85-848: [REDACTED] A399 [REDACTED] A3123 [REDACTED] A39 [REDACTED] A3125 [REDACTED] A396 [REDACTED] M5 [REDACTED] A38 [REDACTED] A372 [REDACTED] A39 [REDACTED] A37 [REDACTED] A371 [REDACTED] A359 [REDACTED] A362 [REDACTED] A3098 [REDACTED] A36 [REDACTED] A363 [REDACTED] A350 [REDACTED] A365 [REDACTED] A342 [REDACTED] A4 [REDACTED] A4361 [REDACTED] A419 [REDACTED] A417 [REDACTED] A40 [REDACTED] A424 [REDACTED] A44 [REDACTED] A3400 [REDACTED] A4260 [REDACTED] A422 [REDACTED] A423 [REDACTED] M40 [REDACTED] A45 [REDACTED] A425 [REDACTED] A5 The A361
170-680: A continuous dual carriageway route to Cornwall can use the A30 rather than using the Devon Expressway before joining the less major roads over the border in Cornwall. It then runs concurrently with the M5 until junction 27, where it splits and enters Somerset independent but parallel to the M5. During the mid-1960s, small sections of the route between Plymouth and Exeter were upgraded to dual carriageway, such as those at Dean Prior and Heathfield. This
255-480: A direct route for the A38 to meet the M5 at Junction 4 at Lydiate Ash, with the dual carriageway continuing North to Rubery. The original Birmingham Road survives to this day, but is noticeably lightly trafficked due to its cul-de-sac nature. Its considerable width makes it a very popular route for learner drivers and as such is affectionately named by local people as "Learners Mile". The road from Lydiate Ash to Longbridge
340-455: A locally well known retailer, is passed by the road. The Ashburton bypass, much like the Kennford bypass, uses the alignment of a much older 1930s single carriageway bypass, which was subsequently upgraded to dual carriageway by 1974. At the town of Buckfastleigh , the route once again bypasses on a new alignment, although due to the challenging topography of the area, the road crosses part of
425-473: A new alignment, as well as being the first sizeable dual carriageway section of the route. Before Ivybridge, the route roughly parallels the original route, bypassing the village of Lee Mill which is now home to a large trading estate. The Ivybridge bypass opened in 1973 and the South Brent bypass in 1974, both on new alignments. The A38 passes Endsleigh Garden Centre, which used to have direct access from
510-632: A pass in the Lickey Hills . The Roman road also went through the same pass, but its route to the pass was probably rather straighter. Beyond the motorway junction, the A38 was turnpiked, not as the turnpike to Birmingham, but to Halesowen and Dudley , by the 1726 Act that also turnpiked Old Birmingham Road. The next Acts appointed separate trustees for the Dudley Road in 1742 and for the Birmingham Road in 1748. The road continues from
595-586: A single carriageway configuration of 1980s construction, including multiple traffic light controlled junctions – such as the Mansfield, Ashfield Regeneration Route ("MARR"). The final section of the A38 from Sutton, past King's Mill Hospital into Mansfield , is purely urban in nature and is single carriageway, joining the A6009 in Mansfield Town Centre at the end of the route from Cornwall to
680-690: A three-level stacked roundabout for the A386 , which heads out towards Dartmoor National Park. The route was reserved for the Parkway as early as 1943, when it was included in the Plan for Plymouth. In the early 1990s, the Marsh Mills junction was significantly remodelled, reducing the size of the roundabout and building a flyover over the top of it, allowing free flowing access from the Plympton bypass onto
765-880: A typo for the A3064 or it may have been changed later on for some reason. Originally ran from the A358 in South Petherton to the A37 in Ilchester. Between 1927 and 1932 it was extended over the B3090 to the now-gone A344 near Stonehenge. Renumbered to the A303 in 1933; the A3036 number was reused as a renumbering of the original A303. See also: Albert Embankment Later reserved around 1970 for "existing parallel length of A329 when passed by
850-756: Is a major A-class trunk road in England. The road runs from Bodmin in Cornwall to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire . It is 292 miles (470 km) long, making it the longest two digit A road in England. It was formerly known as the Leeds–Exeter Trunk Road , when this description also included the A61. Before the opening of the M5 motorway in the 1960s and 1970s, the A38 formed the main "holiday route" from
935-501: Is an A class road in southern England, which at 195 miles (314 km) is the longest three-digit A road in the UK. When first designated in 1922, the A361 ran from Taunton (Somerset) to Banbury (Oxfordshire). It was later extended west through Bampton to South Molton (Devon), on the route of the former A398, and from South Molton to Barnstaple and Ilfracombe, previously part of the route of
