M49 Avonmouth junction

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Gareth Thomas
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

Post by Gareth Thomas »

We went under this junction last Sunday, and from a road nerd point of view it was one of the highlights of the trip. :-D My partner couldn't believe it when I told him the whole saga about it.
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AAndy
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

Post by AAndy »

At least it is being used by some members of the public...Theres been a few cyclists and pedestrians heading over the motorway...so there must be some sort of access to it.
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

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AAndy wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 08:06 At least it is being used by some members of the public...Theres been a few cyclists and pedestrians heading over the motorway...so there must be some sort of access to it.
It replaces an existing overbridge which served a farm and formed part of a longer footpath/bridleway - so there's not really a significant change in non motorised amenity as a result of the contruction of this really ugly interchange.
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

Post by jackal »

c2R wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 09:41this really ugly interchange.
I feel that's a bit harsh. Google have some great imagery: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.54423 ... 192!8i4096
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

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jackal wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 10:34
c2R wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 09:41this really ugly interchange.
I feel that's a bit harsh. Google have some great imagery: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.54423 ... 192!8i4096
It's horrible - giant vertical walls supporting the elevated interchange, rather than sloping grassy banks that can be nicely planted with trees.
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

Post by Bryn666 »

c2R wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 10:36
jackal wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 10:34
c2R wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 09:41this really ugly interchange.
I feel that's a bit harsh. Google have some great imagery: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.54423 ... 192!8i4096
It's horrible - giant vertical walls supporting the elevated interchange, rather than sloping grassy banks that can be nicely planted with trees.
Exactly this, it's completely hideous. Straight out of the "innovation" budget, I can only presume the goal is to develop right up against these vertical walls.
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

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c2R wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 10:36
jackal wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 10:34
c2R wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 09:41this really ugly interchange.
I feel that's a bit harsh. Google have some great imagery: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.54423 ... 192!8i4096
It's horrible - giant vertical walls supporting the elevated interchange, rather than sloping grassy banks that can be nicely planted with trees.
I could learn to like it if that’s all it was, but because it recycles a bridge that is original to the motorway, it’s not even like that all the way around. One bridge has open space over sloping banks to either side, and is supported on a traditional style embankment, which bulges out from the embankments of the rest of the junction. It’s a real bargain basement piece of work, all function and no form.
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

Post by jackal »

Maybe you have a point. The overall impression is quite grassy, but zooming in the main 'walls' look bare.

From a technical standpoint it's still quite interesting, as the walls are virtually vertical but are earthy rather than concrete. Presumably it was also cheaper to build than traditional retaining walls. Even if this is not the best location there could be some good applications where the alternatives would be more expensive and even less attractive retaining walls or viaducts.

Edit: GSV from June inside the junction shows the walls somewhat more vegetated, though still with bare patches:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.54422 ... 384!8i8192

The construction technique is also more visible here: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.54389 ... 384!8i8192
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

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jackal wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 10:44From a technical standpoint it's still quite interesting, as the walls are virtually vertical but are earthy rather than concrete. Presumably it was also cheaper to build than traditional retaining walls. Even if this is not the best location there could be some good applications where the alternatives would be more expensive and even less attractive retaining walls or viaducts.
Yes, I’m probably being unduly harsh - it’s an interesting new engineering solution and probably has all sorts of uses. I’d be interested to see whether it’s successful and where else it might pop up. But it does look very stark and strange in such an open location.
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

Post by darkcape »

By using less material by having narrower embankments; it's quicker to build & more environmentally-friendly. The carbon cost of virgin aggregate is enormous not to mention the haulage cost.

The solution isn't even that innovative or new, engineered earth fill has been around for at least twenty years in one form or another if not even longer - except due to the natural flat ground & the WHOLE junction is made from it, it really stands out.

You can still plant trees on the surrounding land!
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

Post by A303Chris »

jackal wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 10:34
c2R wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 09:41this really ugly interchange.
I feel that's a bit harsh. Google have some great imagery: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.54423 ... 192!8i4096
I bet Travelodge are really peed off, thought they were getting a development site next to a motorway junction which they are just can't get on it. Working with developers, I bet there is a lot going on behind the scence with the land owner and promoter as I can not believe any of the companies are happy with the position.
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

Post by M19 »

The roundabout has an awful geometry to it with reverse curves because of the tight entry and exit angles.

If it gets marked as two lanes it’s not going to work well.

Why can’t it be more like J24 of the M5 for example?
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

Post by Alderpoint »

Let it snow.
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

Post by LoopyUpholland »

Long time reader of Pathetic Motorways, just wondering, will we see an update to include M49 chopsticks?
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

Post by SteelCamel »

LoopyUpholland wrote: Thu Oct 28, 2021 17:00 Long time reader of Pathetic Motorways, just wondering, will we see an update to include M49 chopsticks?
It appears that the roundabout is not under motorway regulations - there are no-chopsticks signs at the top of the slip roads, so presumably the corresponding chopsticks already exist on the entry slip roads. The only ones I can really see are the flag signs, though there looks to be some sort of rectangular sign on the left of the slip road.
If there is an M49 chopsticks sign, you ought to be able to get a photo from the footpath through the middle. I would have a look myself, but it's a long way from the north of Scotland...

Having done a bit more searching, there's definitely a flag sign with chopsticks and M49 on - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-53808525. But the sign that I thought may be the chopsticks sign is just out of shot here...
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

Post by DavidBrown »

There are most definitely chopsticks signs.
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Re: M49 Avonmouth junction

Post by SteelCamel »

DavidBrown wrote: Thu Oct 28, 2021 20:29 There are most definitely chopsticks signs.
Well spotted! Not a site I'm familiar with, but that's exactly where I was suggesting to look from. And confirms that I was correct in what I thought I saw in the Google view.
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