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A roads in Zone 6 of the Great Britain numbering scheme
A roads in Zone 6 of the Great Britain numbering scheme
A roads in Zone 6 of the Great Britain numbering scheme
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The numbering zones for A-roads in Great Britain

List of A roads in zone 6 in Great Britain starting east of the A6 and A7 roads, and west of the A1 (road beginning with 6).

Single- and double-digit roads

[edit]
Road From To Notes
A6 Luton Carlisle Originally London to Carlisle, starting from the A1 at Barnet. The fourth longest numbered route in the UK at 299 miles.
A60 Loughborough Doncaster
A61 Derby Thirsk Runs through Leeds as the eastern flank of Leeds Inner Ring Road. Forms the primary route between Leeds and Harrogate but is superseded to the south by the M1 motorway to Wakefield. Originally went on what is now the A6135 north of Sheffield.
A62 Leeds Manchester Former main Trans Pennine route from Lancashire to Yorkshire, most of the traffic now uses the M62 motorway, which follows roughly the same route between Manchester and Leeds, but extends to Hull and Liverpool
A63 Leeds Kingston upon Hull
A64 Leeds Scarborough Main road from West Yorkshire to the East Coast. Is briefly A64(M) as part of Leeds Inner Ring Road.
A65 Leeds Kendal Trans Pennine route.
A66 Grangetown Workington
A67 Bowes Crathorne
A68 Edinburgh Darlington
A69 Denton Burn Carlisle

Triple-digit roads

[edit]
Road From To Notes
A600 Hitchin Bedford Runs through Shortstown and Cotton End. Originally started in Welwyn, but the section south of Hitchin is now B656, Codicote Road, High Street, and London Road.
A601 Derby Inner Ring Road. See also the A601(M) motorway in Lancashire.

Previously allocated to a road from Luton to near Babraham. Became a portion of the A505 in 1935 when it was extended north to the A11; the section through Hitchin and Baldock is now the B656.

A602 Hitchin Ware
A603 Bedford Cambridge Section from Sandy to New Wimpole (on the A1198) downgraded to B1042.
A604 Unused Used to run from Barton Seagrave to Harwich. Downgraded to sections of the A14, A1307, A143, A1017, A1124, A137, B1352, A120 and A136 by 1998. The original route went from the A6 at Barton Seagrave to the A14 at Huntingdon. Historically, the Godmanchester to Colchester section was the original A132, and the Colchester to Harwich section was the original A135.
A605 A14 J13 Hobbs Lot Bridge, near Guyhirn
A606 Stamford West Bridgford
A607 Leicester Bracebridge Heath
A608 Newstead Derby
A609 Nottingham Belper
A610 Nottingham Ambergate
A611 Nottingham Mansfield
A612 Nottingham Newark-on-Trent Runs via Southwell
A613 Unused Originally ran from Nuthall to Alfreton. The extension of the M1 to J28 and the completion of the A615 Alfreton bypass (now the A38) resulted in a faster route between Nottingham and Alfreton, and this was the final nail in the coffin for the A613. It was downgraded to the B600, probably in the late 1960s or early 1970s (does not show on maps after that).

Later used for the Gateshead Western Bypass from Birtley to Blaydon. Became part of the A69 early on and then the A1 in the 1990s.[citation needed]

Number also appears in the DfT Road lists from around 2002 as "Reserved for use for the Kirkumgate - Disforth proposals". Both place names do not exist with these spellings ("Kirkumgate" is probably an archaic spelling for Kirkhamgate and "Disforth" is a typo). The route is likely a descendant of the Kirkhamgate - Dishforth Motorway, a proposal to extend the M1 north between Leeds and Bradford, which later became the A6183, before being rerouted east of Leeds and becoming the M1 extension north of J43.

A614 Calverton Bridlington
A615 Alfreton Matlock Former section between Alfreton and Mansfield now part of A38
A616 Newark-on-Trent Huddersfield Becomes M1 motorway between Junctions 30 & 35A
A617 Chesterfield Newark-on-Trent
A618 Clowne Rotherham
A619 Bakewell Worksop
A620 Ranby Beckingham
A621 Sheffield Baslow
A622 Unused Originally ran from Bakewell to Hathersage; downgraded to the B6001 in the 1960s, although a section in Calver is the southern end of the A625.

Later used as a provisional number along the Haslingden Bypass in east Lancashire. It was extended to meet the M65 at J8 in 1985 and was then renumbered as part of a rerouted A56.

A623 Chapel-en-le-Frith Baslow
A624 Glossop Chapel-en-le-Frith Prior to rerouting of the A6 via Chapel-en-le-Frith this used to go as far as Buxton
A625 Sheffield Calver Rerouted following collapse of part of the route
A626 Glossop Heaton Chapel
A627 Hazel Grove Rochdale Between Oldham and Rochdale runs as the A627(M).
A628 Hollingworth Pontefract Trans Pennine route.
A629 Rotherham Skipton Runs between Chapeltown and the junction with A61 west of Burncross as B6546. Originally went south via current A61 routing to Sheffield.
A630 Sheffield M18 Junction 4
A631 Greenland Louth
A632 Matlock Cuckney Previously allocated to a road from Rotherham to north of Sheffield; this became part of the rerouted A629 at the same time the current A632 was created. The section between old and current A61 is now the B6546.
A633 Rotherham New Lodge
A634 Maltby A638 near Retford
A635 Manchester Doncaster Trans Pennine route. The westernmost section in Manchester is part of the unsigned A635(M).
A636 Denby Dale Wakefield
A637 Gawber Grange Moor
A638 A1 at Markham Moor M62 Chain Bar junction Formerly the A1 but renumbered after the construction of the A1 Retford bypass (Markham Moor to Blyth) and the A1(M) Doncaster bypass (Blyth to Carcroft)
A639 Skellow Leeds
A640 Rochdale Huddersfield Trans Pennine route.
A641 Huddersfield Bradford Main road between Huddersfield and Bradford.
A642 Huddersfield Garforth
A643 M62 Junction 23 Leeds
A644 Dewsbury Denholme Clough
A645 Crofton Snaith Joins the A638 at Crofton and this continues to Wakefield.
A646 Halifax Burnley
A647 Leeds Halifax Britain's first High Occupancy Vehicle Lane (HOV lane).
A648 Unused Ran from Denholme to Brighouse. Renumbered as an extension of the A644 in 1935.

Next used from Kegworth to West Bridgford, linking the M1 at J24 to Nottingham; a portion of the route was formally the B679. In 1978, the section west of the A614 was renumbered as a portion of a rerouted A453; the section to the east returned to the B679.

A649 Liversedge Hipperholme
A650 Wakefield Keighley
A651 Liversedge East Bierley
A652 Dewsbury Gomersal
A653 Dewsbury Leeds
A654 Tingley Oulton
A655 near Crofton Castleford
A656 Castleford Aberford
A657 Shipley Leeds
A658 Bradford A59 east of Knaresborough
A659 Tadcaster Otley
A660 Leeds Burley in Wharfedale
A661 Wetherby Harrogate
A662 Manchester Droylsden
A663 Failsworth Newhey
A664 Manchester Rochdale
A665 Manchester Ainsworth Junction with A58
A666 Pendlebury Langho
A667 Kearsley Whitefield
A668 Unused Ran from Whitefield to Ainsworth. The section from Whitefield to Radcliffe became an extension of the A665 in the 1960s and the remainder was downgraded to Class II in the early 1970s: the section in Whitefield became the B6473 and the section from Radcliffe to Ainsworth became the B6292.
A669 Middleton Greenfield
A670 Ashton-under-Lyne Diggle
A671 Oldham Worston
A672 Oldham Ripponden
A673 Bolton Heath Charnock
A674 Chorley Blackburn
A675 Bolton Walton-le-Dale
A676 Ramsbottom Bolton
A677 Blackburn Samlesbury
A678 Blackburn Padiham
A679 Blackburn Burnley
A680 Rochdale Whalley
A681 Haslingden Todmorden
A682 Bent Gate Long Preston Part of the road is the most dangerous in the UK[1]
A683 Heysham Kirkby Stephen includes the Bay Gateway opened 2016
A684 Kendal A19 east of Ellerbeck
A685 Kendal Brough
A686 Penrith Haydon Bridge
A687 Ingleton Cantsfield Originally allocated between Scotch Corner and Darlington (the A1 was routed from Boroughbridge to Darlington via Thirsk and Northallerton). But as early as February 1922, it was decided that the A1 should run via Scotch Corner, as its route was more important. Eventually the MOT caved in to local authority knowledge, and the A687 was one of the first A roads to be decommissioned, becoming the A1. Much of route has since been downgraded due to completion of nearby A1(M) and A66(M), and the portion running through Barton was declassified. The section in County Durham is now part of the A66.
A688 Barnard Castle Bowburn
A689 A595 near Carlisle Hartlepool
A690 Crook Sunderland
A691 Consett Durham
A692 Castleside A1 near Gateshead
A693 Leadgate Chester-le-Street
A694 Consett A1 near MetroCentre
A695 Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hexham Part was proposed to be the A695(M) Shields Road Motorway
A696 Otterburn Newcastle-upon-Tyne
A697 Morpeth Oxton
A698 Berwick Hawick
A699 Selkirk Kelso