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#17327652522691020-850: Is crossed at this point by the Midshires Way and Centenary Way. There is a junction for the B6179 to Ripley and Belper . At Alfreton, there is a grade separated junction with the A61, A615 and B6179. The section from Alfreton to the M1, the Alfreton– South Normanton Bypass, opened as the A615 in the late 1960s. This section has a grade separated junction with the B600 for Somercotes and the Cotes Park industrial estate, and where it crosses
1105-464: Is mostly single carriageway. The road passes through the villages of Knowle and Braunton, before becoming dual carriageway standard at Ashford, which continues for the short distance to Barnstaple. From there it passes the town's railway station then merges with the A39 for a short while before splitting back off near Portmore Golf Park. The section from Barnstaple to the M5 near Tiverton has been designated
1190-470: Is single-carriageway and suffers from heavy volume of traffic at peak times, and congestion along Bedminster Down. From Bedminster Down the A38 follows West Street and East Street through the centre of Bedminster, but drivers from the south were advised by road signs not to follow the A38 into the city, but to use the A3029 (Winterstoke Road) to enter from the west, as this route had a greater capacity. As part of
1275-592: The A368 between Weston-super-Mare and Bath . This route is the suggested route for accessing the south of Bristol and Bristol Airport from the South West. The centre of Bridgwater was a notorious bottleneck on the "holiday route" as traffic from both the A38 and the A39 had to negotiate through the town centre in order to cross the River Parrett . The construction of a new reinforced concrete road bridge,
1360-695: The A373 . In 1988, when the North Devon Link Road was opened, the A361 was switched to its present route. The old route from Taunton through Bampton to South Molton was downgraded to become the B3227. In the 1970s the route was extended north from Banbury to Daventry (Northamptonshire), providing a link to the M1 motorway near Crick . The road starts in Ilfracombe as part of the town's High Street, and
1445-539: The A39 again. From there it continues northeast near Cranmore (the home of the East Somerset Railway ) and originally passed through Frome , which it now bypasses to the east. It briefly merges with the A36 then passes through villages at Rode and into Wiltshire at Southwick . Here it is signposted alternatively via Trowbridge or through North Bradley and Yarnbrook (which could have been reached if
1530-582: The Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study , a link road had been under consideration to the south of Bristol. This is in part due to the congestion at Winterstoke Road and Barrow Gurney, both of which are very busy, especially the latter where the road can only accommodate travelling at one direction at a given time; and the incomplete Bristol Ring Road ( A4174 ). This road, named the South Bristol Link,
1615-602: The Highways Agency stabilised a 840-metre (0.52 mi) section of the road near Bodmin Parkway railway station . The work, which commenced in October 2007, was carried out to shore up the verge, which had been built on an embankment supported by dry stone walling and the root systems of large trees. It was completed in May 2008 seeing the installation of kerbing, road drainage gulleys, safety barriers as well as increasing
1700-686: The Isle of Wight until 1935 when it became part of an extended A3054. It ran between Newport and Ryde, terminating at the pier. Originally ran on the Isle of Wight from Ryde to Sandown. Renumbered as an extension of the A3055 in 1935; the southernmost section is now the B3329. Next used in Taunton town center along Upper High Street, connecting the A38 to itself. Because it performed so well in taking traffic out of
1785-669: The M42 and the B4096 at junction 1 at Lickey End . It passes through Upper Catshill and meets the M5 at junction 4 (along with the A491 road ) near Lydiate Ash . From here to Edgbaston , the road is mostly dual carriageway, single-lane sections having been replaced in the first decade of the 21st century (see history section, below). Following completion of the Selly Oak bypass, the A38 deviates from its original route and briefly multiplexes with
