Map/list of Clearways

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Britain
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Map/list of Clearways

Post by Britain »

I regularly drive on a lot of roads which claim to be clearways but the signage makes completely no sense.

Clearway signs at one entrance to the road but not on other joining roads. Roads which definitely aren't clearways but which have clearway signs with no end plates. That kind of thing.

Is there a map or list of clearways that would clear up some of the confusion and maybe let me contact the appropriate authorities to correct the signs?

I'm specifically looking for around Merseyside and Cheshire.
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by KeithW »

Given that these are typically local authority roads I suspect you will have a hard time. The only authorities I know that maintain them to any degree is TfL for its Red Routes and Perth and Kinross council.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/red-ro ... route-maps
https://perthandkinrossvisitoradvice.co ... s-the-area
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by RJDG14 »

KeithW wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 09:09 Given that these are typically local authority roads I suspect you will have a hard time. The only authorities I know that maintain them to any degree is TfL for its Red Routes and Perth and Kinross council.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/red-ro ... route-maps
https://perthandkinrossvisitoradvice.co ... s-the-area
Some of those listed on the latter link look quite minor, such as Linn Road. I know that most clearways in England tend to be fairly major routes, whereas in Scotland there are some relatively major non-clearways that would likely be clearways in much of England (much of the A75 for instance - only a mile or so out of nearly 100 miles is a clearway) while there also seems to be an increasing number of quite minor clearways in tourist hotspots.
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by KeithW »

RJDG14 wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 09:45
KeithW wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 09:09 Given that these are typically local authority roads I suspect you will have a hard time. The only authorities I know that maintain them to any degree is TfL for its Red Routes and Perth and Kinross council.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/red-ro ... route-maps
https://perthandkinrossvisitoradvice.co ... s-the-area
Some of those listed on the latter link look quite minor, such as Linn Road. I know that most clearways in England tend to be fairly major routes, whereas in Scotland there are some relatively major non-clearways that would likely be clearways in much of England (much of the A75 for instance - only a mile or so out of nearly 100 miles is a clearway) while there also seems to be an increasing number of quite minor clearways in tourist hotspots.
There are plenty of clearways in towns and cities even if they are not marked as such, much of Cambridge for a start.
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.2051366 ... 384!8i8192

Oddly a lot of HQDC's are NOT marked as clearways. Take the A174 Parkway for example which is a high speed strategic road maintained by Highways England. Want to cycle, walk or take your mobility scooter down it and have a picnic - no law has been broken. We get cyclist fatalities from time to time, usually as a result of being sucked under an artic.
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.5324991 ... 384!8i8192

Before it was upgraded there were sections of the A1 in Yorkshire that were signed as clearways
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by RJDG14 »

KeithW wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 10:06
RJDG14 wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 09:45
KeithW wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 09:09 Given that these are typically local authority roads I suspect you will have a hard time. The only authorities I know that maintain them to any degree is TfL for its Red Routes and Perth and Kinross council.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/red-ro ... route-maps
https://perthandkinrossvisitoradvice.co ... s-the-area
Some of those listed on the latter link look quite minor, such as Linn Road. I know that most clearways in England tend to be fairly major routes, whereas in Scotland there are some relatively major non-clearways that would likely be clearways in much of England (much of the A75 for instance - only a mile or so out of nearly 100 miles is a clearway) while there also seems to be an increasing number of quite minor clearways in tourist hotspots.
There are plenty of clearways in towns and cities even if they are not marked as such, much of Cambridge for a start.
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.2051366 ... 384!8i8192

Oddly a lot of HQDC's are NOT marked as clearways. Take the A174 Parkway for example which is a high speed strategic road maintained by Highways England. Want to cycle, walk or take your mobility scooter down it and have a picnic - no law has been broken. We get cyclist fatalities from time to time, usually as a result of being sucked under an artic.
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.5324991 ... 384!8i8192

