Boreholes from Ilchester (A303) to Pucklechurch (M4)

[gepree68]

Between Ilchester (A303 / A37) and Pucklechurch (near Bristol / M4 J18-J19) there is a 1980 line of boreholes.

The route of these boreholes is shown as the Red Dotted Line on the left map.

Do these boreholes indicate a planned route from A303 to M4, or is it just some other thing such as water pipes?

[KeithW]

Between Ilchester (A303 / A37) and Pucklechurch (near Bristol / M4 J18-J19) there is a 1980 line of boreholes.

The route of these boreholes is shown as the Red Dotted Line on the left map.

Do these boreholes indicate a planned route from A303 to M4, or is it just some other thing such as water pipes?

More information is needed before any conclusion can be reached - who produced the maps for starters. I looked at power lines and gas pipelines but couldnt find a match. Hansard didnt throw up anything which is not surprising as in 1980 the new government was trying to crystalize its policies.

[gepree68]

Between Ilchester (A303 / A37) and Pucklechurch (near Bristol / M4 J18-J19) there is a 1980 line of boreholes.

The route of these boreholes is shown as the Red Dotted Line on the left map.

Do these boreholes indicate a planned route from A303 to M4, or is it just some other thing such as water pipes?

More information is needed before any conclusion can be reached - who produced the maps for starters.

I found the route on https://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/mapshop/home.html?layers=7

On this page, just below where it says Boreholes, search for ilchester.

[Chris5156]

Intriguingly the BGS borehole records don't state who or what they were for - there is normally a client or a scheme name, but these all just say "Ilminster to Pucklechurch" with no further information. I have to say though that the very direct line and the long distance covered means it looks more like a pipeline than a road scheme.

Near Pucklechurch there is an A4 Saltford Bypass that was never built (boreholes ca 1972) and an Avon Ring Road that seems to run from the A4174 north of Bristol to the A46 northeast of Bath, so this has led me to two new discoveries that are very welcome!

[RichardA35]

Do these boreholes indicate a planned route from A303 to M4, or is it just some other thing such as water pipes?

High pressure gas pipeline sheet ST on gas network maps here gives the precise route

[KeithW]

Intriguingly the BGS borehole records don't state who or what they were for - there is normally a client or a scheme name, but these all just say "Ilminster to Pucklechurch" with no further information. I have to say though that the very direct line and the long distance covered means it looks more like a pipeline than a road scheme.

Near Pucklechurch there is an A4 Saltford Bypass that was never built (boreholes ca 1972) and an Avon Ring Road that seems to run from the A4174 north of Bristol to the A46 northeast of Bath, so this has led me to two new discoveries that are very welcome!

That was the clue needed - I found this

Donovan, D T, Bennett, R, Bristow, C R, Carpenter, S C, Green, G W, Hawkes, C J, Prudden, H C and Stanton W I. 1989. Geology of a gas pipeline from Ilchester (Somerset) to Pucklechurch (Avon), 1985. Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society for 1988, Vol.132, 297-317.

[DB617]

That A4 Saltford Bypass looks like one heck of a challenge to build. Interestingly the failure of the scheme to materialise has likely factored in Wessex Water's decision to build their own heavy duty access from the A431 to Saltford Mead Lane treatment works (now in preliminary construction). Until now all tankers, mobile cranes and deliveries have had to navigate Mead Lane which is barely wide enough for one car between parked vehicles and old buildings.

[Truvelo]

The Saltford Bypass was an eastward continuation the Keynsham Bypass. It was ultimately a part of a failed Bath Tunnel scheme which would have seen a continuously dualled and GSJ'd A4 from the eastern edge of Bristol to Batheaston.

[rileyrob]

Not sure I've ever seen a plan for the Saltford Bypass before. I always understood it predominantly used the old Midland Railway formation, but nice to see that on a plan. As for the Bath Tunnel, I believe that it was only seriously on the table for quite a short time and already pretty much a dead duck by the time of the oil crisis in 1973/4, despite not being formally abandoned until c1980. If the Saltford Bypass plans date from around 1972, then I don't think the two quite tie up as neatly as that, but maybe it is just enough of an overlap, and the two were dropped together.
Walcot Street in Bath was a frequent urban case study at Uni, so if I can find my old notes I might have more specific dating for the tunnel plans.

[Truvelo]

The Saltford Bypass plans I have are from 1972 whereas the Bath Tunnel tunnel plans I have are from the 60's. However, the eastern end of the Saltford Bypass lines up with the Bath scheme. Even if the Bath Tunnel may have been scrapped by 1972 the eastern end of the Saltford Bypass at Twerton Fork had provision for a future extension regardless.