Four-digit roads (60xx)

[edit]
Road From To Notes
A6000 Unused Ran from the A600 to the A601 (now A505) in Hitchin; decommissioned sometime after 1960. The portion along Bedford Road is now part of the A505.
A6001 Biggleswade Biggleswade Originally ran from Henlow Camp to Biggleswade. The route from Biggleswade to Henlow Camp was downgraded to the B659.[citation needed]
A6002 Stapleford Bulwell Originally ran from Bedford to the A1 near Chawston. Became an extension of the A428 in 1935; the eastern section is now unclassified due to rerouting of the A421 and the western section is now part of the A4280.
A6003 Barton Seagrave Oakham Joins A14 opposite A6
A6004 Loughborough Loughborough railway station Loughborough Ring Road
A6005 Nottingham Derby Runs past the University of Nottingham and through Beeston and Long Eaton
A6006 Hathern Melton Mowbray Originally ran near Castle Donington between the A6 (now A50) and the A453 (now the B6540); declassified in 1970 or 1971.
A6007 Codnor Bramcote
A6008 former Broad Marsh Centre Victoria Centre Nottingham Inner Ring Road
A6009 Mansfield Mansfield Mansfield Inner Circle

Originally ran from Budby to Worksop. Renumbered to B6005 in the 1970s and much of the route became part of the B6034 in the 1980s except for one section that was declassified.

A6010 Chorlton-cum-Hardy Cheetham Manchester Intermediate Ring Road

Originally ran from Stony Middleton to Grindleford Bridge. Downgraded in the 1960s to a portion of the B6521 (the A622 was downgraded at the same time to the B6001).

A6011 Nottingham (Meadow Lane) Gamston Originally ran from Grindleford Bridge to the Fox House Inn. Downgraded in the 1960s to a portion of the B6521 (the A622 was downgraded at the same time to the B6001).
A6012 Unused Was once a road in Bamford, cutting the corner between the A625 (now A6187) from Hope and the A6013. Declassified in the 1970s after the western end was blocked off.
A6013 Ashopton Bamford The original northern end (along with Ashopton itself) was flooded in 1945 when the Ladybower Reservoir was built and was rerouted over the A6014.
Kettering bypass Northampton Road, Kettering Former portion of the A43 before it was rerouted to bypass Kettering. Duplicate number.
A6014 Corby Great Oakley Originally on a route cutting the southeast corner between the A6013 and the A57 east of Ashopton. Became a portion of a rerouted A6013 in 1945 due to completion of the Ladybower Reservoir; the northern end is now gone, submerged beneath the reservoir. Parts of the old road can still be seen, including the spilt from the A6013 leading down towards the reservoir.
A6015 Newtown, New Mills Hayfield
A6016 Simmondley, Glossop Charlestown, Glossop Linking the A57 with the A624. Glossop Town Road.
A6017 Bredbury Ashton-under-Lyne
A6018 Mottram in Longdendale Stalybridge
A6019 Nottingham Nottingham A short stretch of road in Nottingham city centre.

An older routing went from A57 High Street to A616 Bank Street in Sheffield, but was later extended north to A61 when it was rerouted along West Bar. Became part of the A621 by the 1960s and is now unclassified.

A6020 Ashford-in-the-Water A619 near Bakewell Acts as a bypass for Bakewell.

Originally ran along Commercial Street in Sheffield, linking the A57 to the A61. Although the road was still classified in the 1990s, it did not have the A6020 number (it was moved to its current route in the 1930s) and had likely become a spur of the A57. Now unclassified.

A6021 South East Rotherham South West Rotherham Originally used on a route from the A628 Hemsworth Bypass to the A1/A639 junction at Barnsdale Bar, constructed in 2008-2009. The number stems from a typo, as the road was to be the A6201, but the route was mapped and signed as A6021. The signs have since been corrected.
A6022 Mexborough Swinton
A6023 Wath upon Dearne Conisbrough
A6024 A628 at Woodhead Honley
A6025 Brighouse A629 near Elland
A6026 A58 near Sowerby Bridge A629 near Greetland
A6027 Horwich Horwich Originally ran from King Cross to the A629 south of Halifax. Became a portion of the A646 (probably in the 1930s) along with the decommissioning of the A6028.
A6028 Unused Ran from the A640 near Outlane to the A643 in Brighouse; became a portion of the A643 in 1935 when its western end was rerouted.
A6029 Morley Tingley
A6030 A563/A47 at Evington A6 at Stoneygate Relic of former Leicester ring road, now mostly substituted by A563 Outer Ring.

Originally ran from the A642 to the A61 in Wakefield. The section along Marygate is now part of the A650 and the section along Bull Ring is unclassified, although some maps claim that it is also part of the A650.

A6031 Unused Linked the A650 to the A61 in northern Wakefield, was one of the shortest A roads in the 1922 list at around 300 feet; became a portion of the A650 when it was rerouted.
A6032 Castleford Castleford
A6033 Littleborough Haworth
A6034 Steeton Addingham
A6035 Keighley Keighley
A6036 Halifax Bradford
A6037 Shipley Bradford
A6038 Shipley Otley
A6039 Unused Ran from the A65 in Menston to the A659 (now A660) in Otley. Decommissioned when the A660 Otley bypass was built; the section west of the bypass became an extension of the A6038 and the eastern section became a portion of the A659. Number possibly used in Mansfield (appears on a DfT map from c. 2002), but no further information is known. Before Mansfield town center was bypassed, a tangle of A roads was shown on OS maps, and one of these probably had the A6039 number.
A6040 Harrogate Harrogate
A6041 Manchester Salford
A6042 Manchester Manchester Forms the western section of the Manchester & Salford Inner Relief Route
A6043 Ashton-under-Lyne Ashton-under-Lyne Signed westbound as (A627) and eastbound as A6018.
A6044 Pendlebury Heaton Park Takes on the names of Sheepfoot Lane, Scholes Lane, Hilton Lane, Rainsough Brow and finally Agecroft Road, respectively.
A6045 Heywood Heaton Park
A6046 Heywood Middleton
A6047 Heywood Heywood
A6048 Oldham Oldham
A6049 Unused Ran from the A62 to the A627 along George Street in Oldham. The northern end is now gone, with the Town Square shopping center built on top.
A6050 A670 near Mossley A669 near Lydgate
A6051 Greenfield Greenfield Shortest A road in Britain, less than half a mile long
A6052 Uppermill Denshaw
A6053 Kearsley A56 near Bury
A6054 Unused Ran along Marsden Road in Bolton from the A58 and B6203 to the A673. Became a spur of the A673 as a part of the 1935 renumbering, but a photograph from 1937 shows the road as A6054, so the change must have been after 1935.
A6055 Knaresborough Barton, North Yorkshire Originally ran from Knaresborough to Boroughbridge; extended to replace the former A1 between Baldersby Gate and Barton after the A1(M) extension opened.

Originally used for the northern end of Derby Street in Bolton, linking the A579 to the A568 (now A676). Route is now gone due to redevelopment.

A6056 Unused Ran along Crook Street and Orlando Road in Bolton from the A6055 to the A66.
A6057 Unused Ran from the A6056 to the A6058 in Bolton. Now part of the A579.
A6058 Bolton Bolton
A6059 Unused Connected the A666 and A676 in northern Bolton. Downgraded to B6472 in the 1960s.
A6060 Rochdale Rochdale Along Dane Street - From A680 between Spotland Road and Edenfield Road to A58 Junction to The Esplanade and Dane Street
A6061 A675 in Riley Green, Lancashire A674 near Feniscowles, Lancashire
A6062 A674 in Feniscowles, Blackburn A666 in Ewood, Blackburn The A6062 passes through Livesey and is called Livesey Branch Road for its entire length. The road was originally a turnpike road built in 1810 as a branch of the Blackburn & Bolton Trust.[2]
A6063 Preston Deepdale, Preston Originally ran from the A677 along Branch Road to Whalley Road (then the A59) in Mellor Brook. This became part of a rerouted A59 after World War II and the A6063 was reassigned to a portion of bypassed A59 through Myerscough Smithy. Later the route was extended to go around Samlesbury Aerodrome. In the 1960s the A59 and A677 were given their routes back, but the A6063 was declassified instead of being given its original route.
A6064 Unused Ran from Rishton to Harwood Bar. Downgraded to the B6535 in the 1970s.
A6065 Unused First used along Blackburn Road in Accrington from Abbey Street (then A680) to Broadway (then A679). Declassified to remove traffic from the center of Accrington.