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#17327652522691870-521: The Midlands to Somerset , Devon and Cornwall. Considerable lengths of the road in the West Midlands closely follow Roman roads , including part of Icknield Street . Between Worcester and Birmingham the current A38 follows the line of a Saxon salt road . For most of the length of the M5 motorway, the A38 road runs alongside it as a single carriageway road. The road starts on
1955-490: The A38 heads north via Wellington , Taunton , Bridgwater , Highbridge and Bristol . From Waterloo Cross to Birmingham, the road is paralleled by the M5, where the A38 has reverted to taking local traffic only. From Bristol, it continues north via Gloucester , Tewkesbury , Worcester and Bromsgrove to Birmingham . Between Worcester and Birmingham the A38 followed the line of an identified Saxon Salt road , one of six leading out of Droitwich . At Bromsgrove, it meets
2040-456: The A38 is one of the areas chosen by the Highways Agency to monitor the effectiveness of driver location signs in assisting motorists to communicate their location to the emergency services. From Birmingham the road bypasses Sutton Coldfield and Lichfield , before taking up the route of the Roman road , Ryknild Street , (also spelt Icknield or Rykneld ), as far as Derby . At Wychnor ,
2125-579: The A38 near the Abbey. The current A38 road follows from the southern end of one of the Worcester turnpike trust's roads which was originally (in 1726) at Severn Stoke , but an Act of 1737 extended it to Upton Bridge (taking it past Bluebell Farm). North of the city, the road was a particularly important one as it connected the saltmaking centre of Droitwich with the River Severn . In 1706, this
2210-719: The A4040 outer Ring Road before forming the new bypass which is controversially named New Fosse Way. (The old route is designated B384 having been briefly B38). In the centre of Birmingham, a section of the road becomes the Aston Expressway A38(M) motorway , running from the north-eastern side of the Inner Ring Road through Aston to the junction with the M6 motorway at Gravelly Hill Interchange , better known as Spaghetti Junction . The West Midlands section of
2295-670: The A5111; Markeaton for the A52 ; and Little Eaton (or Abbey Hill ) for the A61 and B6179. The section of road between Kingsway roundabout to just north of Markeaton is urban in nature and thus subject to a 40 mph (64 km/h) speed limit. Originally terminating in Derby at the junction of Babington Lane with St Peter's Street (formerly the A6 ), the road enters the district of Amber Valley where it passes Drum Hill just north of Little Eaton and
2380-598: The Blake Bridge, which opened in March 1958 as part of a southern bypass took much of the traffic away from the centre of Bridgwater. The opening of the M5 in 1974 further reduced the traffic pressure. This is complemented by a link road (Western Way) linking the A38 and the A39 north and west of the town respectively. Much of the A38 through Somerset was built as single carriageway, with some three-lane passing points. However,
2465-579: The Bromsgrove bypass, is Lickey End, where an old highway intersection has been replaced by Junction 1 of M42 motorway . Here, the road is joined from the southeast by the B4096 , Alcester Road, which was from 1754 one of the roads of the Alcester turnpike trust. The continuation northwards of B4096 is called Old Birmingham Road, because it was the original route of the turnpike to Birmingham, climbing to
2550-739: The Frome bypass had continued to follow the railway) to merge with the A350 before diverging towards Devizes . From its junction with the A4 at Beckhampton, northwards through Avebury , the A361 has been renumbered the A4361 as it heads for Swindon town centre via Wroughton . It emerges near Stratton St Margaret , becoming the A361 again at the junction with the A419 which passes northeast of Swindon. This road links Highworth to Lechlade and has no pavement for
2635-587: The M42 Junction 1 towards Catshill and up a short incline at which there is a fork. Prior to the construction of the M5 motorway in the early 1960s, the Halesowen Road continued West whilst Birmingham Road continued North to meet the existing dual carriageway just South of Rubery. After the M5 was constructed, all traffic was diverted along Halesowen Road (then the A459) which was widened and lit to provide
A361 road - Misplaced Pages Continue
2720-539: The M5 it runs as a broad single carriageway, again parallel to the M5 in route towards Gloucester. The present road from Bristol through Horfield was one of the additional roads added to the Bristol turnpike roads in 1749. This passed through Thornbury to Stone , just beyond the boundary of South Gloucestershire , where it met one of the Gloucester turnpike roads . From Almondsbury, the road approximately follows
