (5 km) two-way road. It passes by Muston and enters Lincolnshire and South Kesteven at the crossing of [http://www.biffvernon.freeserve.co.uk/Sewstern_Drift.htm Sewstern Lane] (Viking Way) next to the popular " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/153249 Muston Gap] ", passing through Sedgebrook. Belvoir Castle can be seen in the distance. The [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/281376 road] climbs the steep "Mill Hill" near Barrowby, crosses the A1 and becomes " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/113777 Barrowby Road] ". The section of road from Radcliffe on Trent to Grantham was planned to become a dual-carriageway in the 1990s, but there are no plans at present.

It meets a roundabout with "Barrowby Gate", next to the " [http://www.pub-explorer.com/lincs/pub/muddlegonowheregrantham.htm Muddle Go Nowhere] ", passing through Green Hill. At the bottom of " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/113635 Barrowby Road] " is a low-height railway bridge, which in 2005 was the [http://212.58.226.53/2/hi/uk_news/england/lincolnshire/4509806.stm most hit railway bridge] in the UK. Only until recently was this busy trunk road part of the High Street in Grantham; now it is diverted alongside the East Coast Main Line on "Sankt Augustin Way", which is also the A607. At the start of "Sankt Augustin Way", the road passes an Asda on the left. It meets "Dysart Road" at traffic lights and turns left at a one way system onto "Wharf Road", passing a large Morrisons store and "Churchills" pub, then turning right at traffic lights onto "London Road", passing Sainsburys and the "Reindeer Inn". The most sensible route around Grantham is to follow the A1 from Barrowby and take the A607 exit into Grantham, although there is a low bridge (13') on "Springfield Road" (another part of the A607), which was the UK's [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/6936901.stm most hit] bridge in 2006. There have been plans for an A52 bypass south of Grantham, which have many cycle-riding objectors. South of the town, it meets the B1174 at traffic lights near the "Spotted Cow", with the Total "St Leonards Service Station" on the left and Pizza Hut and McDonalds on the right.

Grantham - Boston

From Grantham, which was the A52's [http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/p37377054.html original] eastern end, the road continues as "Bridge End Road" passing the "White Lion", then " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/155383 Somerby Hill] " eastwards, passing the "Shell Somerby Hill Service Station" on the left, rising up the valley of the River Witham to reach the ancient Ermine Street roman road at the B6403/B1176 [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/155394 roundabout] , which it follows for about a half mile. Ermine Street continues as the B6403 northwards at Cold Harbour. Traffic for Skegness may want to take the A153 instead (via the Sleaford bypass), as from Boston - Wainfleet, the traffic slows down. It follows "High Dike", and there is a left turn for Welby and a right turn for Ropsley. There is a crossroads with the left for Oasby. There is a right turn for Braceby, then just before a right turn for Haceby, the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/429545 road] enters North Kesteven. There are turnings for Dembleby and Newton and passes through Scott Willoughby. It meets the A15 at the "Threekingham Bar" [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/360104 roundabout] near Osbournby becoming "Holland Road", and passes through Threekingham and crosses " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/336973 Mareham Lane] " (a Roman road), with the "Holland Road Service Station" on the right, where it re-enters South Kesteven. From here to the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/227522 South-Forty Foot Drain] (about five miles), the road lies on the border of the districts of North Kesteven and South Kesteven. There are crossroads with the B1394 (for Swaton and Horbling), and the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/378874 road] meets the B1177 from nearby Billingborough at Bridge End, becoming " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/378871 Bridge End Causeway] ". At " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/227333 Donington High Bridge] ", it enters the district of South Holland next to the "Sloop Inn". It [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/414843 passes] over the Sleaford-Spalding railway and at Donington there is a roundabout with the A152 (the former name of the A52 east of Grantham). It follows a [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/433103 bypass] to the north becoming " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/437034 Bicker Road] " and there is a left turn for Northorpe. It enters the borough of Boston just before the bypass to the south of Bicker where it meets the B1181 and becomes "Donington Road". It passes the Texaco "Bicker Bar Service Station" on the left at the roundabout with the A17. It meets a roundabout for Swineshead and passes through Drayton, meets the B1391 as "Abbey Lane", then "Drayton Road". At Baythorpe it becomes "Boston Road" and the B1192 joins to the left at Kirton Holme. At the [http://www.poachershotel.co.uk Poachers Hotel] it becomes "Swineshead Road". There are crossroads again with the B1192 (for Hubbert's Bridge to the left) at the " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/62849 Four Crossroads Inn] " at Baker's Bridge. Near Boston, you won't find a straighter or flatter road, as the road follows the New Hammond Beck. It passes Wyberton Fen and meets a roundabout with a Tesco superstore and B&Q on the left at Chain Bridge. The [http://www.hammerandpincersboston.co.uk Hammer & Pincers] pub is on the left just before a roundabout, where the main route follows to the left, and the straight-on direction is for Wyberton. The Alban Retail Park is on the right before it crosses the South Forty Foot Drain and railway at a level crossing, then meets the A1121 from the left at a mini-roundabout close to a Peugeot, Citroën and BMW garage. It enters Boston as " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/62848 Sleaford Road] " along a long straight avenue of trees, passing the "Shell Boston" garage on the right. There are crossroads for "Brothertoft Road" (A1137), which can be used to avoid the busy town centre, then a mini-roundabout with "Carlton Road" becoming "Queen Street". There are crossroads, with Asda to the left, just before a level crossing with the railway near the train station. There is a mini-roundabout with "West Street" to the left near " [http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/14/14835/Eagle/Boston The Eagle] " pub and it becomes "Liquorpond Street". There is a retail park with a McDonalds on the right. There are some crossroads with "King Street", then [http://www.marriottsmazda.co.uk Marriots] Mazda garage on the left before a traffic-light controlled roundabout with the A16 "Spalding Road" (which it overlaps through Boston). Some residents want a [http://www.bostonbypass.org.uk bypass] . An alternative for cars could be to take the B1192/B1184 through Hubbert's Bridge and Sibsey, rejoining at Old Leake.