Ran as a loop off of the A1 along the former A1 via through Newark-on-Trent Renumbered to the A616, B6325 and B6326 because there was no need for a Class I road through Newark after the bypass opened in 1990.

A6066 A681 in Stacksteads, Lancashire A671 in Britannia, Lancashire Near Bacup
A6067 Unused Ran from the A58 in Littleborough to the A681 near Todmorden along the Rochdale Canal. Became an extension of the A6033 in 1935. Number later used from Annfield Plain to Flint Hill along a former section of A6076. This was downgraded to the B6168 in the 1960s.
A6068 Kildwick, North Yorkshire Hapton, Lancashire Via Padiham, Colne
A6069 Skipton Skipton
A6070 Carnforth Crooklands Includes the route of the former A601(M) motorway following its downgrading.
A6071 Brampton Gretna
A6072 Heighington Bishop Auckland
A6073 Unused Ran from Bishop Auckland to the A68 at High Etherley. Except for the easternmost section (now unclassified), the route is now part of the B6282.
A6074 Unused Ran from Bishop Auckland to the A1 (now A167) at Croxdale. Much of route now A688 (much of it bypassed, however), the section north of Spennymoor is now B6288 and the bypassed sections are now unclassified.
A6075 Sutton in Ashfield Darlton Originally ran from Castleside to Leadgate via Consett. Became a western extension of the A692 in 1935.
A6076 Lanchester Sunniside
A6077 Blackburn M65 at Guide Previously numbered A6177 until 2005, to remove duplication as another A6177 (the current one) exists. Was originally B6232.

Originally ran from A693 in Stanley to A692 in Hobson. Downgraded to Class II status as the B6173.

A6078 Blackburn Blackburn Blackburn Orbital Route

Originally ran from A686 in Crook Hill to A69 in Haydon Bridge (now Shaftoe Street; bridge demolished). Declassified in the 1960s, probably when the current bridge was built.

A6079 Hexham A68 road
A6080 Unused Cut the corner between the A66 and A69 (both now A695) in Corbridge. Now part of the A695.
A6081 Unused Ran from Gateshead to Blaydon (Now Ellison Road, Market Lane, and B6317/Hexham Road; also went east along A1114 and Derwentwater Road before the A184 was built).
A6082 Unused Ran in Gateshead from the A184 to the A695 (now A189; originally went south along First Street and Elysium Street to the A692 before the A184 was built).
A6083 Unused Ran in Gateshead from the A6081 to the A6082 (became part of the A184 when it was built).
A6084 Unused Ran along Mulgrave Terrace from A6125/West Street to A692/Bensham Road in Gateshead. This became part of the A184 as parts were closed off; reused on the old route of the A184 along Askew Road, East Gate, Hawks Road, and Saltmeadow Road.
A6085 Scotswood Bridge Throckley
A6086 Corby Corby Originally ran along Grainger Street West and Grainger Street in Newcastle-upon-Tyne; now unclassified.
A6087 Unused Ran from the A6087 in Belsay to the A1 (now B1337) south of Morpeth. Downgraded to the B6524 in the 1970s.
A6088 Hawick Carter Bar (A68)
A6089 Whiteburn Kelso
A6090 Bonjedward Bonjedward Most likely to be the second shortest "A road" in Great Britain after the A962 in Kirkwall.
A6091 Galashiels Newtown St Boswells Used as the link to the A68, bypassing Melrose
A6092 Unused Ran from the A7 to Melrose Road (former A6091). Downgraded to the B6452 when the A6091 was rerouted, although some maps claim the road is the western end of the B6374.
A6093 Fordel Haddington
A6094 Leadburn Wallyford
A6095 Edinburgh Musselburgh
A6096 Spondon Giltbrook Originally ran from Meadowbank to Joppa, connecting the A1 to itself. Became the A1 in 1935 when it was rerouted; the eastern section is now the A199 when the A1 was rerouted onto the Musselburgh bypass.
A6097 Bingham Warren Hill, near Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire
A6098 Kettering Kettering
A6099 Bolton Halliwell Originally ran along Vicar Lane in Chesterfield, possibly a replacement for the B6046 which paralleled the route to the south. This became a spur of the A619 in 1935.

Four-digit roads (61xx and higher)

[edit]
Road From To Notes
A6100 Ran along London Road in Sheffield, connecting the A621 to itself; was the B6068 until the mid-1920s. The London Road section is now the B6388 and the Wolseley Road section is now part of a rerouted A621.
A6101 Rivelin, Sheffield Hillsborough, Sheffield
A6102 A61 at Greenhill A616 at Deepcar
A6103 Reserved Reserved for Derby, possibly for the southern part of the A61.

The original route went from A62 in Newton Heath via Lightbowne Road to A6104 in Moston; this became part of an extended B6393 by the 1970s.

A6104 Hathershaw Prestwich
A6105 Earlston Berwick-upon-Tweed
A6106 Dalkeith Portobello The section between the A720 and Dalkeith was previously part of the A68 before that road was diverted further east.
A6107 A643 near Brighouse A62 at Bradley
A6108 Scotch Corner Ripon
A6109 Sheffield Rotherham
A6110 Beeston, Leeds Bramley, Leeds Part of the Leeds Outer Ring Road.
A6111 Ran from Wooler to Scremerston; was the B6350 before it was upgraded to Class I status. Downgraded back to Class II status as the B6525.
A6112 Coldstream Grantshouse
A6113 Cut the corner between the A627 and A560 south of Hyde. Now part of a rerouted A627.
A6114 Burnley Reedley
A6115 Ran as a road in Newcastle-upon-Tyne from A191 to A1 (now A194) (former A69 and A184; the A1 went southeast via current A19 and A194 at the time). When the western bypass was built and the A1 was rerouted over it, it became part of the A186 and A184. The original A6115 was in Welwyn from the A600 (High Street; this section of the A600 has since been removed) in Welwyn town centre to the A1 at the Clock Hotel (now Church Street and Roman Street).
A6116 Thrapston Rockingham
A6117 Mansfield Mansfield Woodhouse Originally ran from Leicester Bridge to the A606 and B679. Now part of a rerouted A606.
A6118 Ran from Stibbington to Wansford along an old routing of the A1. Declassified in 2017.[3]
A6119 Beardwood Whitebirk Part of the Blackburn Ring Road.
A6120 A647 M1 J46 Part of the Leeds Outer Ring Road.
A6121 Morcott Bourne
A6123 South East Rotherham North Rotherham
A6124 Musselburgh Fordel
A6125 Ran from Gateshead to Seaton Burn along the former A1. Became the B1307, B1318, and A1 in the early 1990s due to completion of the Newcastle Western Bypass and the subsequent rerouting of the A1 onto the bypass.
A6126 Ran from the A1 across the Swing Bridge to Newcastle upon Tyne; was originally the northern end of the A184 until the rerouting of the A1 put it out of zone. All of route unclassified except the section along Sandhill (now B1600), the northern end of the route around Grey's Monument is now pedestrianized.
A6127 Ran from Chester-le-Street to Blakelaw; became a portion of the A167 after the Newcastle western bypass opened in the 1990s. Current A167(M) originally had the designation of A6127(M).
A6128 Since the A6135 was created in 1930, this road definitely existed, but it is unknown where.
A6129 Welwyn Welwyn
A6130 Lenton Mapperley Park Originally ran along Huntingdon Street and the middle part of Lower Parliament Street in Nottingham; formerly the B681. Now part of the A60.
A6131 Low Snaygill Skipton Bypass
A6132 Ran between the A600 and the A505 along Fishpond and Nightingale roads in Hitchin, bypassing Hitchin town center to the north. Now part of the A505.
A6133 Measborough Dike Pogmoor Originally ran between Sleaford Road in Newark-on-Trent to Beauford Cross; a portion of the route was formerly B689.
A6134 Was part of the Sheffield Inner Ring Road; became part of the A61 in the 1990s.
A6135 M1 J30, near Barlborough M1 J36, near Hoyland Via Sheffield City Centre.

Originally allocated to a road from A629 north of Sheffield northeast to A61; this became part of a rerouted A61, and the road number was reused on the old route of the A61.

