Kingsway (A34)
Encyclopedia
Kingsway is a major thoroughfare in Greater Manchester
, in the United Kingdom
. Part of the A34
, it is a dual carriageway which runs from Levenshulme
in Manchester to Cheadle
in Stockport. Built in the late 1920s between Levenshulme and Parrs Wood, it was later extended to bypass Cheadle and join onto the M60 motorway. It is approximately 4.7 miles long and is a well-used link road between the city centre and the southern suburbs of Greater Manchester.
and was originally numbered A5079. A dual carriageway
, it was one of the earliest purpose-built roads especially for motor vehicles, though it also contained tram lines which remain today. In 1959, it was extended south across the river Mersey to bypass Cheadle
and later renumbered to A34 in 1967.
, when it curves around to run south-east. It begins in Levenshulme
continuing from Slade Lane, and heads south-west through Fallowfield
, Ladybarn
, Burnage
, and Parrs Wood
where it originally ended. It continues south-west through East Didsbury, until it reaches the motorway, and then it heads south-east through Gatley
and Cheadle
, before it joins to the Handforth
bypass at Cheadle Royal
which was opened in 1995. The junction with the A560 road in Gatley is one of the busiest in Greater Manchester with over 7000 vehicles passing through during the rush hour.
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Part of the A34
A34 road
The A34 is a major road in England. It runs from the A6042 in Salford to Winchester in Hampshire. It forms a large part of the major trunk route from Southampton, via Oxford, to Birmingham, The Potteries and Manchester...
, it is a dual carriageway which runs from Levenshulme
Levenshulme
Levenshulme is an urban area of the City of Manchester, in North West England. It borders Longsight, Gorton, Burnage, Heaton Chapel and Reddish, and is approximately halfway between Stockport and Manchester City Centre on the A6 road. The A6 bisects Levenshulme. The Manchester to London railway...
in Manchester to Cheadle
Cheadle, Greater Manchester
Cheadle is a suburb in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport in Greater Manchester, England. It borders the districts of Cheadle Hulme, Gatley, Heald Green and Cheadle Heath in Stockport, and the East Didsbury area of Manchester. As of 2001 it had a population of 14,261.-Early history:There has...
in Stockport. Built in the late 1920s between Levenshulme and Parrs Wood, it was later extended to bypass Cheadle and join onto the M60 motorway. It is approximately 4.7 miles long and is a well-used link road between the city centre and the southern suburbs of Greater Manchester.
History
It was constructed in stages, from 1928, and completed in 1930. It was built as relief for the congested Wilmslow Road to the west. It was named after King George VGeorge V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and was originally numbered A5079. A dual carriageway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
, it was one of the earliest purpose-built roads especially for motor vehicles, though it also contained tram lines which remain today. In 1959, it was extended south across the river Mersey to bypass Cheadle
Cheadle, Greater Manchester
Cheadle is a suburb in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport in Greater Manchester, England. It borders the districts of Cheadle Hulme, Gatley, Heald Green and Cheadle Heath in Stockport, and the East Didsbury area of Manchester. As of 2001 it had a population of 14,261.-Early history:There has...
and later renumbered to A34 in 1967.
Route
Kingsway runs in a south-westerly direction until the junction with the M60 motorwayM60 motorway
The M60 motorway, or Manchester Orbital, is an orbital motorway circling Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England. It passes through all Greater Manchester's metropolitan boroughs except for Wigan and Bolton...
, when it curves around to run south-east. It begins in Levenshulme
Levenshulme
Levenshulme is an urban area of the City of Manchester, in North West England. It borders Longsight, Gorton, Burnage, Heaton Chapel and Reddish, and is approximately halfway between Stockport and Manchester City Centre on the A6 road. The A6 bisects Levenshulme. The Manchester to London railway...
continuing from Slade Lane, and heads south-west through Fallowfield
Fallowfield
Ladybarn is the part of Fallowfield to the south-east. Chancellors Hotel & Conference Centre is used by the University of Manchester: it was built by Edward Walters for Sir Joseph Whitworth, as were the Firs Botanical Grounds.-Religion:...
, Ladybarn
Ladybarn
Ladybarn is a small suburban area between Withington and Fallowfield in the city of Manchester, centred on Ladybarn Lane. It is now part of Manchester's urban sprawl but some of the village's original cobbled streets remain...
, Burnage
Burnage
Burnage is a neighbourhood of the city of Manchester, England. Historically a part of Lancashire it was included in the county of Greater Manchester in 1974. It is about south of Manchester city centre, bisected by the busy dual carriageway of Kingsway, part of the A34...
, and Parrs Wood
Parrs Wood
Parrs Wood is an area of East Didsbury, in the southern part of the city of Manchester, England. It incorporates part of Wilmslow Road and is home to Parrs Wood High School and Sixth Form Centre, a Tesco supermarket, and Parrs Wood Entertainment Centre. Whilst there are some distinct features to...
where it originally ended. It continues south-west through East Didsbury, until it reaches the motorway, and then it heads south-east through Gatley
Gatley
Gatley is a suburban area of the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, in Greater Manchester, England.-Toponymy:In 1290, Gatley was known as Gateclyve, which in Old English means "a place where goats are kept".-Early history:...
and Cheadle
Cheadle, Greater Manchester
Cheadle is a suburb in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport in Greater Manchester, England. It borders the districts of Cheadle Hulme, Gatley, Heald Green and Cheadle Heath in Stockport, and the East Didsbury area of Manchester. As of 2001 it had a population of 14,261.-Early history:There has...
, before it joins to the Handforth
Handforth
Handforth is a suburban area situated between Wilmslow, Heald Green, and Styal in Cheshire, England. Travelling south from Manchester, Handforth is the first place in Cheshire, although other areas nearer Manchester lie within the historic boundaries of the county.In the 1950s, two overspill...
bypass at Cheadle Royal
Cheadle, Greater Manchester
Cheadle is a suburb in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport in Greater Manchester, England. It borders the districts of Cheadle Hulme, Gatley, Heald Green and Cheadle Heath in Stockport, and the East Didsbury area of Manchester. As of 2001 it had a population of 14,261.-Early history:There has...
which was opened in 1995. The junction with the A560 road in Gatley is one of the busiest in Greater Manchester with over 7000 vehicles passing through during the rush hour.
Places of interest
- Parrs WoodParrs WoodParrs Wood is an area of East Didsbury, in the southern part of the city of Manchester, England. It incorporates part of Wilmslow Road and is home to Parrs Wood High School and Sixth Form Centre, a Tesco supermarket, and Parrs Wood Entertainment Centre. Whilst there are some distinct features to...
Entertainment Centre, built in the early 2000s, is situated in East Didsbury.
See also
- List of notable streets and roads in Manchester