Roads before and after construction

[KeithW]

Now they are some good ones. There is something about these high voltage pylons, maybe it's all those years in the Fens seeing them march across what is a quite barren and flat landscape.

That depends on what you mean by barren, they are one of the few largely undeveloped areas left in England and a wildlife haven.

[Norfolktolancashire]

Now they are some good ones. There is something about these high voltage pylons, maybe it's all those years in the Fens seeing them march across what is a quite barren and flat landscape.

That depends on what you mean by barren, they are one of the few largely undeveloped areas left in England and a wildlife haven.

If you mean the Fens in East Anglia, yes there are some areas set out for nature, Flag Fen for example, however the majority of the land is intensively farmed arable with few hedges or woodlands. I would say it is one of the areas in the UK with the least wildlife!

[roadphotos]

A slip road (under construction) at a junction on the future A14 near Haughley, Suffolk

[roadphotos]

The slip road from the junction (near Haughley) to the A14 (completed)

[trickstat]

Now they are some good ones. There is something about these high voltage pylons, maybe it's all those years in the Fens seeing them march across what is a quite barren and flat landscape.

That depends on what you mean by barren, they are one of the few largely undeveloped areas left in England and a wildlife haven.

If you mean the Fens in East Anglia, yes there are some areas set out for nature, Flag Fen for example, however the majority of the land is intensively farmed arable with few hedges or woodlands. I would say it is one of the areas in the UK with the least wildlife!

As barren means infertile, I think it's a very odd word to use for such good growing land!

[KeithW]

If you mean the Fens in East Anglia, yes there are some areas set out for nature, Flag Fen for example, however the majority of the land is intensively farmed arable with few hedges or woodlands. I would say it is one of the areas in the UK with the least wildlife!

Those are ex fens of which there a large number in Bucks and other parts of England that no longer match the description traditionally thought as Fens. A recent survey suggested that less than 1% of ancient fenland survives. In parts of East Anglia and similar areas like the Somerset Levels have large stretches where seasonal flooding is permitted not only to preserve wildlife but by acting as an overflow can protect major urban areas.

In the 15th the marshy lands were called 'The Soke of Rutland'

A substantial portion of the East Anglian Fens were drained by busy Dutch engineers.

[roadphotos]

The A14 near Haughley (before and after construction).

[Rillington]

And that is an impressive pylon too!
https://www.google.com/maps/@50.6518257 ... 384!8i8192

There do be a few around there.


Anything involving 400 kV gets big.

Now they are some good ones. There is something about these high voltage pylons, maybe it's all those years in the Fens seeing them march across what is a quite barren and flat landscape.

Agreed. Thank you for posting them.

The big pylons are L6 towers and the smaller ones are pre-grid towers which will likely be coming up to 100 years old.

[roadphotos]

This picture (taken from Flamsteadbury Lane in 2006) shows the start of the widening works on the M1 near Redbourn, Hertfordshire.

[roadphotos]

The view near Redbourn in 2022 after the widening works have been completed. The M1 now has 4 lanes in each direction.

[roadphotos]

The M1 (viewed from Flamsteadbury Lane) near Redbourn, Hertfordshire. The picture was taken in 2006, widening works have just began.

[roadphotos]

The view from Flamsteadbury Lane (near Redbourn) in 2022 after the M1 widening works have been completed.

[roadphotos]

The M1 (looking north) near Redbourn in 2006. Widening work has just began.

[roadphotos]

The M1 near Redbourn in 2022 after the widening work has been completed.

[roadphotos]

The M1 widening (start of works). This is the view (looking north) from a bridge over the M1 near Redbourn in 2006.

[roadphotos]

The view (looking north) in 2022. The M1 near Redbourn is now 4 lanes wide.

[roadphotos]

I've been walking the footpaths around St Neots and taking some before pictures of the future A421 (dual carriageway), a lot of the route is marked out on the ground and work has already begun in many places along the route

[roadphotos]

An interesting thing is that as Google Street View has been around for over 10 years you can now have a look at many recent road schemes before and after construction by looking at the most recent views and then looking at the same view as far back as 2008. I found this really interesting when looking at the A90 at Aberdeen and the many roads that now meet the new road, my favourite one is where the A93 now meets the A90, what used to be a simple t junction is now a crossroads with a bridge next to it where the A90 passes under the A93, you can clearly see by looking at the image from before the A90 was constructed how much the area has changed, it looks like a driveway and house next to the A93 have been removed to make way for the A90 which now runs under the A93 here in a cutting. I've also had a look at the A14, A1270 and other changes like the removal of the pylons at Winterbourne Abbas in Dorset.

[KeithW]

If you mean the Fens in East Anglia, yes there are some areas set out for nature, Flag Fen for example, however the majority of the land is intensively farmed arable with few hedges or woodlands. I would say it is one of the areas in the UK with the least wildlife!

I know it well, it was the site of a major archaeological investigation in the 1970s/80s. Since then it has become something of am attraction its own right as a major preserved bronze age site.
https://flagfen.org.uk/discover