Star.pngStar.pngStar.pngStar.pngStar grey.png

A40

From Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
A40
Location Map ( geo)
Cameraicon.png View gallery (340)
From:  London (TQ321815)
To:  Fishguard (SM946381)
Via:  Uxbridge, Beaconsfield, High Wycombe, Oxford, Gloucester, Abergavenny, Carmarthen
Distance:  263 miles (423.2 km)
Meets:  M5, M40, A1, A4, A5, A38, A44, A48, A46, A48, A49, A312, A329, A355, A361, A404, A406, A412, A413, A415, A417, A418, A420, A429, A435, A436, A437, A449, A465, A466, A470, A477, A478, A479, A482, A483, A484, A485, A487
Former Number(s):  A40(M), A48
Primary Destinations
Highway Authorities

National Highways • Welsh Government • Transport for London • Buckinghamshire • City of London • Gloucestershire • Herefordshire • Islington • Oxfordshire • Westminster


North & Mid Wales TRA • South Wales TRA
Traditional Counties

Brecknockshire • Buckinghamshire • Carmarthenshire • Gloucestershire • Herefordshire • Middlesex • Monmouthshire • Oxfordshire • Pembrokeshire

Route outline (key)
A40 Bank, London - St Paul's
A40 St Paul's - Marble Arch
(A5) Marble Arch - Edgware Road
A40 Edgware Road - M40
A40 M40 - Oxford
A40 Oxford - Fishguard

Route

The Westway in 2007

The A40 is a major road that runs between London and Fishguard. Going via Oxford and Gloucester it is a road of varying degrees of standard from ex motorway to S2. At a distance of 263 miles it makes the A40 Britain's 7th longest road.

See Route Sections: Central London - DenhamDenham - WheatleyWheatley - WitneyWitney - CheltenhamCheltenham - RossRoss - AbergavennyAbergavenny - BreconBrecon - CarmarthenCarmarthen - HaverfordwestHaverfordwest - Fishguard

History

High Holburn in 1965
Main Article: A40/History

As with many of the long A-roads, the A40 has had a vast array of upgrades over the years. Some major, others not so major. However the section from Denham to Oxford Services was mostly replaced by the M40 therefore this section has had very few changes.

Notable locations and improvements

Holborn Viaduct

Holburn Viaduct from A201 level
Main Article: Holborn Viaduct

Holborn Viaduct is the city of London's only bridge wholly within the square mile. Built in 1869, it allows the A40 to cross the A201. The lost River Fleet is underneath the A201.

Denham Roundabout

One of the roundabouts of the Denham Roundabout
Main Article: Denham Roundabout

The Denham Roundabout is where the A40 become M40. It is where the A40 loses it trunk status until Oxford services

Golden Valley Junction

The A40 overbridge seen on the M5.
Main Article: Golden Valley Junction

The Golden Valley junction is where the A40 meets the M5. It is one of the busiest junctions found on the M5 therefore a important one.

Gibraltar Tunnels

Approaching the Monmouth Tunnels.
Main Article: Gibraltar Tunnels

The Gibraltar Tunnels (Welsh:Twneli Gibraltar) are found at Monmouth. Also known as the Monmouth Tunnel it is to the south of Monmouth and was built in the 1960s.

