A1 Northumberland Dualling

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Paul7755
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by Paul7755 »

jackal wrote: Thu Aug 22, 2019 15:31 Consultation on Alnwick to Ellingham now open. Looks a good scheme.

https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.co ... py-of-a2e/
Maybe I’m getting too cynical in my old age, but is there a good reason why this isn’t referred to as just the Denwick to North Charlton scheme? :confused:

Is there possibly a hint of exaggeration with the way they name schemes nowadays, and is there a risk that it aids those who would wish to prevent any road improvement?

Paul
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KeithW
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by KeithW »

Paul7755 wrote: Thu Aug 22, 2019 17:35
Maybe I’m getting too cynical in my old age, but is there a good reason why this isn’t referred to as just the Denwick to North Charlton scheme? :confused:

Is there possibly a hint of exaggeration with the way they name schemes nowadays, and is there a risk that it aids those who would wish to prevent any road improvement?

Paul
Its more likely just that Alnwick and Ellingham are the major settlements and their location is more widely know. In the same way the Leeming to Barton scheme was not Little Holtby to Barton. I have driven the A1 to Bamburgh, Lindisfarne and points north but if someone published a scheme to dual a road between Denwick and North Charlton I would have to turn to a map to be sure where it is.
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Mark Hewitt
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

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IMO there isn't much point in this scheme without Morpeth to Felton, which is far more pressing. Is that still proceeding?
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KeithW
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by KeithW »

Mark Hewitt wrote: Fri Aug 23, 2019 09:41 IMO there isn't much point in this scheme without Morpeth to Felton, which is far more pressing. Is that still proceeding?
Highways England shows the the status of the scheme as planned on its site. The main hurdle is getting the money approved.
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... h-16028974
Paul7755
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by Paul7755 »

KeithW wrote: Fri Aug 23, 2019 09:21
Paul7755 wrote: Thu Aug 22, 2019 17:35
Maybe I’m getting too cynical in my old age, but is there a good reason why this isn’t referred to as just the Denwick to North Charlton scheme? :confused:

Is there possibly a hint of exaggeration with the way they name schemes nowadays, and is there a risk that it aids those who would wish to prevent any road improvement?

Paul
Its more likely just that Alnwick and Ellingham are the major settlements and their location is more widely know. In the same way the Leeming to Barton scheme was not Little Holtby to Barton. I have driven the A1 to Bamburgh, Lindisfarne and points north but if someone published a scheme to dual a road between Denwick and North Charlton I would have to turn to a map to be sure where it is.
I still think it’s quite a stretch to think of Ellingham as a major place, as opposed to how Alnwick obviously is. I think the idea is that the new bit allows them to say that it provides continuous dual carriageway “as far as Ellingham”, assuming Morpeth to Felton happens as well.
C83
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by C83 »

Mark Hewitt wrote: Fri Aug 23, 2019 09:41 IMO there isn't much point in this scheme without Morpeth to Felton, which is far more pressing. Is that still proceeding?
Politically yes, the smaller the remaining gaps, the greater the pressure to fix them. Even if the section being built isn't the most urgent.
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by Glenn A »

Much as it's like a trip back in time to 1959 to drive on these S2 sections of the A1 in Northumberland, they are totally inadequate and it's a shame that while most of the remaining S2 sections of the A1 in Scotland have been dualled, most of the English A1 north of Morpeth is still S2. It is time that this road is upgraded as for all there is the alternative of the A697/A68 route to Edinburgh, this is more prone to snow in winter.
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jackal
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

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Mark Hewitt wrote: Fri Aug 23, 2019 09:41 IMO there isn't much point in this scheme without Morpeth to Felton, which is far more pressing. Is that still proceeding?
That one is further along. Should be submitted to the planning inspectorate this year for 2020/21 start of works.
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Mark Hewitt
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by Mark Hewitt »

jackal wrote:
Mark Hewitt wrote: Fri Aug 23, 2019 09:41 IMO there isn't much point in this scheme without Morpeth to Felton, which is far more pressing. Is that still proceeding?
That one is further along. Should be submitted to the planning inspectorate this year for 2020/21 start of works.
Excellent. It’s well overdue.
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by Glenn A »

Mark Hewitt wrote: Sat Aug 24, 2019 18:29
jackal wrote:
Mark Hewitt wrote: Fri Aug 23, 2019 09:41 IMO there isn't much point in this scheme without Morpeth to Felton, which is far more pressing. Is that still proceeding?
That one is further along. Should be submitted to the planning inspectorate this year for 2020/21 start of works.
Excellent. It’s well overdue.
Good, now let's see if the whole of the A1 can be dualled by the end of the next decade.
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the cheesecake man
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by the cheesecake man »

Glenn A wrote: Sat Aug 24, 2019 18:47
Mark Hewitt wrote: Sat Aug 24, 2019 18:29
jackal wrote: That one is further along. Should be submitted to the planning inspectorate this year for 2020/21 start of works.
Excellent. It’s well overdue.
Good, now let's see if the whole of the A1 can be dualled by the end of the next decade.
Very sensible idea. I'm sure the British and Scottish governments will see that also.

