 | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Length | 29.5 mi (47.5 km) |
| History | Construction began 29 April 1929 and finished in 1934 |
| Major junctions | |
| West end | Kirkdale, Liverpool |
 A5058 M57A59  A5207 A5208 A570 A571A58 A49  M6 A573 A572 A579 A574 A577 A575 M61 M60 A5185 A666A6 | |
| East end | Irlams o' th' Height, Salford (A6) |
| Location | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Primary destinations | St Helens, Leigh, Manchester, Liverpool |
| Road network | |
The A580 (officially the Liverpool–East Lancashire Road, colloquially the East Lancs) is the United Kingdom's first purpose-built A road.[1] The road was officially opened by King George V on 18 July 1934. Despite its name, the actual road runs through the modern day metropolitan counties of Merseyside and Greater Manchester which were historically in Lancashire when the road was built until 1974. Notable towns and cities along the route include Liverpool, Kirkby, St. Helens, Leigh, Swinton and Salford. It was described as "Britain's biggest road" at the time.[2]