2805-460: The M5 to East Brent , the A38 runs broadly parallel to the motorway: junctions 22 to 27 are mostly spurs connecting to the road and all no further than 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from it. The A38 runs around Wellington, through the county seat of Taunton , North Petherton and Highbridge. Beyond Highbridge and junction 22, the road departs the motorway and resumes primary status, going through Winscombe , Churchill and Lower Langford where it crosses
2890-484: The M5, and is a three-lane dual carriageway. The village of Kennford is bypassed, on an alignment of a 1930s bypass, which was upgraded to a dual-carriageway in the 1960s and then widened to a dual three-lane road in 1975. A junction to the south of Exeter represents a third meeting point of the A38 with the A30, from which point the A38 multiplexes with the M5 before re-emerging from junction 27 near Waterloo Cross, 21 miles (34 km) north of Exeter. From junction 27
2975-469: The North Devon Link Road, and enables relatively fast access to the Atlantic Highway , relieving pressure on the northern section of the A39 and A358. This section is a modern, wide single carriageway trunk road (which was de-trunked in 2002), apart from the 5-mile (8.0 km) stretch between Tiverton and the M5, which is dual carriageway. Tiverton Parkway railway station is situated close to
3060-674: The Nottingham spur of the Midland Main Line it enters the district of Bolsover . As a 1970s upgrade to the route of the A61 north of Derby (which became the B6179), the A38 bypasses Ripley passing through former opencast mining land, before joining end-on with the former A615 Alfreton bypass at Watchorn Intersection. The road crosses the M1 at junction 28. Into Nottinghamshire , the road bypasses Sutton-in-Ashfield , dropping to
3145-423: The Parkway. The viaducts carrying the A38 over the River Plym , which after the construction of the Marsh Mills flyover became the Exeter bound sliproads, were built in 1969–70 as part of the Plympton bypass. They were replaced in the 1990s due to suffering from Alkali Silica Reaction , and the project, completed in February 1996 at a cost of £12.25 million, involved the world's largest sideways bridge slide at
3230-452: The River Plym, which after the construction of the Marsh Mills flyover became the Exeter bound sliproads, were built in 1969–1970 as part of the Plympton bypass. They were replaced in the 1990s due to suffering from Alkali Silica Reaction , and the project, completed in February 1996 at a cost of £12.25million, involved the world's largest sideways bridge slide at the time for the 410 metres (1,350 ft), 5,500 tonne bridge. This required
3315-455: The S.E. Reading to N.W. Wokingham relief road", but the number was not used. Next used as an unexplained renumbering of the A3043 in Plymouth. Now part of the B3396. Originally ran from Salisbury to the A303 north of Cholderton ; was the B3085. Became a portion of a rerouted A338 in 1935. Next used as an upgrade of the B3021 from Old Windsor to Datchet. Renumbered as an extension of the A328 in 1935, but has since gotten its old number as it
3400-461: The St James Barton roundabout and Stokes Croft. The route to the north of the city is also very busy: it runs as a single carriageway up to the junction with the A4174 ring road at Filton , and where it runs as Gloucester Road is a busy shopping parade. Beyond the ring road, it runs as dual-carriageway past Filton Airport which lies in South Gloucestershire, which contains bases for Royal Mail , Airbus , Rolls-Royce and others. Beyond junction 16 of
3485-413: The bridge parapets indicate the border between the ceremonial counties of Wiltshire (to the south) and Gloucestershire (to the north). The road crosses into Oxfordshire a few miles north of Lechlade and heads towards Cotswold Wildlife Park , Burford and Chipping Norton passing many Oxfordshire villages on its way. It is also the boundary for the Cotswolds AONB at Lechlade. It then enters Banbury from
A361 road - Misplaced Pages Continue
3570-455: The center of Taunton, it became a portion of a rerouted A38. Next used along a former routing of the A33 in Reading. Downgraded to a B road with the same number. Originally ran along Southbroom Place (now Southbroom Road) in Devizes, cutting the corner between the A342 and A360 and just missing the A361. Now a portion of the A360, although it may have been a spur before this. Number possibly later used along Queen Street in Maidenhead; possibly
