A358 Taunton to Southfields

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Richardf
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by Richardf »

Peter350 wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2019 00:03
hoagy_ytfc wrote:
A pedant writes....

The A37 doesn't go to Weymouth.
It used to, before the great numbering revision of 1935 which saw the bit south of Dorchester become the A354 to ‘provide a coherent route number towards London’. The planners of that time obviously didn’t have the crystal ball to realise that it would eventually become redundant as a strategic route due to the construction of the M3 and M27, which in turn made the A31/A35 a much better candidate for upgrading. In this day and age, the Dorchester - Weymouth road ought to revert back to A37 again to reflect its strategic importance for traffic heading to Bristol and the West Country, as well as much of Wales.
Agree, A37 would be a good number for Weymouth-Yeovil- A303. Leave Portland out, that could be served by an extended A353.
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Peter350
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by Peter350 »

Richardf wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2019 16:59
Peter350 wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2019 00:03
hoagy_ytfc wrote:
A pedant writes....

The A37 doesn't go to Weymouth.
It used to, before the great numbering revision of 1935 which saw the bit south of Dorchester become the A354 to ‘provide a coherent route number towards London’. The planners of that time obviously didn’t have the crystal ball to realise that it would eventually become redundant as a strategic route due to the construction of the M3 and M27, which in turn made the A31/A35 a much better candidate for upgrading. In this day and age, the Dorchester - Weymouth road ought to revert back to A37 again to reflect its strategic importance for traffic heading to Bristol and the West Country, as well as much of Wales.
Agree, A37 would be a good number for Weymouth-Yeovil- A303. Leave Portland out, that could be served by an extended A353.
Don’t forget that the A353 now terminates on the Weymouth Relief Road at the Jurassic Roundabout. If you plan to extend it further south, you’ll have to terminate the Dorchester - Weymouth route number (whether it’s A37 or A354) there, unless you intend to create a useless multiplex as far as Weymouth town centre which is a pretty bizarre idea IMO. Better to have the Dorchester to Portland route as a single road number since it makes more strategic sense.
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by Richardf »

Bump.
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by SteveA30 »

https://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/new ... o_AoRpzCJM

Extra added complication at J25 now. How long before the Henlade bypass is connected to it.
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by Richardf »

SteveA30 wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 11:40 https://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/new ... o_AoRpzCJM

Extra added complication at J25 now. How long before the Henlade bypass is connected to it.
Looks a right mess.
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by A320Driver »

Richardf wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 12:45
SteveA30 wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 11:40 https://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/new ... o_AoRpzCJM

Extra added complication at J25 now. How long before the Henlade bypass is connected to it.
Looks a right mess.
Yep, and that’s before a strategic road from the South and South East slams into the roundabout. It’s a mix of local, regional and strategic traffic.

Something like this would be better. Two bridges and a D2 across farmland is all that’s needed.
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jackal
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by jackal »

^
The preferred route actually started life looking like that. It was the most popular option in the 2018 consultation. Then in a classic Highways England move they removed the two freeflow junctions, plugged everything into the new development roundabout and called the resulting monstrosity the preferred route. They're currently finalising the contract with Taylor Woodrow without the public being consulted on anything like the proposed design.

Consultation (see Pink option): https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.co ... nedOff.pdf
PRA: https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.co ... .06.19.pdf
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by Richardf »

jackal wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 15:57 ^
The preferred route actually started life looking like that. It was the most popular option in the 2018 consultation. Then in a classic Highways England move they removed the two freeflow junctions, plugged everything into the new development roundabout and called the resulting monstrosity the preferred route. They're currently finalising the contract with Taylor Woodrow without the public being consulted on anything like the proposed design.

