View source for Switch Island

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox road junction
|country=  	GBR
|road_type= M
|name= 		Switch Island
|maint= [[National Highways]]
|image= 	File:Switch Island, Merseyside (5).JPG
|image_caption=	Dunnings Bridge Road looking towards Ormskirk and showing the characteristic flat and isolated landscape
|location= 	[[Sefton, Merseyside|Sefton]], [[Merseyside]]
|coord= 	{{coord|53.4936|N|2.9527|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|roads= {{plainlist|
*{{jct|country=GBR|M|57}}
*{{jct|country=GBR|M|58}}
*{{jct|country=GBR|A|59}}
*{{jct|country=GBR|A|5036}}
*{{jct|country=GBR|A|5758}}
}}
|type= 		
|const= 
|contractor=
|opened= 	{{plainlist|
* 1930s (small roundabout)
* 2010s (current formation)
  }}
|height= 
|mapframe-zoom=15
}}
{{Image frame
| align=right
| width=240
| innerstyle=font-size: 92%; background:#F8F8F8;
| content={{Location map
  | Merseyside#United Kingdom motorways
  | lat=53.4936
  | long=-2.9527
  | caption = Location in [[Merseyside]]##Location in UK motorway network
  | label = Switch Island 
  | position = left
  | border = infobox
  }}
}}

'''Switch Island''' is a major road junction near [[Aintree]] in [[Merseyside]], England, in the [[Metropolitan Borough of Sefton]].  The junction is at the western terminus of both the [[M57 motorway|M57]] and [[M58 motorway]]s, which converge on the [[A59 road|A59]] [[trunk road]], the north-south route from [[Liverpool]].  The junction is also the terminus of the [[A5036 road|A5036]], a road which serves the [[Port of Liverpool]], and the [[A5758 road|A5758]] which serves as a bypass for the village of [[Thornton, Sefton|Thornton]].

For the period between the 1930s and mid 1970s, the island was a simple roundabout formation until the arrival of the motorways.  The junction was significantly expanded in 1980 and was initially planned to be an interim layout, however subsequent additions and amendments throughout the years, separate to the original intentions, has transformed it from the original roundabout design and then-envisaged [[Grade separation|grade separated]] junction.

The junction carries up to 100,000 vehicles a day with continued improvements being a priority for [[National Highways]]. The through route of the dual carriageway is not the A59 south to the A59 north, but from the A5036 south to the A59 north, effectively resulting in two motorways and the port road feeding onto the A59 through route. Switch Island has been described as one of England’s busiest motorway junctions<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-42946503|title=LED road studs stop drivers 'drifting'|date=2018-02-05|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-11-25|language=en-GB}}</ref> and is prone to traffic collisions due to its extensive utilisation and inadequate layout.<ref name="echo_unsafe_may16"/>

==History==
===Original formation===
[[File:Switch Island Roundabout.png|right|thumb|The first roundabout layout, linking the A59 road to what was then the A567 road]]
The junction originates from the construction of Dunnings Bridge Road during the 1930s,<ref name="oldmap_1937">{{cite web |url=https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/337500/402500/12/101328 |title=Old Maps - Lancashire 1937 |publisher=Old-Maps.co.uk |access-date=2 January 2017}}</ref> linking what is now known as the A59 to the A5036 (then known as the A567 road).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sidebyside.cfm#zoom=16&lat=53.4906&lon=-2.9516&layers=171&right=BingSat |title=Georeferenced maps viewer - Switch Island early 1900s |publisher=National Library of Scotland |access-date=2017-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sidebyside.cfm#zoom=16&lat=53.4906&lon=-2.9516&layers=12&right=BingSat |title=Georeferenced maps viewer - Switch Island 1945-1947|publisher=National Library of Scotland |access-date=2017-01-01}}</ref>  Starting as a simple [[t-junction]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16.0&lat=53.49160&lon=-2.95368&layers=12&right=GoogleSatHyb |title=Georeferenced map viewer - Dunnings Bridge Road/A59 Junction |publisher=National Library of Scotland |access-date=17 February 2025}}</ref> a roundabout appeared on maps from the late 1930s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/101103500 |title=Ordnance Survey map, Lancashire Sheet, Ormskirk edition 1938, six-inch |publisher=National Library of Scotland |access-date=17 February 2025}}</ref> The [[etymology]] of the name "switch island" is uncertain, although references to the new "switch road" linking Maghull to northern Liverpool appeared in 1938 upon the link road's opening.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo/165910075/ |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |title=New Highway opened to-day |page=9 |date=19 July 1938}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-daily-post/165909889/ |newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post |title=Road Traffic Act 1934: Pedestrian Crossings |page=1 |date=27 June 1938}}</ref> The earliest media references to "switch island" can be dated to the mid-1950s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-daily-post-merseyside-ed/165909586/ |newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post |title=Plan to make old railway a road is rejected |page=6 |date=27 December 1956}}</ref>