3655-487: The construction of the M5 through Somerset, in the early 1970s, led to the building of links between the A38 and the M5 in the form of new roundabouts on the A38 linking into adjacent junctions on the M5. The A38 serves Bristol Airport to the southwest of the city, and enters the city itself at Highridge, along Bedminster Down and into Bedminster . It runs through central Bristol before leaving northwards along North Street, Stokes Croft and Gloucester Road . It runs past
3740-414: The dual carriageway, although since the early 2000s this has been closed and the garden centre is accessed from the Westover junction for Ivybridge. The route originally ended at the Marsh Mills roundabout, which when opened was the largest in Europe. The section of the A38 between the A382 junction and Ashburton was built on a new alignment parallel to the old road, and was opened in 1974. Trago Mills ,
3825-435: The eastern side of Bodmin at a junction with the A30 before traversing the edge of the town to meet the A30 again. It travels through the picturesque Glynn Valley to Dobwalls and Liskeard , which are bypassed by a dual carriageway . The Dobwalls section contains a bat bridge . The A38 continues through the Cornish countryside, bypassing the centre of Saltash and continuing through the Saltash Tunnel . Immediately after
3910-402: The entire length apart from a small section in Inglesham . It carries traffic at high speeds. The Thames Path National Trail follows the verge for a little over one mile between Upper Inglesham and Inglesham . On entering Lechlade, the road crosses the Grade II listed Halfpenny Bridge , which marks the navigable limit of the River Thames for powered craft. Lines painted onto the panels on
3995-407: The former Filton Airport in South Gloucestershire to meet the M5 again at junction 16. Thereafter it runs through Almondsbury and by-passes Thornbury to enter Gloucestershire. South of Bristol, the road was diverted in 2001 to cater for an extension of the runway and installation of a category 3 landing system at Bristol Airport . The route south of the city, despite serving the airport,
4080-420: The issue, with local MP Gary Streeter calling for a review of the road. A number of improvements have been made along the route in recent years, mainly being the replacement of worn-out road surfaces, such as those at Buckfastleigh and Ivybridge. These projects have also included the replacement of signage, and the reconstruction of exit/entry slips for side turnings, in a bid to make the road safer. Presently,
4165-435: The junction with the motorway in order to give easy rail connections for people driving from north Devon. Some sections of road are on the alignment of the Devon and Somerset Railway , including the Castle Hill Viaduct over the River Bray, where the stone pillars formerly used to support a lattice girder railway bridge now support the road. The road merges with the A38 from Junction 27 of the M5 until Taunton . The rest of
4250-469: The line of the Roman road from Sea Mills to Gloucester. The previous main route out of Bristol (one of twelve roads from the city, turnpiked in 1727) was Stapleton and Hambrook to the upper end of Tytherington and thence to Stone. This seems to be parts of B4058, B4424, and then unclassified roads. However, Ogilby 's Britannia shows a route following the B4058 as far as Cromhall , then through Stinchcombe Bottom , Dursley , and Cam before joining
4335-442: The majority of the route between Exeter and Plymouth, containing several side turnings with short exit/entry slips, and properties which back onto the road. The town of Chudleigh and the village of Chudleigh Knighton are bypassed on a new alignment, which opened in 1973, and the following section at Heathfield up to the A382 junction was upgraded from the original route between 1966 and 1968. Some of this section follows part of
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#17327652522694420-417: The nearby M5 and A361. A small part east of M5 J27 is now part of the A38 as a "useless spur", as the A38 mainline was renumbered to B3181. Number later used for a road linking Hilsea and Portsmouth. Became the northern carriageway of the A3 after the M275 was built. Route later used for a loop off the eastern side of the A3017 in Portsmouth. Now the southern carriageway of the A3. An older A3022 existed on
4505-411: The northern Midlands. When first designated in 1922, the A38 ran from the centre of Plymouth to Derby. It was later extended west from Plymouth on the former route of the A389 over the Torpoint Ferry to a junction with the A30 at Bodmin. When the Tamar Bridge was opened in 1961, the A38 was rerouted on the former line of the A374 , through Tideford, over the new bridge and through Crownhill , joining
