Destinations along convoluted routes
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- Bfivethousand
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Destinations along convoluted routes
An observation from my travels yesterday...
Sutton Coldfield is signed along the A4097 from M42 J9, a route confirmatory sign states it is 7 miles away.
If following the signed route to Sutton, the J9 sign could read "Sutton Coldfield A4097 (A5127, A452, A38)". Quite a complicated route for a signed destination that's not too far away.
Any better examples?
Sutton Coldfield is signed along the A4097 from M42 J9, a route confirmatory sign states it is 7 miles away.
If following the signed route to Sutton, the J9 sign could read "Sutton Coldfield A4097 (A5127, A452, A38)". Quite a complicated route for a signed destination that's not too far away.
Any better examples?
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- Ruperts Trooper
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Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
There must be many since the motorway building programme started - before the M6 & M42 were built, virtually no-one would have travelled into Sutton Coldfield from Dunton Farm, where Jct 9 is.
Lifelong motorhead
Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
If you want convoluted there's this sign pointing to Stoke-on-Trent from the suburbs of Northwich.
The sign says A530 (A50). If you follow the signs you'll take the A530, B5309, A54, M6 and A500 but probably not hit the A50 at all. I appreciate this is quite a bit more than 7 miles, however.
The sign says A530 (A50). If you follow the signs you'll take the A530, B5309, A54, M6 and A500 but probably not hit the A50 at all. I appreciate this is quite a bit more than 7 miles, however.
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Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
Daventry. Close to the M1 but bloomin' difficult to get to.
....but then again why would you want to go to Daventry?
....but then again why would you want to go to Daventry?
M19
Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
Difficult ... seriously?M19 wrote:Daventry. Close to the M1 but bloomin' difficult to get to.
Come off the M1 at J16, where Daventry A45 is signed as the only exit destination. Turn left along the A45, and follow it straight ahead until you get to Daventry. Job done. Yes, it's a bit slow through Weedon Bec at the moment, but the by-pass that is currently being built will solve that.
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Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
I'm always impressed at the ambition of this sign on what is a fairly average non-trunk route.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.67603 ... 312!8i6656
(A423) doesn't get a mention though.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.67603 ... 312!8i6656
(A423) doesn't get a mention though.
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Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
Until the extension of the M40 towards Birmingham in 1991 and the related upgrades to the A34, this road was the primary A423 and had been a significant route between the M4 at Maidenhead and the West Midlands via Oxford. The sign looks quite old and may have been erected shortly after the route lost primary status and the road renumbered as the A4074, which left the isolated mile or so of the A423 Ring Road between Iffley and the A34 south of Oxford.tipsynurse wrote:I'm always impressed at the ambition of this sign on what is a fairly average non-trunk route.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.67603 ... 312!8i6656
(A423) doesn't get a mention though.
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Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
Very good point but as it has patches it must be at least second generation A4074 signs. Quite possible it was just replaced like-for-like (twice) though because as you say that would explain the absence of the A423.Robert Kilcoyne wrote:Until the extension of the M40 towards Birmingham in 1991 and the related upgrades to the A34, this road was the primary A423 and had been a significant route between the M4 at Maidenhead and the West Midlands via Oxford. The sign looks quite old and may have been erected shortly after the route lost primary status and the road renumbered as the A4074, which left the isolated mile or so of the A423 Ring Road between Iffley and the A34 south of Oxford.
Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
https://www.instantstreetview.com/@52.7 ... .55p,2.25z
Yep, that road will get you to Ludlow. If you turn round 180 degrees at the mini-roundabout and head back in the other direction, go back through town and out the other side, in which case it's actually only 30 miles. Don't expect to see any signs to it on the road that actually goes there though, look for Leominster signs instead.
It'll get you to Telford as well, provided you take any right turn that is not a dead end, and head in that direction, 90 degrees to the direction this road goes, for 15 miles or so.
And of course like all signs in Shrewsbury it has to confuse visitors with apparent references to Tyneside. I suppose it does head more towards there than towards Ludlow.
(In all seriousness, I think its purpose is to help lorry drivers who are forced to go up that road to get out of town due to a horrible low bridge that for some reason has been allowed to form the central node of the local road network, with as many routes as possible sent under it via a one-way gyratory. The 180-degree turn for Ludlow isn't an option for HGVs)
Yep, that road will get you to Ludlow. If you turn round 180 degrees at the mini-roundabout and head back in the other direction, go back through town and out the other side, in which case it's actually only 30 miles. Don't expect to see any signs to it on the road that actually goes there though, look for Leominster signs instead.