A6136 Richmond A1
A6137 Aberlady Haddington
A6138 Since the former A6141 was created in 1930, this road definitely existed, but it is unknown where.
A6139 Sowerby Bridge Sowerby Bridge
A6140 Ashton-under-Lyne Guide Bridge Most of its route is the Ashton-under-Lyne Northern By-Pass.

Originally ran along former A58 in Bolton, linking the A58 to itself. Now the western end of the A676.

A6141 Ran from Letchworth to Baldock. Became the A505 and B197 in the 2000s after Baldock was bypassed.
A6142 Sowerby Bridge Halifax
A6143 Manchester Deansgate
A6144 Lymm Stretford Includes the Carrington Spur, formerly the A6144(M).

Originally used in Bolton, possibly allocated in the 1960s alongside the A6145. Probably short-lived as the number was reused slightly further south in the 1970s.

A6145 Daubhill Fernhill Gate
A6146 Former route in Bolton. It is unknown where it went, but it probably ran alongside the A6145.
A6147 - A6170 Unused
A6171 Ran from the A6127 (former A1) to the A6125 in Gatehead.
A6172 Great Moor Street from A575 to Black Horse Street in Bolton (formerly part of the A579).

The original A6172 went along Roff Avenue, Park Avenue, and Polehill Avenue in Bedford (it is unknown whether this was signed or even numbered).

A6173 - A6174 Unused
A6175 Clay Cross M1
A6176 Ravenscliffe Bolton, Bradford
A6177 Bradford Bradford Also used in 1997 between Blackburn and the A56 at Haslingden Grane when the M65 was completed. Originally the B6232, it returned to that number in 2005 when it was found that the number was a duplicate; the section west of the M65 became the A6077.
A6178 Rotherham Sheffield
A6179 Unused
A6180 Ran between Romiley and Bredbury; originally was the western end of the B6104. It is unknown if the number was ever used as the road still had Class II status in the 1960s but had been upgraded to the A6017 by the 1980s.
A6181 Bradford Bradford
A6182 M18 J3 Doncaster
A6183 Kettering Weekley Kettering northern bypass, formerly a section of the A43.

Originally proposed as an alternative number for the M1 west of Leeds proposal between Kirkhamgate and Dishforth. Dropped in favor of a route from the M1 to the A1 that ran east of Leeds, eventually becoming the M1 extension.

A6184 Heywood Distribution Park M62 J19 Queen Elizabeth Way, opened in November 2022.
A6185 Rishton Accrington
A6186 Durkar Milnthorpe
A6187 A625 Castleton Part of the former route of the A625

Ends to a single track road leading to Chapel-en-le-frith

A6188 Heaton Chapel Shaw Heath Designated 2019; former portions of the A626 and B5465.
A6189 - A6190 Unused
A6191 Mansfield Rainworth A section of old A617, renamed after designation of a new by-pass section using A617, both roads having junctions with the old A617 on Mansfield outskirts and with the old A617 on the outskirts of Rainworth village
A6193 Milnrow Rochdale It is Sir Isaac Newton Way running from A640 roundabout between Elizabethan Way and Newhey Road to A644 (Kingsway)
A6194 Wakefield Eastern Relief Road, also known as Neil Fox Way
A6195 M1 J36 Shafton
A6196 Cutsyke Glasshoughton Glasshoughton Southern Link Road, opened in June 2020.
A6197 - A6199 Unused
A6200 Nottingham Nottingham
A6201 A628 southeast of Hemsworth A1 - A639 intersection at Barnsdale Bar (South of Pontefract) Renumbered from A6021 when it was found the original A6021 in Rotherham still existed.
A6211 Woodthorpe, Arnold Gedling, Carlton
A6400 Listed in the DfT Roads List as "Wakefield, West Yorkshire Between A64 and A642 link road", but as it does not appear on any known maps, the number may have been short-lived or was simply never used. A 2002 Wakefield MDC planning document stated that the route did in fact become Bar Lane, though it was seemingly never classified (and the number not mentioned).
A6464 Lenton Abbey Beeston
A6514 Arnold Wollaton Part of the Nottingham Ring Road, linking the A52 west of the city to the A60 north of the city.
A6520 Trent Bridge Nottingham
A6539 M62 J32 Castleford Asda
A6900 Kettering Kettering

References

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A roads in Zone 6 of the Great Britain numbering scheme

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In the Great Britain road numbering scheme, Zone 6 comprises A roads whose numbers begin with 6, forming a network of major and minor routes that primarily traverse northern England between the radial boundaries of the A6 (from Luton to Carlisle) and the A7 (from Carlisle to Edinburgh). These roads provide essential connectivity across urban centers and rural landscapes in this region, supporting both local travel and longer-distance links toward Scotland. The scheme originated in the early 1920s under the Ministry of Transport, drawing from a 1921 proposal by Colonel Richmond to create a hub-and-spoke system radiating from London, with Zone 6 designated as the northernmost sector in England and Wales to avoid overlap into Scotland. Geographically, Zone 6 extends from southern boundaries near Nottinghamshire, where the A1 and A6 converge, northward through densely populated areas including Manchester in the North West and Leeds and Sheffield in West and South Yorkshire, and into sparser terrains like the Pennines and the Cumbria-Northumberland border, terminating at the English-Scottish frontier. This elongated but narrow zone reflects the radial design, prioritizing clockwise progression from London with numbers increasing by distance from the capital. Numbering within Zone 6 follows a hierarchical pattern: single- and double-digit routes (e.g., A6, A60–A69) serve as primary spokes and cross-country links, while three-digit numbers (A6xx) denote important secondary routes, and four-digit numbers (A60xx) are reserved for lesser or more recent additions. Cross-zone roads adopt the number from their furthest anticlockwise entry point, ensuring consistency. Notable examples include the A6, a historic trunk road from London to Carlisle; the A62 linking Manchester to Leeds across the Pennines; the A63 from Leeds to Hull; the A64 connecting Leeds to Scarborough; the A65 from Leeds to Kendal; and the A66, a key trans-Pennine route from Scotch Corner to Workington. These roads, classified as A-roads by the Department for Transport, form part of the broader network facilitating strategic transport links outside motorways.

Numbering Scheme

General Principles

The Great Britain A road numbering scheme was developed by the Ministry of Transport, with road classifications and numbering completed in 1922 and officially published on 1 April 1923. This system divided the country into nine zones radiating clockwise from two primary hubs—London for zones 1 through 6, and Edinburgh for zones 7 through 9—creating a hub-and-spoke model inspired by earlier French practices. The zones are bounded by the principal single-digit A roads (A1 to A9), which serve as radial spokes from the hubs, ensuring that the numbering facilitates logical navigation and maintenance. The first digit in an A road's number designates its primary zone, determined by the furthest anticlockwise zone the route enters to handle crossings between adjacent areas. Numbering progresses hierarchically: single-digit roads (A1–A9) form the core radials linking hubs to key destinations; double-digit roads (A10–A99) represent major branches and continuations within or from zones; and triple-digit roads (A100+) denote spurs, links, or secondary connections, often allocated in sequence from the hubs outward. Where directional patterns apply, odd numbers are generally assigned to north-south alignments and even numbers to east-west ones, though this convention is more flexible for A roads than for later motorway systems. A roads are classified into primary (Class I) and non-primary (Class II) categories, with single- and double-digit routes typically designated as primary for their role in national connectivity and higher funding priority, while most triple-digit routes fall into the non-primary category for regional or local service. This distinction, formalized in the 1920s under Ministry of Transport guidelines, underscores the scheme's emphasis on prioritizing trunk routes for strategic importance.

Zone 6 Characteristics

Zone 6 of the Great Britain road numbering scheme delineates the northern sector between the A6 radial to the west and the A1 to the east, radiating outward from the London area in a clockwise manner as established in the 1922 Ministry of Transport classifications. This zone geographically spans from southern England, encompassing counties such as Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire where the A6 originates near Luton, and extends northward through the East Midlands—including key areas like Leicester, Derby, and Nottinghamshire—to cover Yorkshire, Lancashire, and further into Cumbria in the northwest and parts of County Durham in the northeast. The configuration reflects the scheme's intent to organize major routes (Class I A roads) by their primary zonal alignment, with numbering prefixed by "6" to indicate this sector. The primary characteristics of Zone 6 roads emphasize connectivity across diverse terrains, linking the densely industrialized heartlands of northern England—such as Manchester, Leeds, and Sheffield—with more rural western regions like the Lake District fringes in Cumbria. These routes facilitate critical transport functions, including access to major ports like Hull via the A63, which support maritime trade and logistics. Cross-Pennine travel is a hallmark, with roads such as the A62 (Oldham to Halifax) and A65 (Leeds to Kendal) providing essential east-west passages over the Pennine hills, historically vital for coal, textiles, and manufacturing goods movement. Notable anomalies in Zone 6 include trans-zonal extensions, exemplified by the A6 continuing northward from Carlisle into Scotland toward Edinburgh, effectively bridging into what would be Zone 7 under Scottish conventions, while adhering to the overall Great Britain framework. The zoning avoids significant overlaps with Zone 5 (west of the A6, covering Cheshire and parts of Wales) and Zone 7 (northern Scotland), though some roads like the A66 exhibit clockwise transgressions into adjacent areas for practical routing. Overall, Zone 6 A roads contribute substantially to the national freight network, underscoring their conceptual importance in sustaining economic flows between industrial cores, ports, and rural peripheries without precise mileage delineation in official aggregates.