4590-450: The old Teign Valley Line railway. Before Kennford, the route splits, with the A38 heading for Plymouth and the A380 heading towards Torbay . At this point, the road becomes a dual two-lane road although a third-lane emerges immediately for uphill traffic as the route climbs Haldon Hill , which has an average gradient of 1 in 20 over a 4 km distance, and a maximum gradient of around 1 in 10 (the adjacent A380 Telegraph Hill has about
4675-444: The old route at Plympton. The old route of the A38, via Torpoint and the centre of Plymouth, was redesignated the A374. The A38 was extended north from Derby to the M1 motorway and Mansfield in 1977, partly on the former line of the A615. The Liskeard bypass, stretching for 6 miles (10 km) from the west of Liskeard to Trerulefoot , opened in June 1976. A public inquiry was held for the Dobwalls bypass in February 2005, which
4760-536: The old route through the city became the A430. In 2007 the Gloucester South Western Bypass opened to traffic, costing £43 million. Though it is numbered A430 and not technically part of the A38, traffic wishing to continue on the A38 on the other side of the city is signed to use the bypass, rather than the existing A38. Beyond Gloucester, the A38 was probably only improved in 1756 under an Act ( 29 Geo. 2 . c. 58) dealing with roads from that city towards Cheltenham and Tewkesbury . The next section (from Coombe Hill )
4845-404: The present road. The Bristol turnpike roads were continued by a turnpike road established in 1727, described as "from the City of Gloucester to the village of Stone being the great road from the north to west of this kingdom". Much of the road, follows a Roman road, but deviates from it between Buckover and Whitfield . The A38 was rerouted along the Gloucester Bypass when it was built, and
4930-442: The remaining section of single carriageway ring road is signed as A361, before it once again turns north to Kilsby to terminate on the A5 at its northern end. Download coordinates as: A399 road (Great Britain) List of A roads in zone 3 in Great Britain starting west of the A3 and south of the A4 (roads beginning with 3). Next used from the A303 at Stonehenge to the A360 at Airman's Corner. On 24 June 2013,
5015-405: The road crosses the River Trent and enters the district of East Staffordshire . At Barton Turn, near the B5016 junction, the road runs right alongside the Cross Country Route for around 1 mile (1.6 km). This railway line follows the line of the A38 from Derby to Plymouth. From Alrewas to Burton, the path called The Way for the Millennium follows the northbound carriageway. From Clay Mills,
5100-402: The road cut through existing bat flight lines. After opening the Dobwall bypass experienced problems with surface water. This led to lane closures in winter due to risk of ice. A major scheme to reconstruct a mile of the bypass started in September 2014 and is expected to last until May 2015. It is thought it will cost an extra £10.6 million. In a separate improvement within the Glynn Valley,
5185-404: The road originated as a Roman road, but the later road left the Roman line near Naunton in Ripple . The name Stratford Bridge on the county boundary confirms its Roman origin there. The A38 into Tewkesbury has been diverted away from the now declassified Gloucester Road along a new link road to the A438 east of the town centre. The A38 resumes in Tewkesbury town centre where the A438 has always met
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#17327652522695270-457: The road passes through the district of South Derbyshire , passing the grade separated junction with the A5132 for Willington . There is the Derby with Burton services at the Burnaston A50 interchange. The road enters the City of Derby borough 0.5 miles (0.8 km) north of the Littleover interchange. For nearly 4 miles (6.4 km), the A38 forms part of Derby's outer ring road, including three roundabouts: Kingsway (or Grand Canyon ) for
5355-469: The road to be closed for only 48 hours, winning it an AA National Motoring Award in 1996 for innovation and minimisation of traffic congestion. As with any major road, accidents are likely to occur; however due to the substandard design of some sections of the route between Exeter and Plymouth, the accident rate has been identified as being above the national average for the type of road. A spate of accidents in April 2009 heightened local awareness of
5440-421: The road, from there to Swindon, is largely county-road class. It crosses the Somerset Levels separating Curry Moor from North Moor and Salt Moor, where in flood conditions such as the winter of 2012/2013 the Athelney spillway runs across the road if the drain level at Curry Moor pumping station exceeds 7.1m, making the road impassable. Next, it passes by the towns of Street and Glastonbury and briefly merges with