The junction remained unchanged until construction of the M57 motorway in 1974,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16.0&lat=53.49333&lon=-2.95284&layers=271&right=GoogleSatHyb |title=Georeferenced map viewer - Switch Island, 1974 |publisher=National Library of Scotland |access-date=17 February 2025}}</ref> when the original island fell out of use as the layout around it changed to accommodate motorway junction roads.  A road map from 1975 shows the original island alongside new roads to the east connecting the motorway.<ref name="oldmap_1967-76">{{cite web |url=https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/337500/402500/13/100765 |title=Old Maps - Lancashire 1967-1976 |publisher=Old-Maps.co.uk |access-date=2 January 2017}}</ref>

===Motorway junctions===
[[File:Switch Island Junction with M57.png|left|thumb|Switch Island with the then-new M57 connected]]
During phase 2 of the M57 construction in the mid 1970s, the motorway was routed to terminate at the junction, which involved constructing a new link road for the entry and exit sliproads, with the original roundabout becoming largely redundant.  The new road connecting the M57 motorway would later become the eastern section of the future island roundabout.

The previous two-way traffic road changed to a northbound route only, with southbound traffic now using the new motorway link road, connecting up to the A59 road at what was the former roundabout.

[[File:Switch Island Junction with M58.png|right|thumb|Switch Island after M58 motorway construction]]
Subsequent to the M58 motorway being constructed and also linked to the junction, the western half of the island was constructed thus completing a roundabout island that was entirely separate to what had been originally constructed prior to the motorways.  The plans for the two motorways involved them converging at this junction then continuing west, whilst the A59 continued uninterrupted under (or over) the island in a [[grade separation]] arrangement, with slip roads to and from the junction.  These plans never saw fruition and instead all roads converge at a single flat level [[Intersection_(road)|intersection junction]].

Aside from various improvement works over the years, the configuration of the island from 1980 onwards has changed little, with the exception of considerably more traffic utilising the junction and additional roads being constructed within and to the junction.

===Junction improvements===
The junction underwent a minor redesign in 2006 when new section of carriageway was built at the M57 terminus, allowing motorists to directly transfer onto either the A5036 or A59 roads.<ref name="2005_improvements"/> The primary objective was to ensure the junction could withstand the predicted increase in road traffic for the next decade and help improve the flow of an estimated 43,000 vehicles daily.<ref name="2005_improvements">{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/local-news/5m-switch-island-project-underway-3527369 |title=£5m Switch Island project underway |publisher=Liverpool Echo |date=8 September 2005 |access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>  At this time, the island was handling up to 80,000 vehicles every day, of which 10% were [[heavy goods vehicle]]s and resulting in extensive traffic queues leading to increased risks of traffic accidents.<ref name="2004report_2006improvements">{{cite report |url=http://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/moderngov/Data/Sefton%20East%20Parishes%20Area%20Committee/20040520/Agenda/Appendix%2007.pdf |title=Switch Island Junction Improvements, Improved Pedestrian Facilities |publisher=Sefton Council |date=20 May 2004 |access-date=17 January 2017}}</ref> The roadworks completed in Spring 2006, resulting in a revised junction layout and removing the roundabout configuration. A short stretch of the original roundabout remained in existence to be utilised as an inspection area and [[weighbridge]], operated by the [[VOSA|Vehicle Inspectorate]]; this was reconstructed following construction of the new [[A5758 road|Thornton to Switch island link road]] which has carriageway in some parts of the old roundabout.