History

Establishment in 1922

The Ministry of Transport established a national road classification and numbering system in 1922 to replace the inconsistent name-based identification of routes, enabling better administration, funding allocation, and traffic management amid rising motor vehicle use. This initiative, authorized under the Ministry of Transport Act 1919, categorized roads into Class I (major inter-urban routes, designated A roads) and Class II (secondary routes, designated B roads), with grants provided to local authorities for maintenance based on traffic volume—up to 50% for Class I and 25% for Class II. The system was formalized in the List of Class I and Class II Roads and Numbers, published by His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) on 1 April 1923, which detailed all allocations. The numbering scheme organized Britain into radial zones emanating clockwise from London for England and Wales (with additional zones from Edinburgh for Scotland), ensuring that roads within a zone began with its corresponding digit to reflect geographic sectors and facilitate route identification. Zone 6 was designated for the northwestern sector, covering western radials from London through the Midlands and into northern England, bounded eastward by the A1 and westward by the original A6 alignment. Within this zone, the A6 served as the primary northbound radial, originally routed from Barnet (near London) to Carlisle via Luton, Northampton, Derby, Manchester, Preston, and Lancaster, with an initial length of approximately 300 miles. Secondary single- and double-digit routes, such as the A60–A69, were allocated as branches and cross-connections off the A6, serving local connections in counties like Derbyshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire—for instance, the A60 linking Derby to Nottingham and the A65 running from Leeds to Kendal. The digit progression in Zone 6 followed a logical sequence starting from the main radial (A6), with increasing numbers for branches extending westward and northward, designed to minimize confusion among overlapping routes in the densely networked western counties by tying numbers to zonal geography rather than arbitrary names. Implementation began with the release of Ordnance Survey's half-inch-to-the-mile Ministry of Transport road maps in 1923, which prominently displayed the new A road numbers in red for Class I routes across 75 sheets covering Great Britain. Signage was introduced concurrently on these classified roads, using black-on-white markers for administrative reference, though full navigational use developed gradually in subsequent years.

Developments Post-1922

During World War II, Zone 6 roads faced disruptions from defensive measures, including the erection of temporary roadblocks at strategic points along routes such as the A6 and A61 to impede potential invaders, alongside the nationwide removal of signposts and milestones to confuse enemy navigation. These actions led to localized reroutings and closures, particularly in the Midlands and northern sections, though most were reversed post-war without permanent alterations to the numbering scheme. The construction of motorways from the 1950s to 1970s significantly altered Zone 6 A roads by providing high-capacity parallels, relieving congestion on primary routes. The M1, opened in 1959 and extended northward, diverted long-distance traffic and led to de-trunking of parallel A road segments where volumes dropped substantially. Devolution in the 2000s, through mechanisms like Regional Development Agencies and later combined authorities in England, enabled localized funding for A road upgrades in Zone 6, focusing on the Midlands and Yorkshire. This shifted decision-making toward regional priorities, resulting in targeted improvements to support economic connectivity without central mandates. Key anomalies emerged in road classifications, including the downgrading of the A648 between Kegworth and Nottingham in 1978, where it was renumbered as part of the A453 and B679 following realignments that reduced its strategic role. Policies on primary routes, governed by the Department for Transport's designations, preserved the A6's status as a core network artery despite numerous bypasses, ensuring continued investment in signage and maintenance to maintain its role in national connectivity. Environmental concerns in the 1990s prompted significant reroutings in the Peak District, exemplified by the A625's response to ongoing landslides at Mam Tor. Persistent instability from shale slippage, documented since the 1970s but escalating in the late 20th century, led to the road's permanent closure in 1979 and eventual realignment southward by the early 2000s, with the original path declassified to the A6187 to protect the natural landscape.

Single- and Double-Digit Roads

The A6

The A6 is a primary trunk road in England, extending 299 miles (481 km) from Luton in Bedfordshire to Carlisle in Cumbria. Classified as a Class I road in 1922 under the Ministry of Transport's initial numbering scheme, it originally formed part of the historic London-to-Scotland corridor, serving as the "old main road to the north" before the advent of motorways. The route traverses diverse terrain, including the flatlands of the Midlands, the rugged Pennines, and the scenic Lake District, connecting key urban centers such as Bedford, Leicester, Derby, Manchester, Preston, Lancaster, and Kendal. As the fourth-longest A-road in Great Britain, the A6 holds significant historical and cultural importance in the nation's motoring heritage. In the 1930s, it gained prominence as a revived coaching route, with luxury motor coaches operating along its path, echoing centuries-old stagecoach traditions and fostering a romanticized image of long-distance travel through coaching inns like those in Bedford and Lancaster. The road's designation as part of the London-Inverness trunk road in 1936 underscored its role in national connectivity. The A6 carries moderate traffic volumes, typically in the range of 15,000–25,000 vehicles per day depending on the section. The A6 features several challenging sections that highlight its engineering and operational demands. At its southern terminus near Luton, the road suffers from congestion and safety concerns, exacerbated by the ongoing proposals as of 2025 for a 2.75-mile link road to connect directly to the M1 motorway and alleviate traffic pressures. Urban stretches through Derby and nearby towns involve dense built-up areas with frequent junctions and pedestrian activity, contributing to slower speeds and higher accident risks. Further north, the ascent over Shap Summit in the Pennines presents steep gradients, severe winter weather, and visibility issues, making it one of Britain's most notorious hill climbs for drivers. In the mid-1960s, parts of the A6 underwent partial derestriction, removing built-up area speed limits on rural sections to permit higher national speed limits of 70 mph where safe, aligning with broader motorway-era reforms. Ongoing safety enhancements have focused on vulnerable points; for instance, junction upgrades and pedestrian facilities were implemented in the 2010s along segments in Lancashire and Derbyshire, including signal improvements and cycle crossings to reduce collisions. In 2024, £4.5 million was allocated for further road safety improvements along the A6 between Preston and the M6, including upgraded facilities for cyclists and pedestrians as well as new traffic lights. These efforts continue to address the road's legacy as a vital but demanding artery, now paralleled by motorways like the M1 and M6 for long-haul traffic.

