A6118 at Wansford in Cambridgeshire

[AtlanticHighway]

At Wansford near Peterborough, there is a stretch of A road that is only about 800metres long. Does anybody know why is it "A" status, since this road only goes to the village which has a B road running through the middle of it.

[ForestChav]

No I don't, but it might be there as an alternative to the incredibly tight slips at A1/A47?

[A68Nick]

At Wansford near Peterborough, there is a stretch of A road that is only about 800metres long. Does anybody know why is it "A" status, since this road only goes to the village which has a B road running through the middle of it.

I'm afraid I have no idea but for those wishing to know the location, they can be found here.

It does indeed seem a bit weird that the A6118 should exist for such a tiny stretch and only to provide an alternative link between the A1 and the A47. My only thought is that A-road status may provide certain additional levels of funding.

Cheers,
Nick

[AtlanticHighway]

Even starnger, given how short it is, it almost goes through 3 county/unitary areas, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough UA, but only about 100metres from Northants border. It would seem more logical for the B671 to continue through the village and make the slip onto it primary.

[Paul]

It's a historical artifact: it used to be the A1 before the bypass ("Old North Road" -- bit of a giveaway). Also the meeting point of two Roman Roads. I like going past Wansford on trips to/from Cambridge as there's a Little Chef that occupies what looks like a 1930s cinema.

[coasterjunkie]

It is only an unofficial link between the A1 and A47 as the A6118 isn't signed off the A1 - signs only indicate that the turning leads to Wansford itself.

Also, that Little Chef was one of the ones that closed following the recent takeover!

Andy

[worcsfan]

At Wansford near Peterborough, there is a stretch of A road that is only about 800metres long. Does anybody know why is it "A" status, since this road only goes to the village which has a B road running through the middle of it.

I'm afraid I have no idea but for those wishing to know the location, they can be found here.

It does indeed seem a bit weird that the A6118 should exist for such a tiny stretch and only to provide an alternative link between the A1 and the A47. My only thought is that A-road status may provide certain additional levels of funding.

Cheers,
Nick

Cf. the 'old' A4032 in Hagley, Worcs.

[c2R]

Driving past earlier, the A6118 has been obscured from the signs. I'm not sure if its been declassified or if instead the number has simply been covered up as it doesn't really add anything in terms of navigation (and perhaps even detracts from it).

[thatapanydude]

On the A1 north and southbound references to the A6118 at Wansford have not been included in the new signage put up recently as well.

They could extend the B671 to Wansford if needs be.

[Berk]

Yes, I certainly wouldn’t recommend it being kept as an A-road. It’s only an S2 bridge.

[Euan]

It is a strange one. One would think that the B671 to the south would have been more entitled to an A number than the old road through Wansford. In comparison to most roads with unsigned numbers (often links in town centres or to piers) this one seems rather long to be unsigned.

[Berk]

It is still signed from the A47.

[Euan]

It is still signed from the A47.

Looking through older Street View imagery the number was not signed at all on the A1 as of 2009, so the anomaly has existed for quite a long time. The A6118 number is probably still in use despite not being signed on the A1. But have you noticed that the exit slip at the southern end of the road is in quite poor condition? The images are from over a year ago and I do not know if it still looks like this now, but the road surface is very poor and the area looks slightly overgrown. Not signing the number might "discourage" drivers from using the slip if it is not that suitable for large amounts of traffic.

[Berk]

You are thinking of the London Road (A6118) turn-off, aren’t you?? Not the Peterborough Road turn-off (next to the Mermaid/Little Chef/Ducati).

That is like a country lane in the dark.

The plain fact is, if you’ve somehow managed to survive crossing the bridge, you’ve got one hill, and then another steeper hill to follow, to get back to the A47 (and A1).

You really don’t want anyone other than locals around there.

[Mettie]

Yes, I certainly wouldn’t recommend it being kept as an A-road. It’s only an S2 bridge.

Actually, it’s an S1 bridge, which makes it very interesting when people don’t bother reading the signs at either end, and try to storm straight over! Cue a certain amount of arm waving, and sudden reversing...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Berk]

I meant S1 - must be my phone typing...

[c2R]

It is still signed from the A47.

Looking through older Street View imagery the number was not signed at all on the A1 as of 2009, so the anomaly has existed for quite a long time. The A6118 number is probably still in use despite not being signed on the A1. But have you noticed that the exit slip at the southern end of the road is in quite poor condition? The images are from over a year ago and I do not know if it still looks like this now, but the road surface is very poor and the area looks slightly overgrown. Not signing the number might "discourage" drivers from using the slip if it is not that suitable for large amounts of traffic.

For avoidance of doubt, it's this sign that has the number covered up: https://www.google.com/maps/@52.5849479 ... 312!8i6656

[Euan]

The sign must have been covered up within the last year and a half or so. Has the number been covered up on the other signs at the roundabout since Google's most recent trip there as well? If it really is the case the A6118 is now genuinely defunct, the most logical step to take would be to simply extend the B671 through Wansford and place the number over any signs which still have the old number on them rather than leaving the B671 as it is which would be isolated from the A1/A47.

[Berk]

That’s on the A47, like I said. And if it has been covered up, it must’ve been within the last few weeks/months.

I don’t get around there half as much as I used to, but that sign was still untouched last year.

And whilst extending the B671 into Wansford itself is a good idea, it would be even better if it was extended back along ‘old’ Oundle Road, even all the way to the A15 in Peterborough.

The A605 within Peterborough is obviously a relic of times past. No-one would expect to use it as a through route now. It’s telling how it’s replacemenr starts a junction down off the A1.

[c2R]

The sign must have been covered up within the last year and a half or so.

It'll be within the last four months or so as that was the last time I went that way.

Has the number been covered up on the other signs at the roundabout since Google's most recent trip there as well?

No idea, I travelled from A1N to A47W

If it really is the case the A6118 is now genuinely defunct

I don't know that it necessarily is the case; more likely that hiding the number is done to try and prevent anyone driving that way thinking it goes somewhere useful because it has an "A" number.