Testos Roundabout

The study of British and Irish roads - their construction, numbering, history, mapping, past and future official roads proposals and general roads musings.

There is a separate forum for Street Furniture (traffic lights, street lights, road signs etc).

Registered users get access to other forums including discussions about other forms of transport, driving, fantasy roads and wishlists, and roads quizzes.

Moderator: Site Management Team

User avatar
Mark Hewitt
Member
Posts: 31412
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:54
Location: Chester-le-Street

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by Mark Hewitt »

Tater656 wrote:
Chris5156 wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 22:14
Glenn A wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 19:18 Saw a report on Look North last night that stated the A19 flyover on Testos Roundabout will be completed on Sunday, and it will now be possible to drive from South Shields to the A1 in North Yorkshire without encountering a roundabout.
Further than that - Cramlington to the A1. Or, if you then join the A1, Buckden.
You could go all the way down to Brent Cross in London if you joined the M1
Probably as far as Folkestone? Unsure what the roundabout situation is on the channel tunnel perhaps even some way into France?
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35755
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by Bryn666 »

Mark Hewitt wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 09:17
Tater656 wrote:
Chris5156 wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 22:14
Further than that - Cramlington to the A1. Or, if you then join the A1, Buckden.
You could go all the way down to Brent Cross in London if you joined the M1
Probably as far as Folkestone? Unsure what the roundabout situation is on the channel tunnel perhaps even some way into France?
No roundabouts in the Channel Tunnel terminal but several give way/stop lines. If you count boarding the train as not passing a roundabout (or other stop), you can drive well into mainland Europe without encountering one - you can definitely get to the opposite end of France, say, the Italian border at Ventimiglia for sure or the Spanish border at San Sebastien.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
User avatar
Mark Hewitt
Member
Posts: 31412
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:54
Location: Chester-le-Street

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by Mark Hewitt »

Bryn666 wrote:
Mark Hewitt wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 09:17
Tater656 wrote: You could go all the way down to Brent Cross in London if you joined the M1
Probably as far as Folkestone? Unsure what the roundabout situation is on the channel tunnel perhaps even some way into France?
No roundabouts in the Channel Tunnel terminal but several give way/stop lines. If you count boarding the train as not passing a roundabout (or other stop), you can drive well into mainland Europe without encountering one - you can definitely get to the opposite end of France, say, the Italian border at Ventimiglia for sure or the Spanish border at San Sebastien.
Yeah in this case the article was just talking about roundabouts. All other types of junction permitted.

I wouldn't be surprised if you could drive clear out of Western Europe.
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35755
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by Bryn666 »

Mark Hewitt wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 10:19
Bryn666 wrote:
Mark Hewitt wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 09:17
Probably as far as Folkestone? Unsure what the roundabout situation is on the channel tunnel perhaps even some way into France?
No roundabouts in the Channel Tunnel terminal but several give way/stop lines. If you count boarding the train as not passing a roundabout (or other stop), you can drive well into mainland Europe without encountering one - you can definitely get to the opposite end of France, say, the Italian border at Ventimiglia for sure or the Spanish border at San Sebastien.
Yeah in this case the article was just talking about roundabouts. All other types of junction permitted.

I wouldn't be surprised if you could drive clear out of Western Europe.
Thread drift a little but there is a video somewhere on YouTube that hints the longest uninterrupted road journey starts in Portugal and heads across Europe - everyone forgets you can't do North to South America because of the Darien Gap.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
SteveA30
Member
Posts: 6017
Joined: Fri May 06, 2005 12:52
Location: Dorset

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by SteveA30 »

Sounds like a challenge for Top Gear
Roads and holidays in the west, before motorways.
http://trektothewest.shutterfly.com
http://holidayroads.webs.com/
User avatar
Mark Hewitt
Member
Posts: 31412
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:54
Location: Chester-le-Street

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by Mark Hewitt »

SteveA30 wrote:Sounds like a challenge for Top Gear
More like Ewan McGregor.
GC_NEMan1
Member
Posts: 1421
Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2004 10:24
Location: Near Peterlee

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by GC_NEMan1 »

Mark Hewitt wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 14:30 More like Ewan McGregor.
I think on Long Way Round they got as far as Chita (in Siberia) but then had to take a train to Tynda.
User avatar
Mark Hewitt
Member
Posts: 31412
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:54
Location: Chester-le-Street

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by Mark Hewitt »

GC_NEMan1 wrote:
Mark Hewitt wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 14:30 More like Ewan McGregor.
I think on Long Way Round they got as far as Chita (in Siberia) but then had to take a train to Tynda.
Yes they did cheat a little by taking a train. But still rode most do the way to Magadan.
Herned
Member
Posts: 1363
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 09:15

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by Herned »

Mark Hewitt wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 10:19 I wouldn't be surprised if you could drive clear out of Western Europe.
Kalamata is the furthest you can get until Bulgaria finishes the motorway from Sofia to the border. After that it would be somewhere in eastern Turkey
User avatar
jackal
Member
Posts: 7549
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 23:33
Location: M6

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by jackal »

Bryn666 wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 10:38
Mark Hewitt wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 10:19
Bryn666 wrote:
No roundabouts in the Channel Tunnel terminal but several give way/stop lines. If you count boarding the train as not passing a roundabout (or other stop), you can drive well into mainland Europe without encountering one - you can definitely get to the opposite end of France, say, the Italian border at Ventimiglia for sure or the Spanish border at San Sebastien.
Yeah in this case the article was just talking about roundabouts. All other types of junction permitted.