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Mark Hewitt
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by Mark Hewitt »

It’s arguable if substantial dialling is needed North of Alnwick. The problem area has always been around Morpeth, that should have been done 20-30 years ago.
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by Bryn666 »

North of Morpeth is surely in the nice to have rather than essential bracket.

Safety improvements and some overtaking facilities would surely be a good interim measure.
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Mark Hewitt
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

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Bryn666 wrote:North of Morpeth is surely in the nice to have rather than essential bracket.

Safety improvements and some overtaking facilities would surely be a good interim measure.
Do you mean North of Alnwick? Morpeth to Felton is essential. Always nose to tail slow moving traffic there.
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Bryn666
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by Bryn666 »

Mark Hewitt wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2019 10:59
Bryn666 wrote:North of Morpeth is surely in the nice to have rather than essential bracket.

Safety improvements and some overtaking facilities would surely be a good interim measure.
Do you mean North of Alnwick? Morpeth to Felton is essential. Always nose to tail slow moving traffic there.
I believe I do. Northumberland is a weak point of my geography that I should remedy.
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KeithW
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by KeithW »

The main issues north of Alnwick are safety and resilience rather than traffic levels. There are a lot of flat junctions and any accident or even a simple breakdown can cause massive tail backs as there are very few diversion routes suitable for HGV's between Alnwick and Berwick. On the BBC programme Britains Longest Road there were major issues reopening the A1 in Northumberland as the recovery trucks were stuck at the end of a queue that was several miles long.
crazyknightsfan
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by crazyknightsfan »

How long ago was the realignment/dualling at Charlton Burn done?
There is still a blue-bordered ADS on the old alignment

Edit: This doc says:
Despite it no longer being a matter of course, the Stannington Bridge to
Clifton improvement (1987) was economically justified to complete the
dual-carriageway between Newcastle and Morpeth, as was a small
improvements at Brownieside, north of Alnwick, in 1993.
Quite a few good opening dates which could be put into the Wiki if anyone has some idle time :)
Altnabreac
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by Altnabreac »

crazyknightsfan wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2019 03:46 How long ago was the realignment/dualling at Charlton Burn done?
There is still a blue-bordered ADS on the old alignment

Edit: This doc says:
Despite it no longer being a matter of course, the Stannington Bridge to
Clifton improvement (1987) was economically justified to complete the
dual-carriageway between Newcastle and Morpeth, as was a small
improvements at Brownieside, north of Alnwick, in 1993.
Quite a few good opening dates which could be put into the Wiki if anyone has some idle time :)
1993 sounds about right. I remember going out during a half term holiday to help my dad measure sightlines at this junction as part of NCC's acceptance of the new side roads
https://www.google.com/maps/@55.5123566 ... 312!8i6656
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by Glenn A »

crazyknightsfan wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2019 03:46 How long ago was the realignment/dualling at Charlton Burn done?
There is still a blue-bordered ADS on the old alignment

Edit: This doc says:
Despite it no longer being a matter of course, the Stannington Bridge to
Clifton improvement (1987) was economically justified to complete the
dual-carriageway between Newcastle and Morpeth, as was a small
improvements at Brownieside, north of Alnwick, in 1993.
Quite a few good opening dates which could be put into the Wiki if anyone has some idle time :)
Stannington was by passed in 1987, replacing a 50 mph S2 section of the A1. Also the A1 skirted around part of the village, but this wasn't considered good enough, and a full by pass was built to end the 2 mile section of S2 between Newcastle and Morpeth.
Around this time, a 2 mile missing link of D2 on the A69 between Newcastle and Corbridge was built, but with a pair of at grade junctions remaining where you need to be vigilant. ( The filling station next to the original carriageway was demolished in 1986).
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Mark Hewitt
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Re: A1 Northumberland Dualling

Post by Mark Hewitt »

Glenn A wrote:
crazyknightsfan wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2019 03:46 How long ago was the realignment/dualling at Charlton Burn done?
There is still a blue-bordered ADS on the old alignment

Edit: This doc says:
Despite it no longer being a matter of course, the Stannington Bridge to
Clifton improvement (1987) was economically justified to complete the
dual-carriageway between Newcastle and Morpeth, as was a small
improvements at Brownieside, north of Alnwick, in 1993.
Quite a few good opening dates which could be put into the Wiki if anyone has some idle time :)
Stannington was by passed in 1987, replacing a 50 mph S2 section of the A1. Also the A1 skirted around part of the village, but this wasn't considered good enough, and a full by pass was built to end the 2 mile section of S2 between Newcastle and Morpeth.
Around this time, a 2 mile missing link of D2 on the A69 between Newcastle and Corbridge was built, but with a pair of at grade junctions remaining where you need to be vigilant. ( The filling station next to the original carriageway was demolished in 1986).
Where was this missing link part?
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