Before it was upgraded there were sections of the A1 in Yorkshire that were signed as clearways
I thought that pretty much all of the non-motorway A1 in England was a clearway aside from a couple of short stretches through villages. Back in 2012 I recall that most of the Scottish A1 as far as Dunbar was not a clearway, while the stretch from Dunbar to Edinburgh did not feature clearway signs but had a special road "NO" sign which essentially placed the road under near-motorway restrictions which probably prohibited stopping. I've always been a little puzzled as to why this stretch of the A1 along with a stretch of the A55 near Colwyn Bay are among Britain's only roads to have such status - they're not motorways but are effectively under motorway restrictions, when there's otherwise little to differentiate them in terms of traffic or standard from all purpose high quality D2. There are other special roads such as the Skye Bridge, which I believe is a clearway but I think lacks traffic type restrictions, and I believe it was designated as a special road to prevent non-essential maintenance by third parties which would likely cause disruption.
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by KeithW »

RJDG14 wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 10:21
I thought that pretty much all of the non-motorway A1 in England was a clearway aside from a couple of short stretches through villages. Back in 2012 I recall that most of the Scottish A1 as far as Dunbar was not a clearway, while the stretch from Dunbar to Edinburgh did not feature clearway signs but had a special road "NO" sign which essentially placed the road under near-motorway restrictions which probably prohibited stopping. I've always been a little puzzled as to why this stretch of the A1 along with a stretch of the A55 near Colwyn Bay are among Britain's only roads to have such status - they're not motorways but are effectively under motorway restrictions, when there's otherwise little to differentiate them in terms of traffic or standard from all purpose high quality D2. There are other special roads such as the Skye Bridge, which I believe is a clearway but I think lacks traffic type restrictions, and I believe it was designated as a special road to prevent non-essential maintenance by third parties which would likely cause disruption.
Not all Special Roads are motorways , part of the A55 are also special, many bridges also have traffic restrictions, the A19 between the A174 bars pedestrian and cycle traffic using a TRO

As for the A1 I offer up the situation in Sandy
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.13523 ... 8192?hl=en

Now if you park on the mainline the cops will not be happy but I would bet the charge would be obstruction of the highway. To which should be added a mental assessment in my opinion.
Last edited by KeithW on Sun May 22, 2022 13:06, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by RJDG14 »

KeithW wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 13:02
RJDG14 wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 10:21
I thought that pretty much all of the non-motorway A1 in England was a clearway aside from a couple of short stretches through villages. Back in 2012 I recall that most of the Scottish A1 as far as Dunbar was not a clearway, while the stretch from Dunbar to Edinburgh did not feature clearway signs but had a special road "NO" sign which essentially placed the road under near-motorway restrictions which probably prohibited stopping. I've always been a little puzzled as to why this stretch of the A1 along with a stretch of the A55 near Colwyn Bay are among Britain's only roads to have such status - they're not motorways but are effectively under motorway restrictions, when there's otherwise little to differentiate them in terms of traffic or standard from all purpose high quality D2. There are other special roads such as the Skye Bridge, which I believe is a clearway but I think lacks traffic type restrictions, and I believe it was designated as a special road to prevent non-essential maintenance by third parties which would likely cause disruption.
Not all Special Roads are motorways , part of the A55 are also special, many bridges also have traffic restrictions, the A19 between the A174 bars pedestrian and cycle traffic using a TRO

As for the A1 I offer up the situation Sandy
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.13523 ... 8192?hl=en

Now if you park on the mainline the cops will not be happy but I would bet the charge would be obstruction of the highway. To which should be added a mental assessment in my opinion.
Do the police have the ability to charge for obstruction on a case by case basis on a non-clearway with no solid centre line or double yellow markings? They probably can't easily charge you if you're carefully parked at the side of the road but might be able to if you're making it difficult for traffic to get past.

One car in my close had a clamp put on one of its wheels a few years back despite being parked legally, but that was for failing to pay its annual tax.

