A358 Taunton to Southfields

[AAndy]

Whilst I dislike how the scheme is just to open up new developments, and how it sends the A358 on a roundabout route (albeit only planned to be for the short term), the thing that I hate the most about the scheme? The signage - absolute dross. Taunton's never been great at its signage, but the new stuff going in here is just the absolute bottom of the pile rubbish, both what I saw in person before lockdown and what I can see in the video. Just don't show Bryn!

Somewhat off topic, but the upgrade to the VMS on the M5 appear to finally be progressing. There was still no sign of anything other than a bit of dirt dug up here and there last time I went up that way - now the sign frames appear to be up. Interesting to see the posts at the on-slip are for AMI's rather than MS1's - I don't think that VSL is planned for the M5, but may have missed something?

signage, yes. What may not be apparent in the video is that there is no room for signage. They length of road between to 2 roundabouts and the width of the carriageways means if you are in lane 4 /3will have a job to glance over and seeing it between all the hgvs which will no doubt be queued on the inside. It needs a gantry or 2.

The video camera was set for the daylight hours....which is why the quality suffered (apart from the ugly youtube rendering)...here are a few stills from it

[Truvelo]

I don't understand the primary route signage in that video. It suggests both the eastern arms of the roundabout are primary. Does this mean that both are A358?

[Herned]

I don't understand the primary route signage in that video. It suggests both the eastern arms of the roundabout are primary. Does this mean that both are A358?

When it is finished, eastbound traffic will use the old road, westbound will be along the new link road. So logically yes, both should be the A358 (until the Henlade bypass is built in 2056)

[jackal]

As I've said before the new roundabout is pointless. The development site shouldn't directly interact with the new A358 at all, access should be via a bridge across the new A358 allowing access to the old A358, which would be a de facto LAR.

Instead they're making their new half a billion pound expressway the LAR

[Bryn666]

As I've said before the new roundabout is pointless. The development site shouldn't directly interact with the new A358 at all, access should be via a bridge across the new A358 allowing access to the old A358, which would be a de facto LAR.


M5 J25 - Copy.jpg


Instead they're making their new half a billion pound expressway the LAR

"But how will passing trade get to the developments if you make the strategic road strategic!"

Off to the re-education centre with you... this is how they justify building roads now, not on quality of life improvements for areas bypassed and casualties reduced on old, unfit roads, but on how much money developers can make off a substandard highway connection.

[Richardf]

As I've said before the new roundabout is pointless. The development site shouldn't directly interact with the new A358 at all, access should be via a bridge across the new A358 allowing access to the old A358, which would be a de facto LAR.


M5 J25 - Copy.jpg


Instead they're making their new half a billion pound expressway the LAR

Looks a fairly simple fix when the rest is built.

[Richardf]

Question: When this phase is complete EB A358 will use the old road and WB will use the new link road, yes? Why? Couldnt both directions use the newly built bit permanently until the D2 down to Ilminster is built? As i see it the planned layout renders the EB carrageway of the new link virtualy redundant, save maybe local or park and ride traffic. What would stop EB A358 traffic still using the new link even once its finished? Cant see the signage being much good if the rest is anything to go by! Might result in a better layout at the junction/tie in with the old road too.

[AAndy]

I've added a rear facing video :

Front: https://youtu.be/piodNBdZjcs
Rear: https://youtu.be/vIIoSWK4wwU

[AAndy]

Better video now, daytime! .. & 4k 60fps. Travelling both ways. https://youtu.be/Ix1ShdbC8ks

[Richardf]

Better video now, daytime! .. & 4k 60fps. Travelling both ways. https://youtu.be/Ix1ShdbC8ks

Good video. Layout doesn't look any better in daylight though!

[Richardf]

As I've said before the new roundabout is pointless. The development site shouldn't directly interact with the new A358 at all, access should be via a bridge across the new A358 allowing access to the old A358, which would be a de facto LAR.


M5 J25 - Copy.jpg


Instead they're making their new half a billion pound expressway the LAR

Looks much better. A temporary layout could be put in until the expressway bit was built.

[jackal]

£328m design and build contract awarded to "Taylor Woodrow Plus". The statutory consultation is planned for later in the year.

https://highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/ ... uthfields/

[A303Chris]

This DfT press release gives you a bit more about Taylor Woodrow Plus.

It is a consortium of a house builder with Arup and Ramboll.

[Chris56000]

Hi!

. . .And Somerset Council STILL haven't got the main advance direction sign on the Toneway A358 Taunton side of J25 right!

They left the old 1976 green one up until a month or two ago then replaced it with another green one, slightly amended (but finally adding the "chopsticks" on the motorway panels) – that sign should have been entirely manufactured as white non–primary with one single green panel for the main A358 exit e/b going towards Henlade & Southfield's only!

They did follow it up with a replacement "local directions" sign in non–primary colours (missing chopsticks should also be on the motorway panels) tho!

In fact, If I'm not mistaken, the major howlers are:–

a) Junction name "BLACKBROOK ROUNDABOUT" should be on the first main advance direction sign and not the second;

b) Both the "main" and "local" advance direction signs should have been manufactured in black–on–white non–primary colours;

c) It's not very common practice to class nearby destinations reached along motorway routes as "local", but where shown, then motorway symbols should also be shown!

Chris Williams

[DavidBrown]

^ To be honest, I don't think there's a single direction sign for that scheme that's even close to being correct. It's by a long, long way the worst quality signing I've ever seen for a single scheme. The final nail in the coffin for me is the overhead lane signs they've attached to the bridges over the roundabout, which are all in non-primary. Jesus wept...

[SteveA30]

It's been said on here a few times regarding various junction and sign howlers, that this industry (and others) are being taken over by graduates with bits of paper saying they passed something with honours but who have no hands on experience, have no idea what they are doing and ignore established practice. I guess this is another example.