"Massive" improvements to the A38 in Somerset

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

Post Reply
Herned
Member
Posts: 1363
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 09:15

"Massive" improvements to the A38 in Somerset

Post by Herned »

My local rag used that as a headline yesterday, without the quote marks. There is a consultation out now here, prepare to underwhelmed
User avatar
c2R
SABRE Wiki admin
Posts: 11162
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2002 11:01

Re: "Massive" improvements to the A38 in Somerset

Post by c2R »

Hmm, an interactive map, joy.

They appear to be proposing:
* through lane at Edithmead Roundabout
* Lower Speed limit and Narrowing at Rooks Bridge
* alterations to Cross Junction (Old Coach Road/Cross Lane) to improve safety
* Strawberry Line crossing - improvements
* road narrowing at Sidcot
* "realigned kerblines" at Langford
* road widening around Bristol airport
* area south of Barrow - footpath and cycleway improvements

Major improvements indeed.
Is there a road improvement project going on near you? Help us to document it on the SABRE Wiki - help is available in the Digest forum.
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Get involved! - see our guide to scanning and stitching maps
User avatar
JammyDodge
Member
Posts: 485
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2018 13:17

Re: "Massive" improvements to the A38 in Somerset

Post by JammyDodge »

I don't think it is that bad. Is it desirable, no. Are they doing the best with what they can get funding wise, yes.

Some minor widening by the airport and realignment of some joining roads for safety.
Modifying the carriageway to encourage slower speeds in villages with footpath changes

Overall, not bad at all
Designing Tomorrow, Around the Past
fras
Member
Posts: 3590
Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2012 18:34

Re: "Massive" improvements to the A38 in Somerset

Post by fras »

Herned wrote: Fri Jun 25, 2021 09:05 My local rag used that as a headline yesterday, without the quote marks. There is a consultation out now here, prepare to underwhelmed
And what's the first thing you see when you open the link ? Yes, a wide old-type 3-lane trunk road with the centre hatched-off, forcing all traffic into the single remaining lane. No thought about making a 2-lane approach to the roundabout so people who want the M5, can at least form a separate queue. As soon as I read the aims, I had to groan.
  • Better connect local communities by active travel modes
    Improve journey reliability times along the A38 corridor
    Improve road safety for all travel modes
    Provide environmental enhancements and reduce carbon generation from alleviating traffic congestion
    Support housing delivery and the regional economy with improved transport infrastructure around J22 of the M5 motorway
- Active travel ? walking and cycling but nobody is going to work by bike or Shank's Pony are they, the distances are too
great

- Improve journey reliability time ? completely meaning less. I suppose this means "reliably lengthy"
- Improve road safety for all travel modes ? very laudable but real money needs spending, the traffic won't just disappear
- Environmental enhancements etc by alleviating congestion ? impossible of achievement if the other stuff is taken
forward, the congestion will get worse not better

- Support housing delivery etc with a better Jn 22 ? Build lots and lots of houses where the residents have to work some
distance away and clog-up the M5 even more

Sorry to be so cynical
M19
Member
Posts: 2249
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2001 05:00
Location: Rothwell, Northants

Re: "Massive" improvements to the A38 in Somerset

Post by M19 »

In English it will say:

“We want to strangle the capacity of this road in the vain hope that drivers will throw their car keys in the bin and either walk, cycle or take the bus. If they wish hard enough the bus that is absent may magically appear from somwhere.”
M19
DB617
Member
Posts: 1286
Joined: Mon Dec 25, 2017 00:51
Location: Bristol

Re: "Massive" improvements to the A38 in Somerset

Post by DB617 »

M19 wrote: Sun Jun 27, 2021 00:53 In English it will say:

“We want to strangle the capacity of this road in the vain hope that drivers will throw their car keys in the bin and either walk, cycle or take the bus. If they wish hard enough the bus that is absent may magically appear from somwhere.”
This is absolutely the West of England M.O. at the moment. As an essential delivery driver covering the area, it's really dispiriting to know that we are bundled along with everyone commuting in big SUVs as 'undesirables'.
Post Reply