Consultation (see Pink option): https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.co ... nedOff.pdf
PRA: https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.co ... .06.19.pdf
So basically its Pink without the freeflow bit between junctions A and B? Shocking. Athough I suppose it does leave the door open for freeflow improvement at a later date. Once they realise the current plans are inadequate and becomes hopelessly congested!
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SouthWest Philip
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by SouthWest Philip »

Richardf wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 12:45
SteveA30 wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 11:40 https://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/new ... o_AoRpzCJM

Extra added complication at J25 now. How long before the Henlade bypass is connected to it.
Looks a right mess.
Indeed. Given what they've done, it would actually be better to close off the old A358(E) connection from the jnc 25 roundabout altogether.
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by jackal »

Richardf wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 16:32 So basically its Pink without the freeflow bit between junctions A and B? Shocking.
Exactly.
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by Herned »

jackal wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 15:57 The preferred route actually started life looking like that. It was the most popular option in the 2018 consultation. Then in a classic Highways England move they removed the two freeflow junctions, plugged everything into the new development roundabout and called the resulting monstrosity the preferred route. They're currently finalising the contract with Taylor Woodrow without the public being consulted on anything like the proposed design.
Taylor Woodrow? Is that really right? They don't normally build major roads do they?
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jackal
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by jackal »

Herned wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 21:35Taylor Woodrow? Is that really right? They don't normally build major roads do they?
They have been one of HE's major contractors for the south west for a couple of years so I expect they will take on a few schemes coming through in the region. Also this is the civil engineering division that was sold to Vinci some years ago, rather than the better known housebuilder Taylor Wimpey plc.

Anyway, from the scheme page:
27 November 2020

Early works on the scheme’s preliminary design progressing

We are pleased to be able to confirm that the A358 scheme has now been allocated to Taylor Woodrow following a competitive tender process through the Regional Delivery Partnerships framework.

We are now in the process of finalising the scheme contract with Taylor Woodrow, which is scheduled to be awarded early next year. Taylor Woodrow are also progressing early works on the scheme’s preliminary design.
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AAndy
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by AAndy »

Traffic jam time soon?
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by Richardf »

Richardf wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 12:45
SteveA30 wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 11:40 https://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/new ... o_AoRpzCJM

Extra added complication at J25 now. How long before the Henlade bypass is connected to it.
Looks a right mess.
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by Norfolktolancashire »

AAndy wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 09:29 Traffic jam time soon?
Exactly!

How many lanes can you put on a roundabout?!
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by vlad »

Norfolktolancashire wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 19:54 How many lanes can you put on a roundabout?!
Six (M40 J9)?

I'll admit that not all of them go all the way round.
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by Chris5156 »

vlad wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 20:09
Norfolktolancashire wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 19:54 How many lanes can you put on a roundabout?!
Six (M40 J9)?

I'll admit that not all of them go all the way round.
I see your six and raise you seven at Hanger Lane.
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by owen b »

Chris5156 wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 15:45
vlad wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 20:09
Norfolktolancashire wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 19:54 How many lanes can you put on a roundabout?!
Six (M40 J9)?

I'll admit that not all of them go all the way round.
I see your six and raise you seven at Hanger Lane.
If you go to the aerial view there's a short stretch at Hanger Lane that's eight lanes :o .
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AAndy
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by AAndy »

New M5 Junction Roundabout exit roundabout on the A358 Southbound now open.

Video here: https://youtu.be/piodNBdZjcs

I must just mention, I think the quality of the work and the design is of a very high standard here, the alignment and layout of the road/lanes etc is better than normal - having also used the works on the north side for a while too. Well done.
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Re: A358 Taunton to Southfields

Post by DavidBrown »

Whilst I dislike how the scheme is just to open up new developments, and how it sends the A358 on a roundabout route (albeit only planned to be for the short term), the thing that I hate the most about the scheme? The signage - absolute dross. Taunton's never been great at its signage, but the new stuff going in here is just the absolute bottom of the pile rubbish, both what I saw in person before lockdown and what I can see in the video. Just don't show Bryn!

Somewhat off topic, but the upgrade to the VMS on the M5 appear to finally be progressing. There was still no sign of anything other than a bit of dirt dug up here and there last time I went up that way - now the sign frames appear to be up. Interesting to see the posts at the on-slip are for AMI's rather than MS1's - I don't think that VSL is planned for the M5, but may have missed something?
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