Roads that got blocked off

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

OliverH
Member
Posts: 349
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:52
Location: West Yorkshire

Roads that got blocked off

Post by OliverH »

A few times On GSV I have seen roads that have been blocked off by using bollards, concreate pipes or curbs. For example: https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5634531 ... 312!8i6656 and https://www.google.com/maps/@53.822044, ... 384!8i8192.
This is usually done to stop rat-running, to improve traffic and as part of a layout change.
If you have any others, post below.
Last edited by OliverH on Tue Apr 19, 2022 14:11, edited 1 time in total.
Rambo
Member
Posts: 1056
Joined: Wed Dec 04, 2019 19:56
Contact:

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by Rambo »

I'm sure there are plenty of modal filters, disused roads, industrial sites, covid restrictions. The list is endless.

Covid Restriction in Warrington https://www.google.com/maps/@53.386547, ... 384!8i8192

Tan House lane, Widnes. a former industrial road blocked off probably to stop fly tipping https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3624471 ... 312!8i6656

Birkenhead docks spur off the Wallasey Tunnel which i'm sure is (was?) ever used https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3978781 ... 384!8i8192
User avatar
L.J.D
Member
Posts: 441
Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2010 06:34
Location: W.Yorkshire

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by L.J.D »

Used to be able to nip through here until very recently the gate was installed because someone dumped a large dead animal down there.
Then it was closed off to public vehicles.

Also another rat run closed off. Though I never really saw good reason for that because its wideish for a residential road and has humps so I don't see what the issue is.

Lastly another nearby. This was once a one way system going towards the GSV camera but people kept abusing it and going the wrong way so it was closed off permanently.
User avatar
c2R
SABRE Wiki admin
Posts: 11162
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2002 11:01

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by c2R »

One of my pet hates are cheap and nasty modal filters like the last couple of bollards - there's absolutely no reason why the street scene can't be improved by their addition rather than either of the above examples!
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
linuxrocks
Member
Posts: 135
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 15:31

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by linuxrocks »

Here's one that annoys me https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.49493 ... 384!8i8192

You used to be able to sneak into the garage to get to the carwash, without having to go all the way around the the Birchley Isand and the three sets of traffic lights.
OliverH
Member
Posts: 349
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:52
Location: West Yorkshire

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by OliverH »

Bomag
Member
Posts: 948
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2010 23:26

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by Bomag »

User avatar
jervi
Member
Posts: 1596
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 16:29
Location: West Sussex

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by jervi »

Really annoying sometimes when the sea eats the road:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.59035 ... 312!8i6656
OliverH
Member
Posts: 349
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:52
Location: West Yorkshire

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by OliverH »

OliverH
Member
Posts: 349
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:52
Location: West Yorkshire

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by OliverH »

OliverH
Member
Posts: 349
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:52
Location: West Yorkshire

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by OliverH »

sometimes they leave the road markings: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.77600 ... authuser=0
User avatar
jgharston
Member
Posts: 2437
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 18:06
Location: Sheffield/Whitby

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by jgharston »

jervi wrote: Tue Aug 24, 2021 16:38 Really annoying sometimes when the sea eats the road:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.59035 ... 312!8i6656
Legally what happens there? You can't extinguish a public right of way of public highway on a whim, is there a period of time where the highway continues out over thin air even though the carriageway doesn't exist?

In Whitby we have two public footpaths on the definitive map that pass over the edge of a cliff.
User avatar
KeithW
Member
Posts: 19205
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2014 13:25
Location: Marton-In-Cleveland North Yorks

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by KeithW »

jgharston wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 12:19
jervi wrote: Tue Aug 24, 2021 16:38 Really annoying sometimes when the sea eats the road:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.59035 ... 312!8i6656
Legally what happens there? You can't extinguish a public right of way of public highway on a whim, is there a period of time where the highway continues out over thin air even though the carriageway doesn't exist?

