depends on which version. IIRC (from my day at Bucks CC archives) the options from the early 90s were:

• A418N-A41W northern (could have been very tangental, passing a few miles away, or a lot closer in)
• A41 northern (would cover Oxford-East Coast route via Bicester, plus A41)
• A413S-A41W northern (giving a link to the A413 from the northern bypass, hugging the town's edge)
• A41 southern (least preferred as would do nothing for East Coast route via A418 to Wing)
• A418 western (not liked as didn't meet the A41 dual carriageway)
• A418 eastern (East Coast route could have gone, and probably was going to go, via Thame)
• A41E-A418S northern (northern routes a bit more awkward to fit in + longer, doesn't serve A413, though had that option)
• A418N-A41W southern (the complete job, serving both the A418 and A41 axes)

Then again, I'm not sure whether some of these ideas were taken far, or even are just me filling in option gaps.

A418 to the north was a must do (as it is now, with Milton Keynes and a planned dual carriageway), A41 to the east was likewise, though slightly less important the other radials were optional to serve, but one route to Oxford (via Bicester or Thame) had to be served, southern options were shorter and easier (less stuff in the way, Stoke Mandeville severance from Aylesbury not as bad as if Bierton got cut off) with the bonus of serving the A413.

I think the options put forward were the A418N-A41W tangent, the A41 northern, the A418 eastern and the A418N-A41W southern, with the latter two being the prefered, and the A41W link being a nice to have if the East Coast route went via Thame, but it not being that bad if only the A418 was fully bypassed. It's worth remembering that while the A41 route is shorter, the A418 route (obviously, assuming you upgrade it) is still shorter to M40 j8, from Hunton Bridge, than the M25-M40 combo. Plus it gives a shorter Aylesbury-Oxford route, less new D2 needed than a Bicester option and would probably be quicker than the A4010 for Aylesbury-Handy Cross. Obviously, however it would be useless to remove Amersham-Banbury northwards traffic off the M40.

You could argue that as well as missing off the A418 to the north, Truvelo also adds the A41 to the west. I'm fairly sure that Aylesbury were perfectly happy to settle for the A418 southern option, if money wouldn't allow them to built the three-quarters route. Of course, the main justification of building the bypass (Oxford-East Coast route) went down the pan with the Wing bypass problems and the 90s recession, which killed it. Very little (~10%) of traffic actually goes through Aylesbury, so ideas are much more about distributing traffic nowadays.

I based my map solely on the A41 being the most important route and the fact that it ties in nicely with the Aston Clinton Bypass without the need for a sharp curve. It comes as a surprise then to see it was the least favoured option in Sabristo Simon's list. I would have thought more traffic was heading to London than Milton Keynes.

Maybe I'm biased but whenever I drive through Aylesbury it always involves the A41 which is why I drew my bypass along that route.

Don't forget that:

• The bypass plans came about due to the Oxford-East Coast Ports route, which would go via the north of Luton, heading NE from Aylesbury and also probably via Thame, heading SW from Aylesbury.
• Bicester (the only place of size on the A41 between Aylesbury and Banbury) already has a shorter London route than the A41 in the M40 (though the A41-A413 is shorter than both)
• Likewise, the places of size on the other radials already have better routes to London that via Aylesbury. Only Oxford (and Hemel Hempstead) have a sensible alternate route that is Primary (or even to an A road) to Milton Keynes. The minor roads around Aylesbury get used and the M1 (while bypassing Aylesbury, you're bypassing Weston Turville and other places that have Aylesbury-passing rat-runs, relieving Tring, Chesham, the NW quadrant of the M25, the M1 j6a-13, M1 j13, making use of the Linslade bypass and the D2 Bucks plans for Aylesbury-MK).
• The A413 is the Aylesbury - London route, not the A41 - the A41 in that direction is very much a route for Aylesbury - Herts/Essex and local traffic, and from the M25, an A41-upgraded A418 route wouldn't be much longer than the A41 route, plus would serve Oxford - Essex traffic as well as Banbury-Essex traffic.
• The A41 to London was considered important (hence disapproval of A418 northern route), but not the A41 to Bicester (unless the East Coast Ports route went via Bicester, rather than Thame).

Speaking of the A41 I was watching a documentary called The Secret Life of the Airport earlier today and they heavily focused on the Buckinghamshire village of Cublington where a new airport was planned to relieve Heathrow.

After locating the village, it was situated north east of Aylesbury above the A41 and I then wondered of the consequences if the villagers had lost their campaign, resulting in transport improvements. Would a spur from the M1 materialise to reach the airport before turning south to feed onto the A41 and more importantly would the A41 (M) finally had a valid reason to exist today?

That is exactly what I mean; my idea might not be needed now, but in about 10, 20 years might prove worthwhile. It also takes some of the pressure off the M1, and onto the M40.

And finally, I have added a strip map of the M475, showing all the junction alterations on the route. There is no Bicester Bypass as that would be built later. This shows the first section to be built.

I think the A66 from Penrith to Scotch Corner needs upgraded to M-Way to make it quicker and make it a more accsessible region

Other: A brand new D4M/D5M South Circular

I voted for the West Midlands Orbital, I think that the elevated M6/M5 was a huge and IMHO soon to be expensive mistake.

The original plan to run the M6 along the route of the toll, the M42 as it is, and link the two via a route to the west of Wolverhampton would have been a far better idea.

The road on the list that I use the most is the A50, but other than south-bound links to the M1 at 24a and avoiding Stoke-on-Trent, an upgrade to a motorway would not make much difference.

Either A50(M) upgrade or an outer M25 motorway

The obvious two, in my mind, are the A1 and A14.

I know a new section of the A1 in north Yorkshire recently opened as a motorway but I think I read that the job will now not be finished, leaving a small stretch between Leeming and north of Scotch Corner as a two-laned A-road.

One of the very last active threads where my opinions from over 2 years are still on the latest page!

Still, regarding the A14(M) Cambridge - Huntingdon motorway I think it would be a better idea to build it offline. Not only will the original properties still be able to front the existing alignment (which would be downgraded back to S2) but any non-motor powered vehicles can still be able to get a life traveling alongside the new motorway.

Not sure about the A50(M). I use it twice a week at the moment and other than a southern bypass to avoid Stoke-on-Trent and its 50mph speed limit, and southern facing slip roads at J24a I cannot see that it would be a lot quicker, there is never the traffic to justify a 3rd lane.

Uttoxeter! That being said GSJing the junctions through there (possibly offline to leave at least an S2 behind for local traffic) would probably sort that out!

Motorways don't have to be D3M's - there are D2M's about (e.g. the M65) - just getting rid of the odd tractor/bike from it would be good enough reason to make it a motorway without hard shoulders!

I will agree with that, especially if it would put an end to the bike "time trials". Have never understood why tractors use it, as it was built like a motorway leaving the existing roads in place.

In other European countries there are lesser motorways, blue (or green) sign with a car, that would be a good move.