Opening Dates

Month Year Section Notes
2011 Robeston Wathen Bypass Opened on 18 March 2011.
2000 Westway Road downgraded from Motorway to A40.
1998 Fishguard Western bypass It was due to open in early 1998 per the OS 1:250000 map.
1996 Whitland bypass Opened on 30 July 1996.
1994 Llandeilo Northern Bypass The 1.7 mile single carriageway road opened on 23 December 1994 per the Land Compensation Act notice. The official opening was on 17 January 1995 by Gwylim Jones, Welsh Roads Minister. Cost £4 million.
1987 Pengawse Hill (Whitland) Diversion Opened on 20 February 1987.
1987 Treffgarne Quarries Improvement
1985 Ross-on-Wye Relief Road Eastern Bypass opened on 15 February 1985.
1984 Northleach Bypass Due to be officially opened on 31 July 1984.
1984 St Clears to Carmarthen It was reported as having opened 3 months previous by the 25 January 1985 Carmarthen Journal. The official opening was on 7 June 1985 by John Stradling Thomas, Minister of State at the Welsh Office.
1983 Carmarthen Southern Bypass Opened on 22 July 1983 (together with A48 section to Nant-y-caws).
1983 Gloucester Northern Bypass The western section between Over and A38 Tewkesbury Road was due to open on 21 June 1983. This completed the 3.3 mile D2 / S2 road. Contractor was Sir Alfred McAlpine and Sons (Southern) Ltd., outturn works cost £9.8 million.
1982 Pont-y-Fenni Diversion Opened on 18 October 1982.
1982 Gloucester Northern Bypass The eastern section between A38 Tewkesbury Road and Elmbridge Court Roundabout was due to open on 2 September 1982.
1980 Brecon Bypass Opened on 22 August 1980 prior to the official opening on 28 October 1980 by Lord Gibson-Watt, former Welsh Office Minister of State.
1979 St Clears Bypass Opened on 9 November 1979.
1977 Witney Bypass Opened on 19 April 1977 by William Rodgers, Minister of Transport (per ATV Today broadcast).
1973 Llywel Diversion Opened in September 1973 per the Cymru : Wales 1973 Report
1971 Carmarthen Diversion Llysonnen Road to Blue Street. The 1.5 mile dual carriageway was substantially completed and brought into use by the end of 1971 per the Cymru : Wales 1971 Report.
1971 Andoversford Bypass An ATV Today clip of 20 September 1971 reported a crash on the bypass (MACE Archive). Work was ongoing in March 1970. It may have opened in 1970. Dual carriageway.
1969 Gloucester - Cheltenham Link Road Golden valley Bypass opened on 19 September 1969.
1969 Mitchel Troy - Raglan Opened on 1 February 1969.
1967 Mitchell Troy and Gibraltar Diversion Opened on 30 June 1967. It included the Gibraltar Tunnels.
1967 Monmouth Bypass: Dixton Extension Opened on 4 February 1967.
1964 Wheatley Bypass May have opened in 1963.
1964 Wilton - Goodrich Cross Fully opened in 1964, parts may have opened earlier.
1964 Herefordshire Boundary - Dixton, Monmouth The dualling was completed in 1964 per the Wales 1964 Report.
1964 Raglan Bypass Completed in 1964 per the Wales 1964 Report.
1960 Ross-on-Wye Bypass Opened on 3 September 1960 (prior to the M50 opening), It included the Bridstow Bridge over the River Wye. Opened as A449 (until the 1985 Eastern bypass).
1935 Oxford Northern Bypass Eynsham to Wolvercote Roundabout.
1934 Oxford Northern Bypass Wolvercote Roundabout to Headington opened in July 1934.
1928 Newbridge Diversion (Llanstinan) The diversion and new bridge were formally opened on 2 February 1928 by Wilfred Ashley, Minister of Transport. Reported as Diversion at Cilau. A 400 yard extension to the previous diversion was mentioned by the Western Mail of 7 January 1929. With a cutting and embankment it is likely be the north end of the Newbridge Diversion.
1928 Wolf's Castle Diversion The bypass of the Devil's Elbow hairpin in the village and new bridge were formally opened on 2 February 1928 by Wilfred Ashley, Minister of Transport. The new gradient was 1 in 14.
1927 Dashwood Hill Bypass Opened on 27 October 1927.
1869 Holborn Viaduct Bridge over the A201.


