Escape Lanes

Squadgy · Post by **Squadgy** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 22:53

Had a search, but couldn't find a topic on Escape Lanes. By escape lane I'm referring to the sections of 'road', (but are usually areas filled with loose chippings/ sand), to stop vehicles whos brakes have failed coming down a steep hill.

Is an escape lane the correct term for these? Under what circumstances are they provided? Can people provide examples of where they are located?

To start with I know of onw on the A682 on the outskirts of Burnley, and there was one on the A55 near Rhuallt before it was dualled - I'm sure there must be plenty of others !

DavidBrown · Post by **DavidBrown** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 22:56

I'm not sure if there's a requirement for escape lanes (that is the term used on the signs). I can think of loads of places with them - A39 Porlock, A391 St Austell bypass, A390 Lostwithiel and St Austell, A39 Countisbury etc.

a228_mb · Post by **a228_mb** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 22:57

They are signed as escape lanes so this is their technical name.

Examples include e/b on the A20 between M20 J2 and the A227, and also next to the tollbooths s/b after the QEII bridge on the A282 (M25).

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 23:03

Squadgy wrote:Is an escape lane the correct term for these? Under what circumstances are they provided? Can people provide examples of where they are located?

One just here on the A6 between Buxton and Bakewell. The road, heading eastbound, has just come off the Taddington Bypass on a long downhill stretch. The escape lane is about 100 yards of deep gravel.

You'll find them on most major rural trunk routes at the foot of long descents.

Haydn1971 · Post by **Haydn1971** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 23:09

there is a section in DMRB about Escape Lanes... never had to build one myself, so couldn't comment on the "requirements" except perhaps a frequent trend for HGV runaway accidents ???? :¬)

M60-Tony · Post by **M60-Tony** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 23:10

A628 dropping down to Silkstone

Lonewolf · Post by **Lonewolf** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 23:22

LOL I love that one coming off the Dartford Bridge.

If theres any kind of queue at the toll booths, you will hit the back of the queue before you get to the escape lane DOHHHHHHHHHHH

Apart from that, theres one on Garrowby in East Yorks, and another at the bottom of Jubilee Way heading into Dover. Unfortunately there is a roundabout between the hill and the escape lane, so pray you aren't going round it when a runaway truck comes down. Kent CC again DOHHHH. Theres another one that I can see but not place grr it'll come to me.

Wolfie.

C83 · Post by **C83** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 23:23

A9 Berriedale.

mwacuk · Post by **mwacuk** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 23:45

Yeh the only one i can think of is the one at the bottom of staxton hill before it B-road meets the A64 heading towaords scarborough, wasnt aware of any in east yorkshire tho???

Would an escape lane actually stop a runnaway car, they always seem really short and there never looks to be enough gravel/sand to do much. They look like they'd may be slow a car down alot but not make it come to a complete halt before it reached the end...usally a forbidding looking dry stone wall!

a228_mb · Post by **a228_mb** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 00:11

IIRC there is an escape lane across a roundabout near M20 J133

Andrew Teale · Post by **Andrew Teale** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 00:13

There's an escape lane on the B6478 just north of Waddington, Lancs, near the bottom of the descent from Easington Fell.

I *think* there's one on the A59 at the bottom of Beamsley Hill.

Bfivethousand · Post by **Bfivethousand** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 00:36

And on the B1249 heading to the A64 at Staxton...

Mediaman_12 · Post by **Mediaman_12** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 00:54

The gravel that is put in them is the same that's used on Racetracks. It stops 200mph F1 cars so road cars should be no problem. However it needs very regular maintenance, on an F1 track it gets raked in-between each race, when it's left it gets clogged up with moss and grass, and gets quite solid, in this state it's next to useless.

Lonewolf · Post by **Lonewolf** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 06:39

Yeh the only one i can think of is the one at the bottom of staxton hill before it B-road meets the A64 heading towaords scarborough, wasnt aware of any in east yorkshire tho???

And on the B1249 heading to the A64 at Staxton...

There is???

Can't say as I have ever noticed, and I live just down the road. I'm off to have a look now LOL

Wolfie

Garrowby, between Stamford Bridge and Fridaythorpe on the A166, here.

Lonewolf · Post by **Lonewolf** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 06:45

The gravel that is put in them is the same that's used on Racetracks. It stops 200mph F1 cars so road cars should be no problem. However it needs very regular maintenance, on an F1 track it gets raked in-between each race, when it's left it gets clogged up with moss and grass, and gets quite solid, in this state it's next to useless.

Yeah the one on Garrowby is all overgrown. I'm curious, what makes one gravel better than another at stopping runaways??

Wolfie.

J--M--B · Post by **J--M--B** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 09:28

Mediaman_12 wrote:The gravel that is put in them is the same that's used on Racetracks. It stops 200mph F1 cars so road cars should be no problem. However it needs very regular maintenance, on an F1 track it gets raked in-between each race, when it's left it gets clogged up with moss and grass, and gets quite solid, in this state it's next to useless.

Though the escape lanes on main roads are there mainly for HGVs which are much heavier and so going to dig into the gravel even if it has some moss or grass on it.

MB

si404 · Post by **si404** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 09:48

a228_mb wrote:IIRC there is an escape lane across a roundabout near M20 J133

I hope that's M20 j13...

There A2 ends with an escape lane going through the roundabout with the end of the A20 and the Western Docks.

Lonewolf · Post by **Lonewolf** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 10:18

There A2 ends with an escape lane going through the roundabout with the end of the A20 and the Western Docks.

I mentioned that one already, thats Jubilee Way.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 10:24

mwacuk wrote:Would an escape lane actually stop a runnaway car, they always seem really short and there never looks to be enough gravel/sand to do much. They look like they'd may be slow a car down alot but not make it come to a complete halt before it reached the end...usally a forbidding looking dry stone wall!

They're designed to stop artics I believe so should stop your car. I'm actually driving up to Scarborough tomorrow though I don't think I'll be testing out the escape lane!!

Elliott · Post by **Elliott** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 11:05

There's one here near Luton. Only one where I remember the location.

SABRE

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