5525-435: The route between Plymouth and the end of M5 is all dual carriageway, and branded the Devon Expressway, being the primary route that links Plymouth to the rest of the country. Beyond the end of the M5, the road runs concurrently with and as the M5 until junction 27. The original route between Exeter and junction 27 of the M5 (Waterloo Cross) was downgraded to become the B3181 when the M5 was opened in 1977 From Junction 27 of
5610-412: The same maximum gradient). The third lane is lost at the top of the hill, and the next section, the Harcombe bends is an original dual carriageway section, older than the rest of the route and this is evident with its sharp bends. The Devon Expressway ends near the village of Kennford , south of Exeter, at the terminus of the M5. This initial section was opened in 1977, along with the remaining section of
5695-421: The same year. Whilst many of the sections were newly constructed realignments, some sections such as the Ashburton and Kennford bypasses were upgraded from the original 1930s single carriageway bypasses. The Parkway, the section of dual carriageway through the suburbs of Plymouth between the Tamar Bridge and Marsh Mills, was constructed in 1983–84, along a route which had been reserved for this road since 1943. This
5780-438: The section from Stonehenge Bottom and Stonehenge was closed and grassed over. The remainder was downgraded to Class III as the C506. It was also reserved in 1972 for the North Devon link road between Barnstaple and Bampton but that road was rerouted through Tiverton and opened as part of the A361 instead. Originally ran from Halberton to Uffculme . Became a spur of the A373 in 1935 and is now declassified due to completion of
5865-426: The southwest as an arterial road passing the Banbury Cross, and heading north, the A361 multiplexes on the Southam Road roundabout of the A422 . For about two miles the route is signed as A422 , the dual carriageway Hennef Way until Junction 11 of the M40 . From there it heads northeast through the villages of Wardington , Chipping Warden , Byfield , Charwelton , and Badby . A relief road for Chipping Warden
5950-432: The space of nine months. When it was renewed in 1725, it was extended from the Tything of Whistons to the Lower Slip of the Quay of Worcester; from Droitwich to Dyers Bridge (M5 Junction 5) near Bromsgrove; and through the town of Droitwich from "Netherwith" [Netherwich] Bridge to a place called "Chapel on the Bridge". In 1749, this was again extended through the town of Bromsgrove to Spadebourne Bridge, immediately north of
6035-400: The time for the 410 metres (1,350 ft), 5,500 tonne bridge. This required the road to be closed for only 48 hours, which won it an AA National Motoring Award in 1996 for innovation and minimisation of traffic congestion. The road widens to a three-lane dual carriageway for the Plympton bypass. This opened in 1971 and was the first section of the Devon Expressway to be built on
6120-469: The town on a viaduct. The road occupies part of the alignment of the former Totnes to Ashburton railway line. From Buckfastleigh to the A385 junction, the current road follows the route of original single carriageway, with the majority of this section being upgraded between 1973 and 1974, although a small section at Dean Prior was upgraded between 1966 and 1967. This section is of a poor quality when compared to
6205-527: The town. Where the road leaves Worcester, it again does not follow the line of the Roman road in the same direction until it picks up the Roman line, just south of Martin Hussingtree . The Roman road took a more direct line over Rainbow Hill and through Blackpole, now B4550 . From Martin Hussingtree, the A38 closely follows the Roman line to beyond Bromsgrove. The present road deviates from its line when it
6290-614: The tunnel the River Tamar is crossed using the Tamar Bridge where the route resumes dual carriageway status. The section from Plymouth to Exeter is known locally as the Devon Expressway; it forms the southern border of Dartmoor National Park , and serves as a southward extension of the M5 motorway opening in 1977. It is 42 miles (68 km) long and was completed in the early 1970s. There are several grade separated junctions along its length mainly for local traffic; including
6375-572: The verge width to allow for a new surface water drainage system. The A38 in Devon runs between Tamar Bridge outside Plymouth and junction 31 of the M5 , where the motorway ends; this section is known as the Devon Expressway . It is mainly a two-lane dual carriageway which runs between Exeter and Plymouth serving as a continuation of the M5 motorway. It is a popular route for tourists travelling to Cornwall , though those wanting to use