In September 2013, [[Sefton Council]] approved construction of the long-campaigned<ref name="a5758_campaigned_spv">{{cite web |url=http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/southport-west-lancs/delight-commuters-20million-thornton-link-9693711 |title=Delight for commuters as £20 million Thornton Link Road set to open |publisher=Southport Visiter |date=20 July 2015 |access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref> [[A5758 road|Thornton to Switch island link road]], which started construction towards the end of the 2013 calendar year<ref name="livecho_sept13_approval">{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/local-news/council-approve-19m-link-road-6957710 |title=Council to approve £19m link road |publisher=Liverpool Echo |date=12 September 2013 |access-date=5 January 2017}}</ref> and opened on 19 August 2015 as the [[A5758 road|A5758 Broom's Cross Road]].  The route connects to the junction at its western side and provides a more efficient route from the [[A565 road]]. Further improvements were announced in April 2017 for work to take place during 2018, including new traffic light installations, changes to lane markings, new barriers between carriageways and improved signage.<ref name="improvements_apr17">{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/3-million-to-improve-journeys-and-safety-at-switch-island |title=£3 million to improve journeys and safety at Switch Island |publisher=Highways England |date=7 April 2017 |access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref>

In May 2018 these roadworks were named as the most dangerous in England.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/switch-island-roadworks-names-englands-most-lethal|title=Switch Island roadworks named England's most lethal|website=www.theconstructionindex.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-11-25}}</ref>

==Operation==
The junction is prone to traffic collisions, which has been exacerbated since the opening of the [[A5758 road|Thornton bypass]] in 2015. This has further complicated and changed an already complex and congested junction, which is one of Europe's busiest road junctions.<ref name="spv_jul16_crash">{{cite web |url=http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/southport-west-lancs/crash-causes-traffic-ormskirk-road-11579470 |title=Crash causes traffic on Ormskirk Road |publisher=Southport Visiter |date=7 July 2016 |access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> Motorists have identified unclear and missing road markings as contributing towards the increase in collisions at the island, resulting in Sefton Council, who are responsible for the junction, making a number of amendments during 2016 as a result of feedback and ongoing reviews.<ref name="echo_unsafe_may16">{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/switch-island-new-thornton-bypass-11301135 |title=Switch Island and new Thornton bypass isn't safe, say frustrated motorists |publisher=Liverpool Echo |date=8 May 2016 |access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> In a 5 year period throughout 2013-2017, there were over 60 collisions at the junction, of which around 10% were classed as severe.<ref name="crashmap">{{cite web |url=https://www.crashmap.co.uk |title=Crashmap Collision Search |publisher=Crash Map |access-date=19 December 2018}}</ref> As of 2017, an estimated 90,000 vehicles a day pass through the island.<ref name="improvements_apr17"/>

==Routes==
The junction serves the following routes, some of which terminate at the island;
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Route
! Destination(s)
|-
| M57
| [[Kirkby]], [[Liverpool]] (S) & [[Liverpool Airport|Airport]], [[Birmingham]] ([[M6 motorway|M6]]), [[Manchester]] ([[M62 motorway|M62]])
|-
| M58
| [[Skelmersdale]], [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] ([[M6 motorway|M6]])
|-
| A59
| [[Liverpool]], [[Ormskirk]], [[Southport]] ([[A570 road|A570]])
|-
| A5036
| [[Bootle]], All Docks
|-
| A5758
| [[Southport]], Formby ([[A565]]), Thornton, Sefton, Crosby
|}

==Future proposals==
Proposals have been put forward by Highways England to build a new link road through [[Rimrose Valley]] to ease congestion on the A5036 route for traffic heading towards the motorways via Switch Island. The proposal has been met with local opposition, with suggestions that the road through the valley would be destructive towards public health, wildlife and air quality.<ref name="echo_rrvalley_opposition_feb16">{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/public-meetings-over-proposed-200m-10842216 |title=Public meetings over proposed £200m road through Rimrose Valley park |publisher=Liverpool Echo |date=5 February 2016 |access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Switch Island}}

{{Motorways in the United Kingdom}}

[[Category:Transport in Merseyside]]
[[Category:Road junctions in England]]
[[Category:Motorway junctions in England]]
[[Category:Metropolitan Borough of Sefton]]