I wouldn't be surprised if you could drive clear out of Western Europe.
Thread drift a little but there is a video somewhere on YouTube that hints the longest uninterrupted road journey starts in Portugal and heads across Europe
One can make a route arbitrarily long by making it indirect, so I guess the idea is longest uninterrupted direct road journey?

Anyway, this looks about right:

talon-sagres - Copy.png

In fact I think you can't get quite as far as Talon without a ferry, so Yanskiy 65km to the east may be the furthest settlement.

http://mkweb.bcgsc.ca/googlemapschallen ... land-route
Paul7755
Member
Posts: 190
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2016 11:59
Location: Hampshire

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by Paul7755 »

Local BBC article from last weekend, announcing closure of the roundabout for a couple of days to “install the flyover”. :shock:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-57350773

I guess they must not have noticed the last couple of years of work. But seriously, isn’t it just yet another example of pretty hopeless local journalism?

Paul
User avatar
Mark Hewitt
Member
Posts: 31412
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:54
Location: Chester-le-Street

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by Mark Hewitt »

Paul7755 wrote:Local BBC article from last weekend, announcing closure of the roundabout for a couple of days to “install the flyover”. :shock:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-57350773

I guess they must not have noticed the last couple of years of work. But seriously, isn’t it just yet another example of pretty hopeless local journalism?

Paul
That VMS on the A1(M) makes sense now!
User avatar
A303Chris
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 3587
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 14:01
Location: Reading

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by A303Chris »

According to this press release, the flyover open yesterday.
The M25 - The road to nowhere
User avatar
wrinkly
Member
Posts: 8986
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:17
Location: Leeds

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by wrinkly »

A303Chris wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 09:46 According to this press release
And the soundtrack of the video begins with Allegri's Miserere. Must be a highly elevated road.
User avatar
SouthWest Philip
Member
Posts: 3478
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2002 19:35
Location: Evesham, Worcestershire

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by SouthWest Philip »

A303Chris wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 09:46 According to this press release, the flyover open yesterday.
A friend who lives in Whitley Bay posted on Facebook footage of them driving over the new flyover on Sunday, so it's been open since at least then!
User avatar
Mark Hewitt
Member
Posts: 31412
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:54
Location: Chester-le-Street

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by Mark Hewitt »

SouthWest Philip wrote:
A303Chris wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 09:46 According to this press release, the flyover open yesterday.
A friend who lives in Whitley Bay posted on Facebook footage of them driving over the new flyover on Sunday, so it's been open since at least then!
Yes. Official opening today.
jabbaboy
Member
Posts: 358
Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 09:25
Location: Newcastle

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by jabbaboy »

A303Chris wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 09:46 According to this press release, the flyover open yesterday.
since 2019, drivers can now continue along the A19 north or south without being held up at the Silverlink Roundabout (A19/A1084 Coast Road) with the creation of a new carriageway under the existing junction.

Bit of a mistake there, not sure where they've got that number from it's not as it's the numbers swapped etc (A1058).

Great news though and makes such a change travelling South from Northumberland without being stuck at either Silverlink/Testo's/Tyne Tunnel or Team Valley at rush hour.
User avatar
Mark Hewitt
Member
Posts: 31412
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:54
Location: Chester-le-Street

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by Mark Hewitt »

jabbaboy wrote:
A303Chris wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 09:46 According to this press release, the flyover open yesterday.
since 2019, drivers can now continue along the A19 north or south without being held up at the Silverlink Roundabout (A19/A1084 Coast Road) with the creation of a new carriageway under the existing junction.

Bit of a mistake there, not sure where they've got that number from it's not as it's the numbers swapped etc (A1058).

Great news though and makes such a change travelling South from Northumberland without being stuck at either Silverlink/Testo's/Tyne Tunnel or Team Valley at rush hour.
Heading for the A184 spine road we usually take the A194(M) then continue on the A194 to meet the A19 to the tunnel, even though the signed route is via the A184.

I suppose what matters is how traffic movements have changed when going from the A184 and A19. Especially coming from the A19 to the A184 I usually avoided it as Testos was one of those roundabouts that it doesn't matter how often you drive it, you still feel like you're doing it wrong.
GC_NEMan1
Member
Posts: 1421
Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2004 10:24
Location: Near Peterlee

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by GC_NEMan1 »

Mark Hewitt wrote: Thu Jul 08, 2021 06:52Heading for the A184 spine road
You mean A189 spine road surely?
User avatar
Mark Hewitt
Member
Posts: 31412
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:54
Location: Chester-le-Street

Re: Testos Roundabout

Post by Mark Hewitt »

GC_NEMan1 wrote:
Mark Hewitt wrote: Thu Jul 08, 2021 06:52Heading for the A184 spine road
You mean A189 spine road surely?
That's what I get for not looking it up lol
Post Reply