A60–A69

The A60–A69 comprise a group of double-digit primary routes in Zone 6 of the Great Britain road numbering scheme, branching northward from the A6 and facilitating essential cross-regional links through the East Midlands, Yorkshire, and into Cumbria and Northumberland. These roads, classified in the 1922/23 scheme, primarily serve industrial and urban corridors, connecting major population centers while paralleling key motorways in sections. Their paths emphasize east-west and north-south connectivity, supporting freight and commuter traffic in historically industrialized areas. The A60 runs from Loughborough to Doncaster, spanning approximately 59 miles across Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire. Starting at a junction with the A6 in Loughborough town center, it heads north through West Bridgford and over Trent Bridge into Nottingham, then continues via Sherwood and Mansfield to Worksop, before terminating at the A630 in Doncaster. This cross-Midlands route links East Midlands cities like Nottingham (population around 300,000) with South Yorkshire, carrying up to 41,754 vehicles per day on busy sections such as Trent Bridge, though it has lost prominence to routes like the A46 since the mid-20th century. The A61 extends 107 miles from Derby to Thirsk, passing through Sheffield, Leeds, and Wakefield in a densely industrial landscape. It begins at Pentagon Island in Derby along the River Derwent, intersects the M1 at junctions 36 and 7, and traverses urban areas via the Hunslet Distributor and Sheepscar Interchange in Leeds, ending near the A19 bypass at Thirsk. Paralleling the M1 in parts, it connects East Midlands hubs to North Yorkshire, with bypasses like Ripon (opened 1996) addressing congestion in its original 1920s alignment. Spanning 39 miles trans-Pennine from Manchester to Leeds via Oldham and Huddersfield, the A62 serves as a vital historic crossing now overshadowed by the M62. It starts in central Manchester, climbs through the Pennines at Standedge Pass (with snow-prone elevations), and enters Leeds via the city's ring road sections built in the 1960s and 1970s. Once the primary Manchester-Leeds link, its traffic has declined since the M62's completion in the 1970s, shifting it to a quieter role for local and tourist access. The A63 covers 61 miles eastward from Leeds to Hull, providing a crucial port connection through rural and urban Yorkshire. Originating in Hunslet, Leeds, it follows the East Leeds Link Road (opened 2009) and Selby Bypass (2004) to Selby, then proceeds via Howden and the dual-carriageway Clive Sullivan Way (1985) into Hull's Hedon Road near North Sea ferry terminals. This route, evolved from a 19th-century turnpike, integrates with the M62 and supports freight to Hull's ports despite partial motorway replacement. Running 67 miles from Leeds to Scarborough along the Yorkshire coast, the A64 connects urban and seaside destinations via York and Malton. It departs Leeds as a dual carriageway through the city's inner ring (A64(M) section), bypasses Tadcaster (1978) and York (Southern Bypass, 1976), and reaches Scarborough with upgrades like the Seamer bypass (1988). Classified as a unique F99 primary route, it links to the A1(M) and A19, facilitating tourism to coastal resorts while incorporating early 1930s dualling efforts. The A65 stretches about 90 miles from Leeds to Kendal, offering access to the Lake District via the Pennines. Beginning at Leeds city center, it passes Guiseley, Skipton, Settle, and Kirkby Lonsdale (bypassed 1932), ending in Kendal as a gateway to Cumbria's national park. Detrunked in the late 20th century except at endpoints, this trans-Pennine path features varied alignments, including the Settle bypass (1988), and supports regional travel with twisty rural sections. The A66 provides a 110-mile trans-Pennine link from Scotch Corner to Workington, with its core 45-mile section from the A1(M) to the M6 near Penrith paralleling the latter in Cumbria. Starting at Scotch Corner junction 53, it crosses the Pennines via dual carriageways and single-lane passes like Stainmore, reaching Penrith and extending west to Workington via Keswick. Following a Roman road alignment, it carries 25% heavy goods vehicles—over twice the national average for similar routes—and has seen upgrades since the 1970s, though single-carriageway gaps persist. As of 2025, major upgrades under the Northern Trans-Pennine project are underway to dual remaining single-carriageway sections between the M6 and A1(M). The A67 and A68 serve as shorter northern connectors in Zone 6, with the A67 covering 34 miles from Bowes to Crathorne in County Durham. Starting at the A66 near Bowes, it crosses the River Tees at Barnard Castle and passes through Darlington to join the A19, originally a trunk road but downgraded post-1960s as the A66 took precedence. The A68, extending 128 miles from Darlington to near Edinburgh (with Zone 6 portions inland through Northumberland), links to the A69 at Corbridge and features bypasses like Dalkeith (2008), emphasizing rural border connectivity. The A69 runs 54 miles from Carlisle to Denton Burn near Newcastle, playing a key role near the England-Scotland border. It follows the Tyne Valley from Carlisle center through Brampton, Haltwhistle (bypassed 1997), and Hexham (bypassed 1977) to Corbridge, where it meets the A68. Staying south of Hadrian's Wall, this east-west route supports cross-border access without entering Scotland directly and connects to the M6 and A1. These roads share origins in the industrial era, with many 1920s classifications aligning turnpikes and railways for coal and manufacturing transport, particularly in Yorkshire where sections like the A61 and A62 handle elevated heavy goods vehicle traffic due to ongoing freight demands.

Triple-Digit Roads

Midlands Routes

The triple-digit A roads in Zone 6 serving the East and West Midlands primarily function as local connectors, urban bypasses, and rural links between market towns, facilitating commuter traffic and regional travel while complementing major double-digit routes such as the A6 and A52. These roads, numbered in the A600 series, emphasize valley routes and inner-city relief, with much of their traffic dominated by daily commuters in urban areas like Derby and Nottingham. The A600 provides a 18.2-mile non-primary link from Hitchin in Hertfordshire to Bedford in Bedfordshire, serving as a key "red route" for traffic heading northwest from London toward Leicester, Derby, and Manchester, passing through rural Bedfordshire landscapes and supporting local market town access. In Derby, the A601 forms a compact 2.3-mile (3.7 km) inner ring road around the city centre, comprising grade-separated dual carriageways like St Alkmund's Way (opened in the 1970s) and at-grade sections such as Traffic Street, designed to relieve congestion in the urban core by diverting through-traffic from historic streets; it intersects major radials including the A6 and A52, handling significant commuter volumes during peak hours. Nearby, the A602 connects Hitchin to Ware over approximately 15 miles in Hertfordshire, acting as a Hertfordshire connector that bypasses southern Hitchin and passes through Stevenage, primarily serving as a primary route for local and regional traffic linking to the A10. Further east, the A603 runs 29.9 miles from Bedford to Cambridge, traversing the Ivel Valley and split into two segments by the B1042 near Shefford, offering a non-primary alternative to faster routes like the A421 and A428 while connecting rural communities and supporting agricultural and commuter links in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The A605, spanning about 20 miles through the Ouse Valley from Bedfordshire into Northamptonshire before extending further, functions as a single-carriageway primary route along the River Nene, bypassing towns like Oundle (via a 1985 relief road) and facilitating north-south movement for local traffic, with upgrades emphasizing flood resilience and commuter flow in the valley corridor. In the Nottingham-Derby area, radials like the A606 provide a 38.4-mile cross-country primary route from Stamford through Grantham to Nottingham (via West Bridgford), following parts of the old Great North Road and serving rural market towns in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire with scenic, village-oriented travel that contrasts faster motorways. The A607 extends 56.2 miles from Leicester to Lincoln along the edge of the Fens, initially tracing the Roman Fosse Way before turning northeast through Melton Mowbray and Grantham, acting as a slower, more direct alternative to the A46 for regional connectivity and including dual-carriageway sections upgraded in the 1980s and 2020s to handle growing commuter and HGV traffic. Local radials in the Derby-Nottingham corridor include the A608, a 15.7-mile medium-length A-road from north of Derby (at the A61) through Heanor to Annesley (meeting the A611), crossing the M1 at junction 27 and supporting industrial access in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire with primarily single-carriageway alignment for urban-rural links. The A609 runs 17.1 miles from Nottingham to Belper, serving as a radial connector through Amber Valley and emphasizing commuter routes between urban Nottingham and Derbyshire towns. Similarly, the A617 links Chesterfield to Newark-on-Trent over 25 miles (part of its full 34-mile extent), providing a vital east-west corridor through Mansfield and the Dukeries, with dual-carriageway upgrades since the 1970s to accommodate heavy commuter dominance and freight from the M1. Overall, these routes prioritize urban relief roads and valley connections, underscoring their role in alleviating pressure on primary networks like the A6.

Northern Routes

The northern routes in Zone 6 comprise a network of triple-digit A roads that extend from South Yorkshire northward through the rugged landscapes of North Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cumbria, reaching the Anglo-Scottish border. These roads, designated with numbers from A618 to A699, provide essential connectivity across the Pennines and border regions, often confronting steep gradients, high elevations, and exposure to severe weather that challenge maintenance and reliability. Unlike the more urban-focused midlands routes, these northern paths emphasize trans-Pennine crossings and rural linkages, supporting trade, tourism, and local access while occasionally referencing southern connections via the A6 for broader context. As of 2025, enhancements under the Road Investment Strategy 2 (2020-2025) include drainage improvements and elevated alignments on flood-affected routes in Cumbria and North Yorkshire to mitigate disruptions from events like Storm Desmond in 2015. In South Yorkshire, the A618 to A630 series forms a cluster of routes integrating industrial and semi-rural areas around Rotherham, Sheffield, and Doncaster. The A619, spanning approximately 25 miles from the Sheffield vicinity through Chesterfield to Worksop, serves as a key east-west corridor linking urban centers to the Nottinghamshire border and the Peak District fringes, with alignments that include grade-separated junctions for improved flow. Similarly, the A630 covers about 16 miles from Sheffield city center to Doncaster via Rotherham, functioning as a primary distributor that was widened to dual carriageway standards in a £46 million project completed in 2022 to enhance capacity and reduce congestion between the M1 and M18 motorways. These roads collectively manage high traffic volumes in a densely populated region, with ongoing resurfacing and safety enhancements addressing wear from freight and commuter use. Further north, the A631 to A699 range traverses North Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cumbria, navigating diverse terrain from the Yorkshire Dales to the Eden Valley and beyond. The A684, extending 67.1 miles from Kendal in Cumbria to Osmotherley near Northallerton in North Yorkshire, offers a scenic alternative to motorways, passing through Sedbergh and Leyburn while incorporating reroutings since 1935 for flatter alignments amid hilly landscapes. In Cumbria, the A686 covers approximately 21 miles from Penrith to Alston, renowned for its ascent over Hartside Pass at 1,904 feet elevation, providing a vital link across the North Pennines with recent carriageway repairs to maintain structural integrity without full closures. The A697, spanning about 35 miles from Morpeth in Northumberland to Coldstream on the border, serves as a rural parallel to the A1, crossing the Cheviot Hills and supporting cross-border movement through largely undeveloped areas. Additionally, the A683 connects Heysham to Kirkby Lonsdale over 20 miles, incorporating the 2016 Bay Gateway upgrade—a 3-mile dual carriageway extension to the M6 Junction 34 that improved port access and reduced journey times by integrating with the existing trunk route. Key features of these northern routes include formidable cross-Pennine challenges, exemplified by the A628's Woodhead Pass section, which spans 20 miles at elevations up to 1,486 feet, exposing it to frequent winter closures due to snow and winds while linking Greater Manchester to South Yorkshire as a critical freight artery. Border trade roles are prominent, particularly along the A68's Zone 6 segment from near Darlington northward to the Scottish border, facilitating commerce through the Scottish Borders with its inland path avoiding coastal vulnerabilities. In Cumbria, post-2015 flooding events like Storm Desmond prompted resilience enhancements to the road network in the 2020s, including drainage improvements and elevated alignments on affected A roads to mitigate future disruptions under the Road Investment Strategy 2 framework.