Boston - Mablethorpe

In Boston, it follows the inner relief road, where it becomes "John Adams Way", which crosses the River Witham (where it is tidal), passing the Esso "John Adams Way Service Station" on the right, close to two speed cameras in either direction and overshadowed by the floodlights of Boston United. There are traffic lights at a roundabout with the A1137/B1183 (for Horncastle), where the inner-relief road ends near the "Red Cow Hotel". Boston Shopping Park is on the left, and the road becomes "Spilsby Road" where it crosses the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/335492 Maud Foster Drain] at Bargate Bridge near Maud Foster Windmill. It passes [http://www.htonline.org.uk Holy Trinity] church on the left, and the " [http://www.bateman.co.uk/tenancy/mill_inn.htm Mill Inn] " which is close to Boston High School. The road has a roundabout with the A16 and becomes "Wainfleet Road". At the "Burton Corner" roundabout, Skegness is signposted in the direction of the A16. It passes the " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/718654 Burton House] " on the right, then passes the "Ball House Inn" at Willoughby Hills. It crosses the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/147457 Hobhole Drain] at Haltoft End where it passes the [http://centre.netlinc.org.uk/freiston Freiston Centre for Environmental Education] and the "Castle Inn". There are right turns for Butterwick and it goes through Benington becoming "Main Road" where it passes [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/119144 All Saints] church and the " [http://www.bateman.co.uk/tenancy/admiral_nelson.htm Admiral Nelson] ", then Leverton where it passes [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/120799 St Helena's] church. Near to Leverton Highgate is the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/406099 Traveller's Rest] cafe, and "Three Horseshoes". It [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/669521 passes] through Old Leake, and meets the B1184 near the [http://www.giles.lincs.sch.uk The Giles School] and passes the " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/256641 Bricklayer's Arms] " and passes near to the "Angel Inn" in Wrangle, then the [http://www.wrangle.lincs.sch.uk primary school] towards Wrangle Lowgate.

The section between Boston and Skegness has had straighter sections since the late 1990s. Just before a bend to the right where it becomes "Holland Lane" then "Main Road", it enters the district of East Lindsey. There are left [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/581296 turns] for Friskney. It then [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/669691 passes] through Friskney Tofts, where it [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/669770 passes] the " [http://www.friskneyvillage.co.uk/files1/barly1.htm Barley Mow] " near [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/669778 Friskey Eaudyke] then [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/669784 Wainfleet Tofts] . It passes near to Wainfleet St Mary (near the home of Batemans Brewery) which is now bypassed, and meets the B1195, then crosses the [http://www.wainfleet.info/town/river.htm Steeping River] and over a level crossing. There is a left turn for Croft and it passes the [http://www.pinetreesholidays.co.uk Pine Trees Leisure Park] . Entering Skegness as "Wainfleet Road", it passes Skegness Retail Park with a Pizza Hut and Skegness Hospital. It meets the B1451 roundabout in the centre of Skegness near a Morrisons (former Safeway) superstore and the train station becoming "Roman Bank". After the junction with the A158 (from Lincoln), it is no longer a trunk road, and passes the Total "North End Service Station" on the right. North of Skegness, it meets Seathorne near the [http://www.seathorne.lincs.sch.uk primary school] , "Garden City" pub, [http://www.skegnesswaterleisurepark.co.uk Skegness Water Leisure Park] , [http://www.butlinsonline.co.uk/index.cfm?channel=2088 Butlins] and [http://www.fantasyisland.co.uk Fantasy Island] . It passes through Ingoldmells and the [http://www.ingoldmells.lincs.sch.uk primary school] as "Skegness Road", heading slightly westwards through Hogsthorpe as "South End" then "High Street". At Mumby, it meets the B1449 as "Station Road" and passes the St Thomas of Canterbury [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/173268 church] and " [http://www.bateman.co.uk/tenancy/red_lion_mumby.htm Red Lion] ", with a left turn for Cumberworth. Passing through Huttoft there is the [http://www.huttoft.lincs.sch.uk primary school] and the " [http://www.axeandcleaverinn.co.uk Axe and Cleaver Inn] " on "Mumby Road" and "Sutton Road". Next is [http://www.suttononsea.info/sandilands Sandilands] and it reaches Sutton-on-Sea as "Huttoft Road", passing the [http://www.sutton.lincs.sch.uk primary school] and meets the A1111 at a [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/528623 roundabout] , becoming "Trusthorpe Road". At Trusthorpe as " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/154985 Sutton Road] ", it passes some radio masts. It reaches Mablethorpe as "Seaholme Road" and ends at the junction of "Victoria Road" and the "High Street" (A1104).

According to the [http://www.theaa.com AA] , Newcastle-under-Lyme to Derby takes 56 minutes, Derby to Boston takes 100 minutes, and Boston to Mablethorpe takes 62 minutes, taking three hours and thirty eight minutes to travel the whole distance.

External links

* [http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/roadlists/f99/52.shtml SABRE page on the A52]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A425927 M1 to Nottingham]