I'm curious as for the reason why that stretch of the A1 along with part of the A55 are special roads under more or less motorway restrictions but aren't legally motorways, when most high quality roads are built as either all purpose or full motorways.
Last edited by RJDG14 on Sun May 22, 2022 13:12, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by KeithW »

RJDG14 wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 13:05 Do the police have the ability to charge for obstruction on a case by case basis on a non-clearway with no solid centre line or double yellow markings? They probably can't easily charge you if you're carefully parked at the side of the road but might be able to if you're making it difficult for traffic to get past.
In a word - Yes

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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by RJDG14 »

KeithW wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 13:09
RJDG14 wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 13:05 Do the police have the ability to charge for obstruction on a case by case basis on a non-clearway with no solid centre line or double yellow markings? They probably can't easily charge you if you're carefully parked at the side of the road but might be able to if you're making it difficult for traffic to get past.
In a word - Yes

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/19 ... nd-streets
It sounds like a piece of existing legislation that they could use to charge some of the Insulate Britain protestors.
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by KeithW »

As an oddity I have just spotted one of the old A1 clearway signs on what is now the LAR near Boroughbridge.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.11571 ... 6656?hl=en
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by Britain »

KeithW wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 13:02 Not all Special Roads are motorways , part of the A55 are also special, many bridges also have traffic restrictions, the A19 between the A174 bars pedestrian and cycle traffic using a TRO

As for the A1 I offer up the situation in Sandy
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.13523 ... 8192?hl=en

Now if you park on the mainline the cops will not be happy but I would bet the charge would be obstruction of the highway. To which should be added a mental assessment in my opinion.
I notice the Give Way signs along there have a Dual Carriageway plate underneath. Is that typical? I can't remember seeing that before and I can't think why it'd be necessary.


Would somebody more knowledgeable than me please show me where I can find the guidelines local authorities follow when designating clearways i.e. what signage must there be, are there any criteria for what can and can't be a clearway, what powers do they have and what notice do they have to provide
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by KeithW »

Britain wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 14:13 I notice the Give Way signs along there have a Dual Carriageway plate underneath. Is that typical? I can't remember seeing that before and I can't think why it'd be necessary.
Well if it is you have driven through Sandy and come out here it is rather important to know you shouldn't turn right.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.13560 ... 8192?hl=en
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by KeithW »

Britain wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 14:13
KeithW wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 13:02 Not all Special Roads are motorways , part of the A55 are also special, many bridges also have traffic restrictions, the A19 between the A174 bars pedestrian and cycle traffic using a TRO

As for the A1 I offer up the situation in Sandy
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.13523 ... 8192?hl=en

Now if you park on the mainline the cops will not be happy but I would bet the charge would be obstruction of the highway. To which should be added a mental assessment in my opinion.
I notice the Give Way signs along there have a Dual Carriageway plate underneath. Is that typical? I can't remember seeing that before and I can't think why it'd be necessary.


Would somebody more knowledgeable than me please show me where I can find the guidelines local authorities follow when designating clearways i.e. what signage must there be, are there any criteria for what can and can't be a clearway, what powers do they have and what notice do they have to provide
Few signs are mandatory and local authorities are often rather idiosyncratic in their signage but for an overview see.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... -signs.pdf

Page 56 on
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by the cheesecake man »

KeithW wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 10:06 Before it was upgraded there were sections of the A1 in Yorkshire that were signed as clearways
This section still is?
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by NICK 647063 »

KeithW wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 13:20 As an oddity I have just spotted one of the old A1 clearway signs on what is now the LAR near Boroughbridge.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.11571 ... 6656?hl=en
These are actually new signs well added to the LAR when it opened in the mid 90’s, in fact all the LAR A168 and A6055 on the section further north are actually clear ways, this is to prevent trucks parking, I’ve noticed the ones that park in gateways on the section near Boroughbridge get away with it as Harrogate council enforcement don’t seem too bothered but up the A6055 In Hambleton and Richmondshire it’s enforced by Scarborough borough council and I’ve seen the guy out at 4 am putting tickets on trucks while the driver sleeps….