[DB617]

Fascinating - this feels like Bath's version of Ringways: the idea that with enough will, engineers could and should put roads anywhere and nothing will get in the way. A single carriageway bypass of Saltford would likely suffice today - mainly because there is indeed no real D2 or any high-flow continuation through Bath.

[gepree68]

Truvelo, is https://api.bgs.ac.uk/sobi-scans/v1/bor ... ems/392810 from the same Bath Tunnel plan that you have?

The date on this one is 1971-11-03 and the title is Borehole ST76NE153 BATH VEHICULAR TUNNEL APPROACH RD L4.

The picture shows Walcot Street (A3039), Old Orchard and Chatham Row. Current location: 51.386246, -2.359439

It also shows the proposed dual carriageway, which I presume is the eastern end of the Bath Tunnel that you mentioned.

[rileyrob]

Wow, that shows a lot more destruction than I remember being told about. A number of interesting points from that plan:

The dual carriageway was planned to pass under the western approach to Cleveland Bridge, having come along the riverside. I wonder if there is really enough height difference for that to work? This also suggests it would have lined up with the Batheaston bypass...
I'm guessing it is more indicative than actual, but the plan shows the tunnel approach passing through 6-12 of Chatham Row, when only 10-12 were purchased for demolition. That sliproad looks unnecessarily wide and long though.
I was led to believe that the car park entrance that runs around the back of the Hilton was part of the original plan, but this plan shows that loop would have been the other side of the corn market, coming out through the tramshed.
The trajectory of the tunnel as it disappears off the edge of the sheet seems to be aiming for Charlotte Street Car Park rather than the other mooted options to the south.

From what I remember from 25 years ago, the plan we were told about saw a roundabout roughly where shown, with a road running down through the old school site, curving round the remains of Chatham Row on the riverbank, and then going into the tunnel, with other sliproads roughly as shown continuing along the riverbank to the Hilton. This probably reflects a different variation of the proposals though.

[Truvelo]

Truvelo, is https://api.bgs.ac.uk/sobi-scans/v1/bor ... ems/392810 from the same Bath Tunnel plan that you have?

The date on this one is 1971-11-03 and the title is Borehole ST76NE153 BATH VEHICULAR TUNNEL APPROACH RD L4.

The picture shows Walcot Street (A3039), Old Orchard and Chatham Row. Current location: 51.386246, -2.359439

It also shows the proposed dual carriageway, which I presume is the eastern end of the Bath Tunnel that you mentioned.

That plan is new to me. I have several other designs for that junction but none match yours. It seems with each new layout that surfaces it makes it harder to know which one would have been the final proposal before the scheme was cancelled.

[rileyrob]

Based on information in this thread, and supplied by one of our diligent researchers, I have completely re-written the Bath Tunnel page on the wiki. It appears that my memories of what we were taught at Uni were somewhat wide of the mark, and the proposals were pursued throughout the early 1970s, before being canned in 1976.

[gepree68]

https://api.bgs.ac.uk/sobi-scans/v1/bor ... s/14866773

Page 2 of the above link shows another proposed map of A4, this time further east of Bath.

Like on Truvelo’s map it shows the A4 coming east out of a tunnel.

But here A4 also has a Grade Separated Junction (called Meadow Farm Interchange) with A46 near Meadow Lane.

The document is dated 15-2-(19)72 and the title says:

LONDON - BRISTOL TRUNK ROAD A.4
BATHEASTON BY PASS
ADDITIONAL SOIL SURVEY - PLAN

[Truvelo]

This is excellent stuff. The grade separation favours the A4 rather than A46.

[rileyrob]

Meadow Farm Interchange page started on the Wiki. I'm sure Truvelo will be able to add one of his maps in due course!

[Truvelo]

Meadow Farm Interchange page started on the Wiki. I'm sure Truvelo will be able to add one of his maps in due course!

When I get the chance.

I've looked at the junction layout in detail and the weaving length between that junction and the A36 fork is terrible, even allowing for D3 in the weaving section.

[Truvelo]

I've had a look at the stuff from Bath I have and this map is a very close match to that showing Meadow Farm Interchange. However, there are some notable differences. The junction on the borehole scan is shown further east and the A46 appears to follow the line of the current Swainswick Bypass. This map shows the A46 heading towards the existing Gloucester Road.