M40
M40 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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From: | Denham, Buckinghamshire (TQ043859) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To: | Umberslade, Warwickshire (SP131725) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Via: | Oxford, Banbury | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance: | 89 miles (143.2 km) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Meets: | M25, M42, A34, A40, A43, A46 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former Number(s): | A40(M) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Primary Destinations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Highway Authorities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Buckinghamshire • Northamptonshire • Oxfordshire • Warwickshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route outline (key) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Junction List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The M40 is the London – Birmingham Motorway. The High Wycombe and Beaconsfield bypasses were originally allocated the number A40(M). For many years, it only ran as far as Oxford, bypassing the A40. However, the plan had long been to extend it to the Birmingham area, which happened in 1989-1991. Some proposals had it reach the M5 via what is now the M42.
The M40 cuts through the Chilterns at Beacon Hill. To minimise the visual impact, it was planned to only put the new northbound carriageway in the cutting (or possible tunnel) - the southbound side would have been an online upgrade of the A40.
Between the junctions with the A34 and the M42, the M40 forms part of the North-South E05 that runs from Scotland to Spain.
Major Junctions
Denham Interchange
Denham Interchange is the location of a large free-flowing interchange between M40 and M25 in Buckinghamshire.
Handy Cross Interchange
Handy Cross Interchange is a busy junction for High Wycombe and the trunk A404 linking to the M4. In 2006, it was upgraded with cut-through lanes and free-flow turns.
Wheatley Interchange
Wheatley Interchange is the location of a major interchange between M40, A40 and A418 in Oxfordshire. It is where the extension to Birmingham had its southern end.
Wendlebury Interchange
Wendlebury Interchange is the location of a major interchange between M40, A34 and A41 in Oxfordshire. It is where North-South traffic turns off, and is often congested.
Ardley Interchange
Ardley Interchange is the location of a major interchange between M40 and A43 in Oxfordshire. It originally was a diamond interchange, but was reworked to its current, controversial, design as part of the A43 upgrade. The new layout of the junction causes long delays at peak hours, as there are many conflicting traffic movements on a single roundabout.
Longbridge Island
Longbridge Island is the location of a major interchange between M40 and A46 in Warwickshire. It originated as a junction between A46 and A41, and an A46 bypass for the roundabout was constructed recently.
Umberslade Interchange
The Umberslade Interchange is a triangular junction between M42 and M40 towards London. Priority is given between M40 and M42 westbound, with traffic wishing to remain on the M42 having to turn off. This junction would also have been the northern terminus of the unbuilt Strensham - Solihull Motorway. The M40 may have formed the East-West mainline, with the M50 taking the North - South mainline.
Services
Beaconsfield services
Main Article: Beaconsfield services
Beaconsfield services is a single-site MSA at M40 junction 2, and it is also signed on A355. The MSA, which opened in 2009, was the first to have a pub, which opened in 2014.
Oxford services
Oxford services is a single-site MSA at M40 junction 8A, and it is also signed on A40 and A418.
Cherwell Valley services
Cherwell Valley services is a single-site MSA at M40 junction 10, and it is also signed on A43 and B430.
Warwick services
Warwick Services was the first MSA constructed on M40. It opened in 1994.
Opening dates
Traffic Data
From http://www.dft.gov.uk/traffic-counts/
Link | 2002 AADF | 2006 AADF | 2010 AADF | 2014 AADF |
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J1 | 78,944 | 73,862 | 81,318 | 79,282 |
J1-1A | 94309 | 100443 | 88406 | 100475 |
J1A-2 | 111467 | 122900 | 108695 | 125942 |
J2-3 | 113690 | 119880 | 119378 | 121531 |
J3-4 | 97816 | 99554 | 111048 | 102332 |
J4-5 | 88954 | 91027 | 90781 | 92476 |
J5-6 | 88133 | 102765 | 101264 | 88356 |
J6-7 | 84670 | 94400 | 90588 | 94661 |
J7-8 | 91858 | 94204 | 96450 | 83690 |
J8-A40 | 21256 | 21749 | 21471 | 25454 |
J8-8A | 54576 | 66174 | 61159 | 63564 |
J8A-9 | 63789 | 73457 | 57931 | 63228 |
J9-10 | 110711 | 105490 | 111540 | 100501 |
J10-11 | 96926 | 83299 | 79817 | 79508 |
J11-12 | 78372 | 78768 | 73501 | 81997 |
J12-13 | 81002 | 80170 | 79183 | 88464 |
J13-14 | 74208 | 75915 | 76370 | 78875 |
J14-15 | 94388 | 100956 | 96093 | 101097 |
J15-16 | 81700 | 81461 | 81497 | 87321 |
J16-M42 | 80295 | 86428 | 87654 | 92551 |
M40-M42N | 48179 | 51857 | 52594 | 55531 |
M40-M42W | 32116 | 34573 | 35061 | 37020 |
Links
legislation.gov.uk
Roads.org.uk
Roads UK
Motorway Services