In Whitby we have two public footpaths on the definitive map that pass over the edge of a cliff.
I would imagine the good old legal standby of an Act of God comes in to play.
An act of God is an unforeseeable natural phenomenon. Explained by Lord Hobhouse in Transco plc v Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council as describing an event:

which involves no human agency
which is not realistically possible to guard against
which is due directly and exclusively to natural causes and
which could not have been prevented by any amount of foresight, plans, and care.
OliverH
Member
Posts: 349
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:52
Location: West Yorkshire

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by OliverH »

Filey road near Scarborough was blocked off when they built the new road.
User avatar
IAN
Member
Posts: 1494
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2001 19:07

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by IAN »

I remember this road (Roebuck Lane) as being quite busy but surprisingly no bridge across the M5 was built, which means that traffic wishing to travel south to Smethwick is now forced to travel via the busy roundabout at M5 junction 1.
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.5087333 ... 384!8i8192


The original route of the road still exists as a footpath, as can be seen on the satellite view. https://www.google.com/maps/@52.5080553 ... a=!3m1!1e3
AKA M5 Driver
User avatar
Brenley Corner
Member
Posts: 3853
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 19:28
Location: nr. Canterbury, Kent

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by Brenley Corner »

IAN wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 18:15 I remember this road (Roebuck Lane) as being quite busy but surprisingly no bridge across the M5 was built, which means that traffic wishing to travel south to Smethwick is now forced to travel via the busy roundabout at M5 junction 1.
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.5087333 ... 384!8i8192
The original route of the road still exists as a footpath, as can be seen on the satellite view. https://www.google.com/maps/@52.5080553 ... a=!3m1!1e3
Interesting! Looks like it might have been the old A41 at some point? Zooming right out on Satellite vie it certainly lines up in a straight line with the A41 NW of West Bromwich. There's also a substantial railway overbridge immediately E of the M5 that hasn't been replaced with a footbridge.

Tony
Brenley Corner: congesting traffic since 1963; discussing roads since 2002
Worcestershire Wolf
Member
Posts: 100
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 21:45
Location: Kidderminster

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by Worcestershire Wolf »

Brenley Corner wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 20:18
IAN wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 18:15 I remember this road (Roebuck Lane) as being quite busy but surprisingly no bridge across the M5 was built, which means that traffic wishing to travel south to Smethwick is now forced to travel via the busy roundabout at M5 junction 1.
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.5087333 ... 384!8i8192
The original route of the road still exists as a footpath, as can be seen on the satellite view. https://www.google.com/maps/@52.5080553 ... a=!3m1!1e3
Interesting! Looks like it might have been the old A41 at some point? Zooming right out on Satellite vie it certainly lines up in a straight line with the A41 NW of West Bromwich. There's also a substantial railway overbridge immediately E of the M5 that hasn't been replaced with a footbridge.

Tony
No it was never part of the A41, although the A41 used to run along Birmingham Road at the North End of Roebuck Lane until it was rerouted along The Expressway.

From looking at the Wiki Maps, Roebuck Lane was shown as a B Road prior to the M5 being built, but the detail isn't great enough to reveal which B Road it was!
User avatar
Chris Bertram
Member
Posts: 15744
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2001 12:30
Location: Birmingham, England

Re: Roads that got blocked off

Post by Chris Bertram »

Worcestershire Wolf wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 21:26
Brenley Corner wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 20:18
IAN wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 18:15 I remember this road (Roebuck Lane) as being quite busy but surprisingly no bridge across the M5 was built, which means that traffic wishing to travel south to Smethwick is now forced to travel via the busy roundabout at M5 junction 1.
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.5087333 ... 384!8i8192
The original route of the road still exists as a footpath, as can be seen on the satellite view. https://www.google.com/maps/@52.5080553 ... a=!3m1!1e3
Interesting! Looks like it might have been the old A41 at some point? Zooming right out on Satellite vie it certainly lines up in a straight line with the A41 NW of West Bromwich. There's also a substantial railway overbridge immediately E of the M5 that hasn't been replaced with a footbridge.

Tony
No it was never part of the A41, although the A41 used to run along Birmingham Road at the North End of Roebuck Lane until it was rerouted along The Expressway.

From looking at the Wiki Maps, Roebuck Lane was shown as a B Road prior to the M5 being built, but the detail isn't great enough to reveal which B Road it was!
I believe it was B4168. This goes some way to explain the misleading road markings ar the nearby M5 J1, where A4168 is painted on the road but does not exist at the junction, where you will find A41 and A4252 plus the unclassified former A41 Birmingham Road. A4168 is in fact Priory Road, Dudley, connecting the town with the A4123 towards Wolverhampton, and is nowhere near the M5 junction.
“The quality of any advice anybody has to offer has to be judged against the quality of life they actually lead.” - Douglas Adams.

Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki today!
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Try getting involved!

From the SABRE Wiki: B4168 :

The B4168 was a short urban B-road between the Black Country towns of Smethwick and West Bromwich.

It started on the A457 Oldbury Road on the edge of Smethwick and headed north along Roebuck Lane. In quick succession, it crossed the Stour Valley Line the two branches of the Birmingham Canal Main Line, and then two railway

... Read More