It’s basically to make sure the trucks use the truck stops and not verges.
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by Britain »

NICK 647063 wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 21:27
KeithW wrote: Sun May 22, 2022 13:20 As an oddity I have just spotted one of the old A1 clearway signs on what is now the LAR near Boroughbridge.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.11571 ... 6656?hl=en
These are actually new signs well added to the LAR when it opened in the mid 90’s, in fact all the LAR A168 and A6055 on the section further north are actually clear ways, this is to prevent trucks parking, I’ve noticed the ones that park in gateways on the section near Boroughbridge get away with it as Harrogate council enforcement don’t seem too bothered but up the A6055 In Hambleton and Richmondshire it’s enforced by Scarborough borough council and I’ve seen the guy out at 4 am putting tickets on trucks while the driver sleeps….

It’s basically to make sure the trucks use the truck stops and not verges.
Everybody loves a jobsworth. Those gateways even have squared edges almost as if they were designed to be parked in.
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by Bryn666 »

A clearway is just like any other TRO. It follows the procedures laid out in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and also the Local Government Procedures Regulations. Trunk Road clearways are designated by the relevant Secretary of State/government department, for example the A556 Knutsford-Bowdon had its clearway written into the DCO.

They really aren't anything special, they are simply a form of parking control introduced originally on long distance rural roads to stop parked vehicles obstructing carriageways. Therein is the rub - unless the verges have a separate restriction on waiting a HGV can park on the grass alongside the A168 for example and not be ticketed. Whether or not it can get back off the grass in the morning is a separate issue, of course.
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by Britain »

Bryn666 wrote: Mon May 23, 2022 12:18 A clearway is just like any other TRO. It follows the procedures laid out in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and also the Local Government Procedures Regulations. Trunk Road clearways are designated by the relevant Secretary of State/government department, for example the A556 Knutsford-Bowdon had its clearway written into the DCO.

They really aren't anything special, they are simply a form of parking control introduced originally on long distance rural roads to stop parked vehicles obstructing carriageways. Therein is the rub - unless the verges have a separate restriction on waiting a HGV can park on the grass alongside the A168 for example and not be ticketed. Whether or not it can get back off the grass in the morning is a separate issue, of course.
Would you consider those gateways off the carriageway? I wonder what makes something a layby in terms of the exclusion of the parking restrictions on a clearway.
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by Bryn666 »

Britain wrote: Tue May 24, 2022 18:42
Bryn666 wrote: Mon May 23, 2022 12:18 A clearway is just like any other TRO. It follows the procedures laid out in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and also the Local Government Procedures Regulations. Trunk Road clearways are designated by the relevant Secretary of State/government department, for example the A556 Knutsford-Bowdon had its clearway written into the DCO.

They really aren't anything special, they are simply a form of parking control introduced originally on long distance rural roads to stop parked vehicles obstructing carriageways. Therein is the rub - unless the verges have a separate restriction on waiting a HGV can park on the grass alongside the A168 for example and not be ticketed. Whether or not it can get back off the grass in the morning is a separate issue, of course.
Would you consider those gateways off the carriageway? I wonder what makes something a layby in terms of the exclusion of the parking restrictions on a clearway.
If it's behind the edge lines then for all intents and purposes it's not part of the main carriageway. Note the key difference between this an and all purpose road hard shoulder, which is part of the carriageway because the line defining a hard shoulder is not the 'edge' per se.
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Re: Map/list of Clearways

Post by Britain »

Bryn666 wrote: Tue May 24, 2022 18:49 If it's behind the edge lines then for all intents and purposes it's not part of the main carriageway. Note the key difference between this an and all purpose road hard shoulder, which is part of the carriageway because the line defining a hard shoulder is not the 'edge' per se.
That makes sense to me. Am I right in thinking that legally only motorways have hard shoulders? Hard shoulders on dual carriageways aren't enforceable for driving in them, parking on them, etc. are they? Assuming it isn't a clearway.
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