6460-920: The western edge of Exeter. Declassified in the late 1970s when the A30 western bypass was built. Originally allocated to the Guildford Bypass; renumbered to the A3 in 1934 when the remainder of the bypass was completed (the old route of the A3 became the current A3100). Now part of the A25 after a further A3 bypass was built. Previously allocated to Wildcroft Road and Portsmouth Road in Putney Heath . A38 road [REDACTED] M5 [REDACTED] M50 [REDACTED] M42 [REDACTED] A38(M) [REDACTED] M6 [REDACTED] M6 Toll [REDACTED] M1 The A38 , parts of which are known as Devon Expressway, Bristol Road and Gloucester Road ,
6545-556: Was constructed in 2021, in conjunction with neighbouring works for HS2 . Sections of land were purchased in the 1970s after the road was upgraded from the B4038 to the A361 to straighten out some of the sharper corners but the vast majority of these works were never done. The road then multiplexes once more, this time with the A45 just outside Daventry . Once the A45 leaves Daventry for Coventry ,
6630-455: Was described as heavily used for the 'carriage of salt, iron, coals and other wares'. The first Turnpike Act for this road was an extremely early one, being passed in 1713 and recites: The highway from the city of Worcester to the Borough of Droitwich ... by reason of the heavy and many loads and carriages of salt and other goods which daily pass through the said road is almost impassible for
6715-764: Was downgraded back to the B3021. Originally ran along the old A4 through Twyford. Renumbered as not one, but two spurs of the A321 in the 1935 renumbering; now the A3032. Used a second time in 1937 as a temporary number for the northern section of the Exeter Bypass (renumbered from the A378), but it became the A38 in 1938 when it was rerouted (old A38 became the A3085). Used a final time in 1975 between Redhills and Alphington on
6800-617: Was expected to cost £32 million. The bottleneck was removed when the bypass, linking the existing Liskeard bypass to the current single carriageway section through the Glynn Valley opened in the Winter of 2008. A campaign to open this road was started by villagers in Dobwalls in 1930, but planning for building the road was not granted until 2006, the work starting on 15 November that year. Two bat bridges and one bat house were added as
6885-463: Was followed by the construction of Plympton bypass in 1970–71, with the majority of realignment, such as the Ivybridge and Buckfastleigh bypasses, being completed during 1973–74. The route, now known as the Devon Expressway, was largely complete by 1975, with the final section between Kennford and the M5 opening in 1977, coinciding with the completion of the final section of the M5 around Exeter during
6970-474: Was followed by the construction of a flyover over Marsh Mills roundabout in 1992, providing a non-stop route between the Plympton bypass and the Parkway. The Plympton bypass opened in 1971, and was used for a stage in the 1974 Tour de France , with a 3.5 miles (5.6 km) stretch closed to traffic in order to allow the visit of the race to the United Kingdom. The viaducts carrying the A38 over
7055-735: Was improved as one of the Tewkesbury roads, again from 1727. The Act refers to this as the Upper Way to Gloucester in contrast to the Lower Way, which went via Wainsload Bridge. When this Act was renewed in 1756, the road from Tewkesbury to a farmhouse called the Old Blue Ball (now Bluebell Farm) was also included. This was in Earls Croome , Worcestershire, and was where one of the Worcester turnpikes ended. Much of this stretch of
7140-423: Was originally classified at Droitwich where the main road is a bypass, the old road now mostly being B4090 . This happens again at Bromsgrove, where A38 is again a bypass, the old line mostly now being B4091 and Bromsgrove High Street (now partly pedestrianised, then through the town centre. The Bromsgrove Eastern Bypass was constructed in 1980. A short distance north of where the old A38 (now declassified) joins
7225-560: Was subsequently opened in 2017 and now surpasses the A3029 (Winterstoke Road) as the main route from Bristol Airport to the city centre and the motorway network north of Bristol. In central Bristol, the original route from Bedminster Bridge ran up Redcliffe Hill and then along Redcliff Street to Bristol Bridge . In the 1950s Redcliff Street was declassified, following completion of the Inner Circuit Road . The route resumes at The Centre . It then follows Rupert Street to
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