Links




A40
Sections
Junctions
Abbey Way Gyratory • Abergwili Roundabout • Arle Court Roundabout • Asthall Barrow Roundabout • Bank • Benhall Roundabout • Blackbridge Roundabout • Bridgend Square • Brynich roundabout • Burford Roundabout • Canaston Bridge Roundabout • Coxs Meadow • Cutteslowe Roundabout • Denham Roundabout • Dixton Roundabout • Ealing Common • Eden Roundabout • Elmbridge Court Roundabout • Eynsham Roundabout • Forest Gate Junction • Gipsy Corner • Golden Valley Junction • Greenford Roundabout • Hanger Lane Gyratory • Hardwick Gyratory • Headington Roundabout • Highnam Corner • Highnam Roundabout • Hildersley Roundabout • Hillingdon Circus • Holborn Circus • Holland Park Roundabout • Holtspur Temporary Terminal • Holtspur Roundabout • Knaves Beech Interchange • Lancaster Gate Gyratory • Llanboidy Road Roundabout • Llandeilo Roundabout • London End Roundabout • Marble Arch • Marston Interchange • Marylebone Flyover • Old Beaconsfield Roundabout • Over Ross Roundabout • Over Roundabout • Oxford Circus • Paddington Interchange • Pedestal Roundabout • Penblewin roundabout • Pensarn Roundabout • Perivale • Polish War Memorial • Pont Lesneven roundabout • Prendergast Roundabout • Pyebush Roundabout • Rafael roundabout • Raglan Interchange • Raglan Roundabout • Robeston Wathen Roundabout • Salutation Square • Savoy Circus • Scotchwell roundabout • Shepherds Bush Green • Square and Compass • St Giles Circus • St Pauls Gyratory • St Clears Roundabout • Stokenchurch Interchange • Sturt Farm Interchange • Swakeleys Roundabout • Tarell roundabout • Target Roundabout • Three Pigeons • Travellers Rest (Carmarthen) • Weston Cross • Westway Roundabout • Wheatley Interchange • Wilton Roundabout (Ross) • Windyhall roundabout • Withybush roundabout • Wolvercote Roundabout • Wood Lane
Services
Crossings
Roads
Places
Miscellaneous
Related Pictures
View gallery (340)
A40 Llansantffraed Junction Improvement - Coppermine - 11621.jpgUnusual fork sign - Coppermine - 12375.JPGSavoy Circus, East Acton-Shepherd's Bush - Geograph - 674856.jpgA40 Holborn Viaduct and City Temple, EC1 - Geograph - 668325.jpgModern A40 near Llanwrda (C) Alan Bowring - Geograph - 1037191.jpg
Other nearby roads
London
NCN1 • NCN20 • NCN21 • A1 • A1(M) • A1/Sandbox • A2 • A2(M) (Kidbrooke - Falconwood) • A3 • A4 • A5 • A10 • A11 • A11(M) • A12 • A13 • A20 • A21 • A23 • A23(M) Provisional Allocation • A24 • A30 • A30/Sandbox • A41 • A101 • A127 • A216 • A233 • B269 • B519 • Balham Loop • E1 (Old System) • E2 (Old System) • E5 (Old System) • E8 (Old System) • E13 • E15 • E30 • E31 (via Carlisle) • E31 (via Newcastle) • E33 (London - Glasgow) • E105 (London - Fishguard) • E107 (London - Tilbury) • E108 (London - Southend) • East Cross Route • Ermine Street • EuroVelo 2 • EuroVelo 5 • Great North Road • Holyhead Road • London Inner Ring Road • Longest Lane • M1 • M3 • M4 • M11 • M12 (Brentwood - Chelmsford) • M12 (Woodford - Brentwood) • M12 (Woodford - Maplin) • M13 • M14 • M15 • M16 • M20 • M23 • M25 • M30 • M40 • M41 • M100 • NCN13 • NCN4 • Northern and Western Motorway • Orbital Tunnel Route • Ringway 2 • Ringway 3 • Ringway 4 • RM3 • South Cross Route • T1 (Britain) • T2 (Britain) • T3 (Britain) • T4 (Britain) • T5 (Britain) • T6 (Britain) • T8 (Britain) • T9 (Britain) • T10 (Britain) • T11 (Britain) • T12 (Britain) • T31 (Britain) • T32 (Britain) • T33 (Britain) • T34 (Britain) • T35 (Britain) • Watling Street
Oxford
NCN51 • A34 • A42 (Reading - Birmingham) • A43 • A44 • A420 • A423 • A4074 • A4141 (Oxford) • A4142 • A4144 • A4158 • A4165 • A4260 • B480 • B4014 (Oxfordshire) • B4027 • B4150 • B4495 • B4496 • E05 • Longest Lane • M40 • Oxford Ring Road • T10 (Britain) • T13 (Britain) • T42 (Britain) • T47 (Britain) • T114 (Britain)
Gloucester
A38 • A48 • A417 • A419 • A430 • A437 (Gloucester - Newport) • A4150 (Gloucester) • A4173 • A4301 • A4302 • B4008 • B4063 • B4072 • B4073 • B4074 • B4214 • B4215 • B4641 • E116 (Old System) • Ermin Street • Longest Lane • M5 • T10 (Britain) • T16 (Britain) • T43 (Britain)
Brecon
A438 • A470 • A4059 • A4062 (Brecon) • B4520 • B4557 (Brecon) • B4558 • B4559 • B4601 • B4602 • Ffordd Cambria • NCN8 • T75 (Britain) • T77 (Britain)
Carmarthen
A1-A99
The First 99           A1  •  A2  •  A3  •  A4  •  A5  •  A6  •  A7  •  A8  •  A9  • A10 • A11 • A12 • A13 • A14 • A15 • A16 • A17 • A18 • A19
A20 • A21 • A22 • A23 • A24 • A25 • A26 • A27 • A28 • A29 • A30 • A31 • A32 • A33 • A34 • A35 • A36 • A37 • A38 • A39
A40 • A41 • A42 • A43 • A44 • A45 • A46 • A47 • A48 • A49 • A50 • A51 • A52 • A53 • A54 • A55 • A56 • A57 • A58 • A59
A60 • A61 • A62 • A63 • A64 • A65 • A66 • A67 • A68 • A69 • A70 • A71 • A72 • A73 • A74 • A75 • A76 • A77 • A78 • A79
A80 • A81 • A82 • A83 • A84 • A85 • A86 • A87 • A88 • A89 • A90 • A91 • A92 • A93 • A94 • A95 • A96 • A97 • A98 • A99
Motorway sectionsA1(M): (South Mimms - Baldock • Alconbury - Peterborough • Doncaster Bypass • Darrington - Birtley)
A3(M) • A8(M) Baillieston spur • A38(M) • A48(M) Cardiff spur • A57(M) • A58(M) • A64(M) • A66(M) • A74(M) • A92(M)
DefunctA1(M) Newcastle CME • A2(M) Medway Towns Bypass • A4(M) • A5(M) • A8(M) Renfrew bypass • A14 • A14(M) • A18(M) • A20(M) • A36(M)
A40(M): (Westway • Denham -Stokenchurch) • A41(M) • A42 • A46(M) • A48(M): (Port Talbot bypass • Morriston bypass) • A62(M) • A88 • A99
UnbuiltA2(M) Rochester Way Relief Road • A6(M): (Western route • Eastern route) • A14(M) (Expressway) • A34(M) • A48(M) Llantrisant Radial • A59(M) • A61(M)


SABRE - The Society for All British and Irish Road Enthusiasts
Discuss - Digest - Discover - Help