A90 Uncompleted Junctions?

[Unbreakify]

So i was looking at the A90 on google maps, seeing what the new stuff is, then i see this.
https://www.google.com/maps/@57.1709656 ... 384!8i8192

Im confused and completely baffled by why there is a junction that leads to nowhere, They made it, painted it, but never completed it.

[jnty]

The junction is complete and leads to a new section of track which provides access to two existing tracks whose routes were severed by the AWPR. See Fig 13 in these plans.

The old route of the northerly track is pretty obvious as it looks like it ran by a stream or drainage ditch which has been kept in place and accomodated with culverts under the old road. The southerly one is harder to spot as the new access road and roundabout went over it too.

[Hdeng16]

It's complete...

How can you be confused and baffled? It's a bog standard limited access junction with farm track access (x2).

https://www.google.com/maps/@54.1504036 ... 384!8i8192

This is similar, just an unclassified road carries on rather than a farm track.

[jnty]

I wondered if the cycle markings were there just "as standard" or for a particular reason - looking around, this could also be a cycling route to Brimmond Country Park. If you can find more detailed plans they might explain more.

[SteelCamel]

I wondered if the cycle markings were there just "as standard" or for a particular reason - looking around, this could also be a cycling route to Brimmond Country Park. If you can find more detailed plans they might explain more.

It seems clear from the bollards next to the gates that the shared use cycle path continues along both tracks. The northern one seems to end somewhat pointlessly here. The southern one similarly ends before too long here, but the track continues and there's at least a path (not sure if it's cycleable) as far as Brimmond Hill. There's also a new cycle path alongside the eastern slip road, which connects to the northern farm track - which links back to the local road network in a way that looks like there are some useful cycle routes e.g. into the college campus. So it does look like it's some use, though could have done with the routes being extended rather than stopping at the AWPR works boundary.

[Glen]

It's just a half-diamond junction with access onto a farm track. It is somewhat value-engineered (ie done to the cheapest design) so results in the clumsy arrangement of the road leading to the farm track having priority through the junction and the exit slip road having to give way to a road which will very rarely have traffic on it.

Some of the initially proposed junction layouts on the A9 were similar, with diamond junctions with priority onto minor roads and forest accesses, but fortunately these designs were revised as the schemes progressed.

This layout for Black Mount was just silly.

[wrinkly]

Proposed housing nearby?

[Chris56000]

Hi!

How come there aren't any signs cancelling the prohibited–traffic Special Roads Order applying to the A90 at the end of the exit slip–road here? – there is a prohibition sign at the beginning of the entry slip!

Incidentally, since both ends of this road are a very long way (>60 miles min) from the nearest point to where motorway regulations begin, why was there any need for a Special Road Order in the first place, given there are no other planned Special Road sections, either on the A90 or the A96? I believe Balmadie–Tipperty is all–purpose!

Chris Williams

[Steven]

Incidentally, since both ends of this road are a very long way (>60 miles min) from the nearest point to where motorway regulations begin, why was there any need for a Special Road Order in the first place, given there are no other planned Special Road sections, either on the A90 or the A96? I believe Balmadie–Tipperty is all–purpose!

Special Roads are not just about restricting traffic, but they have a whole load of other benefits - for example, the gas board aren't allowed to dig them up and run pipes underneath that are accessible via the road surface. They cannot have frontage development. They are not a Right of Way and so can be made fully suitable for the traffic expected to use them - whether that's via application of motorway classes, or allowing just bicycles.

It's a fundamental misunderstanding of the entire concept of a Special Road to suggest that all Special Roads need to form a single network when actually there's large numbers of smaller, local roads that would benefit from being Special, let alone a long-distance route like the A90.

[jackal]

Somewhat reminiscent of this Dutch interchange, which has a 'false T-junction', i.e. the eastbound to northbound slip has a 90 degree turn partway along, with a give way to circumvent geometric design standards, similarly to the British false roundabout.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.970648,6.5443562,15z

[Hdeng16]

Somewhat reminiscent of this Dutch interchange, which has a 'false T-junction', i.e. the eastbound to northbound slip has a 90 degree turn partway along, with a give way to circumvent geometric design standards, similarly to the British false roundabout.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.970648,6.5443562,15z

That roundabout just north of the false-T is interesting too!

[Chris5156]

Somewhat reminiscent of this Dutch interchange, which has a 'false T-junction', i.e. the eastbound to northbound slip has a 90 degree turn partway along, with a give way to circumvent geometric design standards, similarly to the British false roundabout.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.970648,6.5443562,15z

That roundabout just north of the false-T is interesting too!

That's a turbo roundabout, a Dutch-originated design that gives each lane its own dedicated path through the junction. They avoid sideswipe accidents, and enforce lane discipline and lower circulating speeds.

[Bryn666]

Somewhat reminiscent of this Dutch interchange, which has a 'false T-junction', i.e. the eastbound to northbound slip has a 90 degree turn partway along, with a give way to circumvent geometric design standards, similarly to the British false roundabout.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.970648,6.5443562,15z

That roundabout just north of the false-T is interesting too!

That's a turbo roundabout, a Dutch-originated design that gives each lane its own dedicated path through the junction. They avoid sideswipe accidents, and enforce lane discipline and lower circulating speeds.

They're generally pooh-poohed in this country because a HGV can't perform a u-turn at one as if this was the single most important movement in the universe. There is a hacked to bits one in Bedford though: https://goo.gl/maps/CM3QQvkvdtwi71gc9 (again because god forbid that one HGV a century can't make a u-turn).

[Chris5156]

That's a turbo roundabout, a Dutch-originated design that gives each lane its own dedicated path through the junction. They avoid sideswipe accidents, and enforce lane discipline and lower circulating speeds.

They're generally pooh-poohed in this country because a HGV can't perform a u-turn at one as if this was the single most important movement in the universe. There is a hacked to bits one in Bedford though: https://goo.gl/maps/CM3QQvkvdtwi71gc9 (again because god forbid that one HGV a century can't make a u-turn).

An HGV can't make a u-turn at a T-junction either, but we still build those

[Bryn666]

That's a turbo roundabout, a Dutch-originated design that gives each lane its own dedicated path through the junction. They avoid sideswipe accidents, and enforce lane discipline and lower circulating speeds.

They're generally pooh-poohed in this country because a HGV can't perform a u-turn at one as if this was the single most important movement in the universe. There is a hacked to bits one in Bedford though: https://goo.gl/maps/CM3QQvkvdtwi71gc9 (again because god forbid that one HGV a century can't make a u-turn).

An HGV can't make a u-turn at a T-junction either, but we still build those

I don't know, some recent ones on industrial estates with 15+ metre radii could fit a roundabout in....

[KeithW]

An HGV can't make a u-turn at a T-junction either, but we still build those

And I have seen a couple of HGV's try , one even made it !

[A303Chris]

I think the biggest problem with the junction is the ADS which says go straight onto the farm track instead of turning right for the A90.

[Bryn666]

I think the biggest problem with the junction is the ADS which says go straight onto the farm track instead of turning right for the A90.

It has been said many times that the sign designer for the A90 AWPR was absolutely unfit for the role, this just adds to that.

[KeithW]

To be fair as you go under the A90 the next sign does indicate the slip road turn
https://www.google.com/maps/@57.1707684 ... 384!8i8192

[Bryn666]

To be fair as you go under the A90 the next sign does indicate the slip road turn
https://www.google.com/maps/@57.1707684 ... 384!8i8192

I particularly love the pedantic nature of not including the farm track turning head as part of the 40 limit and thus requiring NSL signs to be installed. This is what happens when people who think they know signs are allowed to do work that proves they don't.