Four-Digit Roads 60xx

6000–6049 Series

The 6000–6049 series within Zone 6 of the Great Britain A-road numbering scheme consists of predominantly short urban and semi-urban routes, serving as local distributors, ring roads, and connectors in the northern Midlands, Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and Greater Manchester areas. These roads, established largely under the 1922 classification system with subsequent extensions and renumberings, facilitate intra-city and inter-town travel, often linking to primary routes such as the A6 while avoiding longer rural traversals. They reflect the scheme's allocation of four-digit numbers to less strategic, localized paths radiating from zonal hubs like Derby, Nottingham, and Manchester, with many featuring single- or dual-carriageway sections amid built-up environments. Roads in the A6000–A6009 range are concentrated in Nottinghamshire, providing essential urban links and bypasses. For instance, the A6005 extends 13.7 miles (22 km) from the A6008 near Nottingham's Broad Marsh Centre westward through Beeston, Long Eaton, and Breaston to the A5111 south of Derby, crossing the M1 motorway and serving residential and industrial zones with a mix of single four-lane and dual two-lane configurations. Similarly, the A6008 forms Nottingham's inner ring road, a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) circuit encompassing Maid Marian Way and Shakespeare Street, designed in the 1960s to encircle the city centre and connect radial routes like the A60 and A610, though altered by one-way systems and declassifications post-2005. These routes originated in the 1922 scheme but were extended in the mid-20th century to accommodate growing suburban traffic. The A6010–A6019 series shifts focus to the Manchester periphery and Derbyshire, emphasizing compact connectors in post-industrial landscapes. The A6011 operates as a short urban distributor in Nottingham's outskirts, running along Meadow Lane from the A60 north of Trent Bridge to the A612 roundabout, with a spur via County Road past Nottingham County Football Club, totaling approximately 1 mile and supporting local access amid high-density housing. Further north, the A6015 links New Mills to Hayfield over 3.3 miles (5.3 km), starting at the A6 junction and proceeding via Albion Road and Birch Vale, crossing the River Goyt viaduct and multiple railways before terminating at the A624; this unchanged 1922 route aids valley communities with a 30 mph limit in Hayfield. These paths typically feature narrow alignments and signal-controlled junctions, reflecting their role in linking former textile and mining districts. Extending into the Peak District and South Yorkshire, the A6020–A6029 roads include hill passes and east-west urban links. The A6021 provides a 2.4-mile (3.9 km) east-west route in Rotherham, from the A631 in Brecks along Wickersley Road and Broom Road to the A630, passing Clifton Park and integrating with local roundabouts to bypass town centre congestion. The A6024, a more challenging 10.1-mile (16.3 km) traverse from the A628 at Woodhead Reservoir to the A616 near Honley via Holmfirth, climbs the Pennines over Holme Moss summit at 524 m with gradients up to 11%, equipped with snow poles for frequent winter closures and serving remote moorland communities. Historical rerouting near streams has improved safety on this former turnpike alignment. The A6030–A6049 grouping covers West Yorkshire to Greater Manchester, with routes acting as vital cross-valley arteries. The A6036 connects Halifax to Bradford over 5 miles (8 km), from the A58 at Stump Cross through Shelf and Northowram to the M606 at Staithgate, functioning as a primary link with sharp junctions and extensions from the 1970s along former B-roads. In the Manchester-Salford conurbation, the A6041 spans just 0.6 miles (1 km) from the A5066 on Blackfriars Road to the A6 via Chapel Street, a compact urban connector shifted westward in the 1960s to accommodate ring road developments and now confined to Salford under local authority management. These roads often incorporate viaducts and roundabouts to navigate dense urban fabrics. Collectively, the 6000–6049 series exemplifies inner-city and fringe distributors, with most roads under 5 miles in length on average, characterized by high congestion in legacy industrial areas, 30–40 mph limits, and frequent intersections with motorways or B-roads; they prioritize local mobility over long-haul efficiency, as per Department for Transport classifications for non-primary A-roads.

6050–6099 Series

The 6050–6099 series of A roads primarily serves as short local connectors and extensions in northern England, particularly in areas spanning from Saddleworth in Greater Manchester to Lancashire, facilitating suburban and post-industrial traffic relief. These routes emerged largely in the mid-20th century to link principal roads amid urban expansion and deindustrialization in the Pennines and surrounding valleys, where declining textile and manufacturing sectors prompted infrastructure adaptations for lighter vehicular loads. Unlike longer radials in lower series, these four-digit roads emphasize compact bypasses and spurs, often under 5 miles, supporting residential access and reducing congestion on main A6 and A7 corridors. The A6050–A6059 subgroup connects rural moorland edges in Saddleworth to urban fringes in Lancashire, providing essential links across the Tame Valley and beyond. For instance, the A6050 cuts a short corner over the moors east of Oldham, starting from the A669 near Lydgate and ending at the A670 near Quick, spanning approximately 2 miles through Saddleworth parish to ease cross-Pennine travel. Further west, the A6058 operates as a brief urban connector in Bolton, running 1.2 miles from the A666/A579 junction along Lower Bridgeman Place and Bradford Street to the A673, aiding town center circulation in a post-industrial setting where former mill districts required updated access. A standout example is the A6051 in Greenfield, which parallels the A670, River Tame, and Huddersfield Narrow Canal for just 0.3 miles between the A669 and A670, due to its constrained valley terrain and minimal development needs. Shifting eastward to the A6060–A6069, these roads focus on inner urban relief in mill towns from Rochdale to Blackburn, addressing traffic from deindustrialized cores. The A6060 forms a 0.7-mile loop around Rochdale's western town center edge, linking the A58 at Broadfield Park to Mellor Street and Spotland Road, functioning as a local distributor to bypass congested historic routes. In Accrington, the A6068 provides a 1-mile spur connecting the A56 to local networks near the M65, supporting short-haul access in a former cotton-weaving hub where road upgrades mitigated legacy industrial congestion. Similarly, the A6063 in Preston exemplifies 1980s ring road completions, evolving from the former B6241 along Deepdale Road into a 0.9-mile segment of the inner ringway from the A59 to the A5085 at Blackpool Road, completed to alleviate central traffic pressures during economic restructuring. Several numbers in this series remain unused or downgraded, reflecting shifts away from obsolete industrial links. The A6012, once a minor connector in the Bamford area from the A625 (now A6187) via Mytham Bridge to the A6013, has been declassified and is no longer an active A road. Overall, these roads underscore adaptive functions in suburban environments shaped by deindustrialization. Their brevity and focus on relief distinguish them from broader southern 60xx precursors, prioritizing resilience in northern locales.

