Lost Arterial A24 was D2 grassed bridge near Kingston Bypss

A303Paul · Post by **A303Paul** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 20:40

does anyone know the story behind

This?

superbfc · Post by **superbfc** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 20:47

No, but follow Knollmeade east and it looks suspiciously like it is / was supposed to meet Sheephouse Way which is also a S2 with verge wide enough to accommodate another carriageway.

Look at Gilders Road to the SW and zoom out and what jumps to mind?

M45 Tailback · Post by **M45 Tailback** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 20:52

Was this a possible 1920's or 30's alternative for the A3 instead of the Kingston Bypass?

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 20:53

superbfc wrote:No, but follow Knollmeade east and it looks suspiciously like it is / was supposed to meet Sheephouse Way which is also a S2 with verge wide enough to accommodate another carriageway.

Look at Gilders Road to the SW and zoom out and what jumps to mind?

And Jubilee Way on the same alignment. If ever there was a typical name for a relief road, it's that.

superbfc · Post by **superbfc** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 20:56

Paul wrote:
superbfc wrote:No, but follow Knollmeade east and it looks suspiciously like it is / was supposed to meet Sheephouse Way which is also a S2 with verge wide enough to accommodate another carriageway.

Look at Gilders Road to the SW and zoom out and what jumps to mind?
And Jubilee Way on the same alignment. If ever there was a typical name for a relief road, it's that.

Yes... That went without saying as Gilders / Jubilee / Knollmead / Sheephouse makes for quite a nice run.

M45 Tailback wrote:Was this a possible 1920's or 30's alternative for the A3 instead of the Kingston Bypass?

Exactly what I'm thinking. 1930s I think. The only thing that knocks that theory is that the Kingston By-Pass appears to be the same age as Warren Way / Knollmead

Can anyone date the Kingston By-Pass?

Truvelo · Post by **Truvelo** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 21:00

Wow. It's amazing what turns up. Maybe it was built to compliment the Kingston Bypass rather than instead of it, perhaps as a local distributor whereby local traffic would use it to avoid clogging up the A3. Whatever it is, it's an exciting find.

Kingston Bypass is 1927 according to a post in the atlas dating project.

t1(M) · Post by **t1(M)** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 21:03

Note also that Cox Lane, which makes a 90 degree junction with Jubilee Way, continues further east. It seems Jubilee Way replaced part of Cox Lane.

The name of the trading estate suggests that the eponymous Jubilee was the one in 1935.

A303Paul · Post by **A303Paul** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 21:10

This is fascinating.

If you look at the northeast end of Sheephouse Way and scan out

follow the railway line east, and on the east of the second railway line just below the junction of the two railway lines there is a green bridge ramp

From there I know that it was planned before WW2 to make Green Lane a proper road which would continue to the roundabout at the end of Lower Morden Lane

Now carry along Lower Morden Lane to the A24 and you note that it hits the A24 just south of where the D2 ends

Gentlemen, I think we have found a lost major arterial road that would have replaced the A24, leaving the A24 south of Morden then continuing along Lower Morden Lane, Green Lane, Kingshill Ave, South Lane, Sheephouse Way, Knollmead, Jubilee Way, Chantry Rd, Pear Tree Close, Gilders Road & green Lane, then along Leatherhead Road to rejoin the A24 at the Leatherhead bypass

superbfc · Post by **superbfc** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 21:17

wow, truly amazing! But it's incredibly friendly with the A3! A bit like how the A5 and A6 "cannon" in St Albans I suppose, or used to at least.

Truvelo · Post by **Truvelo** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 21:17

This wouldn't have anything to do with Merantum Way would it, as discussed recently in another thread?

Brian_A3 · Post by **Brian_A3** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 21:22

Blimey - A road I have ventured down many a time in my youth. My football team (between 8 and 10 years old!) played at Knollmead school. You can see the buildings and playground just to the south west of the bridge in question.

Can't say I ever noticed it when I was a kid. I may pop down and get some photos if I get a chance at the weekend.

superbfc · Post by **superbfc** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 21:27

Brian_A3 wrote:Can't say I ever noticed it when I was a kid.

Lots of exciting things fall into that category!

Truvelo · Post by **Truvelo** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 21:38

this and click on the map at the bottom of the page.

A303Paul · Post by **A303Paul** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 22:17

Truvelo wrote:this and click on the map at the bottom of the page.

Nice theory but the "A24 arterial" components were built in the '20s and '30s long before the Abercrombie 1944 plan, which had a habit of finding a wide road on the map and incorporating it into one of the radials. (eg Kings Avenue in Clapham being proposed for the Brighton Radial (no.9)). By 1944 the A24 arterial route was already dead.

PS merantun way was thought up 50-60 years after this and was a railway in the 1930s.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 23:16

A303Paul wrote:Gentlemen, I think we have found a lost major arterial road that would have replaced the A24, leaving the A24 south of Morden then continuing along Lower Morden Lane, Green Lane, Kingshill Ave, South Lane, Sheephouse Way, Knollmead, Jubilee Way, Chantry Rd, Pear Tree Close, Gilders Road & green Lane, then along Leatherhead Road to rejoin the A24 at the Leatherhead bypass

And now, in colour!

Sunil_of_Yoxley · Post by **Sunil_of_Yoxley** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 00:50

The alignment Bridge Road, Moor Lane, B284 Chessington Road is also mostly dual, and almost makes it to the modern A3. And Ruxley Road just to the north is also dual.

Truvelo · Post by **Truvelo** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 11:03

Sunil_of_Yoxley wrote:The alignment Bridge Road, Moor Lane, B284 Chessington Road is also mostly dual, and almost makes it to the modern A3. And Ruxley Road just to the north is also dual.

That section of Chessington Road was only dualled a couple of years ago

Sunil_of_Yoxley · Post by **Sunil_of_Yoxley** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:00

Truvelo wrote:
Sunil_of_Yoxley wrote:The alignment Bridge Road, Moor Lane, B284 Chessington Road is also mostly dual, and almost makes it to the modern A3. And Ruxley Road just to the north is also dual.
That section of Chessington Road was only dualled a couple of years ago

Ah, but what about the other roads I mentioned?

Chris5156 · Post by **Chris5156** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:09

A303Paul wrote:
Truvelo wrote:this and click on the map at the bottom of the page.
Nice theory but the "A24 arterial" components were built in the '20s and '30s long before the Abercrombie 1944 plan, which had a habit of finding a wide road on the map and incorporating it into one of the radials. (eg Kings Avenue in Clapham being proposed for the Brighton Radial (no.9)). By 1944 the A24 arterial route was already dead.

But evidently it wasn't, as Abercrombie incorporated it into his plan. The map shows it quite clearly, though it gets tangled with the Kingston Bypass to some extent.

If it was dead by 1944, and Abercrombie didn't resurrect it, then what's the line on the plan next to the Kingston Bypass all about?

Big Nick · Post by **Big Nick** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 13:27

Just one question springs to my mind right now...

Why is there a large green gap between Angus Close and Derek Way in West Ewell?

Looks to me as if space was kept for a future build of the road which didn't involve Gilders Road and the residential area. Or is it something more practical such as a flood area for a stream or canal?

SABRE

Lost Arterial A24 was D2 grassed bridge near Kingston Bypss

Lost Arterial A24 was D2 grassed bridge near Kingston Bypss

So near and yet so far

Re: So near and yet so far