It'll get you to Telford as well, provided you take any right turn that is not a dead end, and head in that direction, 90 degrees to the direction this road goes, for 15 miles or so.
And of course like all signs in Shrewsbury it has to confuse visitors with apparent references to Tyneside. I suppose it does head more towards there than towards Ludlow.
(In all seriousness, I think its purpose is to help lorry drivers who are forced to go up that road to get out of town due to a horrible low bridge that for some reason has been allowed to form the central node of the local road network, with as many routes as possible sent under it via a one-way gyratory. The 180-degree turn for Ludlow isn't an option for HGVs)
- Steven
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Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
Newcastle is the appropriate Primary Destination in that area though. It's not as if it's not a sizeable place either!Ambosc79 wrote:And of course like all signs in Shrewsbury it has to confuse visitors with apparent references to Tyneside. I suppose it does head more towards there than towards Ludlow
It's kind of like complaining that roads out of Telford signed as Newport don't take you to Monmouthshire. Or the Isle of Wight.
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- Chris Bertram
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Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
Newcastle-under-Lyme is big enough to be a borough in its own right, separate from its neighbour Stoke-on-Trent, and leaving Shrewsbury in that direction you will reach Newcastle before you get to Stoke.Steven wrote:Newcastle is the appropriate Primary Destination in that area though. It's not as if it's not a sizeable place either!
It's kind of like complaining that roads out of Telford signed as Newport don't take you to Monmouthshire. Or the Isle of Wight.
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Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
Seems the appropriate thread for one that I saw yesterday that I just can't believe.
To anyone who doesn't know, it doesn't take a genius to work out what the quickest route is here if travelling west from Emerson's Green to the M32 along the A4174 Ring Road, even with the current roadworks. And, sure enough, that's how it was signed until at some point very recently. Now they want you to take this route. Anyone care to explain the logic?
To anyone who doesn't know, it doesn't take a genius to work out what the quickest route is here if travelling west from Emerson's Green to the M32 along the A4174 Ring Road, even with the current roadworks. And, sure enough, that's how it was signed until at some point very recently. Now they want you to take this route. Anyone care to explain the logic?
- A42_Sparks
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Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
What about 'Wakefield A61' being signed at the M621 junction coming out of Leeds? Then it dumps you at a little roundabout and you have to negotiate through several housing estates.
- lefthandedspanner
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Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
Presumably because "Wakefield via several unsigned roundabouts, a road which isn't the A61 but used to be, that eventually leads to the A61 at M621 junction 7" is too long to fit on a single sign.A42_Sparks wrote:What about 'Wakefield A61' being signed at the M621 junction coming out of Leeds? Then it dumps you at a little roundabout and you have to negotiate through several housing estates.
Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
Wow they want you to travel an extra 20km! You are likely to use about 2 extra litres of fuel doing that! For a council that wants to be more environmentally friendly they arent thinking too well.DavidBrown wrote:Seems the appropriate thread for one that I saw yesterday that I just can't believe.
To anyone who doesn't know, it doesn't take a genius to work out what the quickest route is here if travelling west from Emerson's Green to the M32 along the A4174 Ring Road, even with the current roadworks. And, sure enough, that's how it was signed until at some point very recently. Now they want you to take this route. Anyone care to explain the logic?
I suppose if you want the M4 east then you will just think, oh well Im at the next junction now, but for the M4 west or using the M32 to get into the city thats a useless route!
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Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
Who's using the A61 out of Leeds for that anyway? Surely you'd go down to M1 J41 and come off there!lefthandedspanner wrote:Presumably because "Wakefield via several unsigned roundabouts, a road which isn't the A61 but used to be, that eventually leads to the A61 at M621 junction 7" is too long to fit on a single sign.A42_Sparks wrote:What about 'Wakefield A61' being signed at the M621 junction coming out of Leeds? Then it dumps you at a little roundabout and you have to negotiate through several housing estates.
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- lefthandedspanner
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Re: Destinations along convoluted routes
Non-motorway traffic, for one; though the most direct route within the city is the A639 (ex-A61), which only shows signs for Rothwell and Pontefract until you get to the edge of the urban area.Bryn666 wrote:Who's using the A61 out of Leeds for that anyway? Surely you'd go down to M1 J41 and come off there!lefthandedspanner wrote:Presumably because "Wakefield via several unsigned roundabouts, a road which isn't the A61 but used to be, that eventually leads to the A61 at M621 junction 7" is too long to fit on a single sign.A42_Sparks wrote:What about 'Wakefield A61' being signed at the M621 junction coming out of Leeds? Then it dumps you at a little roundabout and you have to negotiate through several housing estates.