Four-Digit Roads 61xx and Higher

6100–6199 Series

The 6100–6199 series encompasses a collection of short, primarily urban A roads in Zone 6, serving as local connectors, ring road segments, and spurs in Nottinghamshire, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire. These routes, typically averaging around 3 miles in length, were largely established or upgraded during the late 20th century to enhance intra-city traffic flow and support economic regeneration in post-industrial areas. Unlike the longer foundational 60xx series roads that provide broader regional links, the 61xx roads focus on alleviating congestion in densely populated centers through targeted infrastructure. In the A6100–A6129 range, routes are concentrated in Nottinghamshire and West Yorkshire, often functioning as components of outer ring roads. The A6110, a 5-mile dual carriageway segment of the Leeds Outer Ring Road, extends from the White Rose Shopping Centre junction with the A653 in Beeston to Bramley, where it meets the A647 Stanningley Bypass; it was developed in the 1960s as part of Leeds' orbital network and has seen ongoing enhancements for bus priority and pedestrian access. Similarly, the A6120 covers approximately 8 miles along the northern arc of the Leeds Outer Ring Road from Calverley to Oakwood, bypassing central Leeds since its construction in the 1960s, with recent 2020s upgrades adding cycleways and footpaths to promote sustainable urban mobility. The A6130, a 2.26-mile urban link in Nottingham, forms part of the city's inner ring road system, connecting key districts like Radford Boulevard to Huntingdon Street for efficient local distribution. The A6130–A6149 subgroup extends into West and South Yorkshire, emphasizing compact inner-city connections. For instance, the A6135 spans about 1 mile in its core urban section near Sheffield, serving as a radial route from the city center toward Barnsley; it underwent minor safety realignments in the 2010s, including junction improvements at Birdwell Roundabout to reduce accident risks on this high-traffic corridor. Further north, the A6150–A6199 series includes extensions supporting regional urban links, such as the A6177 Bradford Outer Ring Road, an approximately 9.5-mile (15.3 km) single-carriageway loop encircling the city, mostly upgraded from existing paths in the 1970s with 2010s junction enhancements at Thornton Road to boost safety and traffic efficiency amid regeneration efforts. The A6195, known as the Dearne Valley Parkway, is a 10.7-mile (17.2 km) link from near M1 Junction 36 at Tankersley to Shafton, meeting the A635, constructed in the late 1990s as a key element of the Dearne Valley urban regeneration initiative to improve access and stimulate economic recovery in former mining communities. These roads incorporate pedestrian-friendly features like widened sidewalks and cycle lanes, reflecting a shift toward inclusive city-center designs that prioritize non-motorized transport alongside vehicular needs.

6200 Series and Recent Additions

The 6200 series of A roads in Zone 6 represents a sparse collection of short, local routes primarily in northern and midland England, with significant numbering gaps reflecting limited development needs in these areas compared to lower-numbered series. For instance, the A6200 in Nottingham follows a 1.38-mile segment of the former A52 alignment through the city, serving urban traffic from Derby Road to the city center and incorporating safety enhancements under the Safer Roads Fund to address high collision risks. Similarly, the A6201 provides a 4.8-mile (7.7 km) connection southeast of Hemsworth in West Yorkshire, linking the A628 to the A1 and A639 to support local freight movement without extensive regional impact. These routes exemplify the series' focus on targeted urban and rural connectors rather than major corridors, with many numbers like A6202–A6209 and A6220–A6299 remaining unassigned due to historical underutilization in the zone. Recent infrastructure additions in the higher 61xx and 62xx ranges have addressed modern congestion and development pressures, particularly in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. The A6196, known as the Glasshoughton Southern Link Road, opened on 29 June 2020 as a 1.4-mile single-carriageway route in Castleford, West Yorkshire, connecting Cutsyke Road (A639) to Colorado Way and improving access for industrial estates and new housing while reducing traffic on the A638. Funded by Wakefield Council at £6 million, the road incorporates sustainable features such as bee-friendly planting, a created wetland for biodiversity, and dedicated footways and cycle paths to lower carbon emissions and promote active travel in the area. In Nottinghamshire, the A6211 Gedling Access Road, opened to all traffic on 22 March 2022, spans 2.4 miles from the B684 Mapperley Plains to the A612 Trent Valley Road, bypassing Gedling village to alleviate chronic congestion and enable redevelopment of the former colliery site for up to 3,000 homes and employment opportunities. Costing £49 million and delivered by Nottinghamshire County Council, the route includes environmental weight restrictions for heavy goods vehicles to protect local amenities and supports sustainable growth through enhanced connectivity and reduced journey times estimated at £73 million in benefits. These post-2020 openings highlight a shift toward short, purpose-built roads that prioritize congestion relief at urban hotspots. Overall, the 6200 series and recent additions emphasize sustainability in northern England's evolving road network, with designs incorporating low-emission corridors, green infrastructure, and integration with public transport to align with national goals under the Road Investment Strategy 2020–2025. Ongoing projects like the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine upgrade in Cumbria and North Yorkshire could influence future 62xx classifications for ancillary links, though no new designations have been confirmed as of November 2025.

References

  1. https://www.roads.org.uk/articles/road-numbers/numbers-and-b-roads
  2. https://www.roads.org.uk/articles/road-numbers/how-it-happened
  3. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-road-classification-and-the-primary-route-network/guidance-on-road-classification-and-the-primary-route-network
  4. https://www.rchs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/2-2-Road-numbering.pdf
  5. https://archive.roads.org.uk/index.php/Memorandum_on_Route_Numbering
  6. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a82d343e5274a2e87dc32c1/South_Pennines_Final.pdf
  7. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/road-lengths-in-great-britain-2024/road-lengths-in-great-britain-2024
  8. https://maps.nls.uk/os/half-inch-mot-roads/info.html
  9. https://www.racfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/roads-and-reality-bayliss-highways-development-070308-background-paper-1.pdf
  10. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/1922_Road_Lists
  11. https://euclid.colorado.edu/~rmg/roads/numbering.html
  12. https://www.roads.org.uk/blog/100-years-road-numbers
  13. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6
  14. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/1922_Road_Lists/Zone_6_Class_I
  15. https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-nation-at-a-standstill-shutdown-in-the-second-world-war
  16. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A648_%28Kegworth_-_Nottingham%29
  17. https://www.roads.org.uk/blog/road-slid-away
  18. https://www.bgs.ac.uk/case-studies/mam-tor-derbyshire-landslide-case-study/
  19. https://www.geograph.org.uk/snippet/8037
  20. https://burnagelocalhistorychampions.home.blog/2021/04/22/lockdown-diary-19-way-markers-and-coaching-inns-an-a6-story-part-ii/
  21. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-327-million-for-new-link-road-in-central-bedfordshire
  22. https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/333/m1_to_a6_link_road
  23. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6/route
  24. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6/history
  25. https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/45m-road-safety-improvements-a6-30140436
  26. https://www.highpeak.gov.uk/media/1620/MQ3-A6_Corridor-Study-Final-Report-2014/pdf/MQ3_A6_Corridor_Study_Final_Report_2014.pdf
  27. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A60
  28. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A61
  29. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A62
  30. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A63
  31. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A64
  32. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A65
  33. https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/a66-northern-trans-pennine/the-route-in-detail/
  34. https://www.transportforthenorth.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Northern-Trans-Pennine-Routes-Strategic-Study.pdf
  35. https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/a66-northern-trans-pennine/
  36. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A67
  37. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A68
  38. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A69
  39. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/Category:A600-A699
  40. https://roadtraffic.dft.gov.uk/regions/2
  41. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A600
  42. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A601
  43. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A602
  44. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A603
  45. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A605
  46. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A606
  47. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A607
  48. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A608
  49. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A617
  50. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/Zone_6
  51. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ffb39808fa8f56405c5f5bf/road-investment-strategy-2-2020-2025.pdf
  52. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A619
  53. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A630
  54. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A684
  55. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A686
  56. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A697
  57. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A683
  58. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A628
  59. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/Numbering_principles
  60. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6005
  61. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6008
  62. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6011
  63. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6015
  64. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6021
  65. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6024
  66. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6036
  67. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6041
  68. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6050
  69. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6058
  70. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6051
  71. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6060
  72. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6068
  73. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6063
  74. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6110
  75. https://www.streetlist.co.uk/highways/a6130
  76. https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/projects/transport-projects/west-yorkshire-plus-transport-fund/road-and-highway-improvements/
  77. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6120
  78. https://www.leeds.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/road-improvement-schemes/outer-ring-road-improvements
  79. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6130
  80. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6135
  81. https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/media/twhk5sqv/infrastructure-delivery-plan.pdf
  82. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6177
  83. https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/our-projects/bradford-a6177-outer-ring-road/
  84. https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/media/18037/primary-gritting-routes.pdf
  85. https://www.streetlist.co.uk/highways/a6200
  86. https://harworthgroup.com/2020/06/30/new-link-road-opens-in-castleford/
  87. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6196
  88. https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/environment/new-castleford-link-road-built-to-bring-jobs-housing-and-better-air-quality-to-the-district-is-open-2900411
  89. https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/live-updates-gedling-access-road-6841607
  90. https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A6211
  91. https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/newsroom/news/colliery-way-to-officially-open
  92. https://nationalhighways.co.uk/media/0gcnefrm/nh-environmental-sustainability-strategy_final_020523.pdf
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