Spaghetti and Aston Expressway at 50

Found anything interesting on "The Roader's Digest" - the SABRE Wiki? Talk about articles in here.

Moderator: Site Management Team

User avatar
Chris5156
Deputy Treasurer
Posts: 16908
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2001 21:50
Location: Hampshire
Contact:

Re: Spaghetti and Aston Expressway at 50

Post by Chris5156 »

Steven wrote: Thu May 26, 2022 08:00
crazyknightsfan wrote: Thu May 26, 2022 07:02
M4 Cardiff wrote: Mon May 23, 2022 13:28 I know its a dailywail article, but there are actually some really nice photos of it under construction in the link below.

If you want to see them, but don't want to fund them by viewing their ads, use an adblocker.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... amous.html
What is with the odd diamond lane separation markings?
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/05/23 ... 913646.jpg
It was an experimental layout designed as a non-mandatory "stay in lane" marking.
The other trial site for those markings was on the eastbound A40 in London approaching Hanger Lane (the A406). They must have dated from the 1990s because that section of A40 was detrunked in 2000.

The markings themselves have been gone for years, but lane allocation signs with the diamonds on them still existed until they were replaced for the ULEZ expansion last year.
User avatar
A42_Sparks
Member
Posts: 958
Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2003 23:20
Location: Ballymena, N Ireland

Re: Spaghetti and Aston Expressway at 50

Post by A42_Sparks »

Scottish Roads Archive had some more photos of the junction up this week. I like this one, size of that roundabout sign :shock:
9FED1506-AB2C-4E4A-B051-28FAD5C20672.jpeg
m6tollt3suttoncoldfield
Member
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2005 18:44

Re: Spaghetti and Aston Expressway at 50

Post by m6tollt3suttoncoldfield »

Obviously before the A38 was redirected away from Gravelly Hill to the Tyburn Road. Does it look like the sign is patched with the alternatives ready for the change underneath as it can’t have been long after opening that the change happened?
User avatar
Truvelo
Member
Posts: 17467
Joined: Wed May 29, 2002 21:10
Location: Staffordshire
Contact:

Re: Spaghetti and Aston Expressway at 50

Post by Truvelo »

m6tollt3suttoncoldfield wrote: Thu May 26, 2022 23:44 Obviously before the A38 was redirected away from Gravelly Hill to the Tyburn Road. Does it look like the sign is patched with the alternatives ready for the change underneath as it can’t have been long after opening that the change happened?
You might be right. The patch beneath A38 looks wide enough for A5127.
How would you like your grade separations, Sir?
Big and complex.
User avatar
Big L
Deputy Site Manager
Posts: 7517
Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2010 20:36
Location: B5012

Re: Spaghetti and Aston Expressway at 50

Post by Big L »

So when was the A38 rerouted up the Tyburn Road ?
Make poetry history.

Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Help with maps using the new online calibrator.
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki.
User avatar
Chris Bertram
Member
Posts: 15744
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2001 12:30
Location: Birmingham, England

Re: Spaghetti and Aston Expressway at 50

Post by Chris Bertram »

Big L wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 07:01 So when was the A38 rerouted up the Tyburn Road ?
When the Sutton Coldfield by-pass was completed, in the early to mid seventies.
“The quality of any advice anybody has to offer has to be judged against the quality of life they actually lead.” - Douglas Adams.

Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki today!
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Try getting involved!
User avatar
Steven
SABRE Maps Coordinator
Posts: 19170
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2002 20:39
Location: Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
Contact:

Re: Spaghetti and Aston Expressway at 50

Post by Steven »

Chris Bertram wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 07:20
Big L wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 07:01 So when was the A38 rerouted up the Tyburn Road ?
When the Sutton Coldfield by-pass was completed, in the early to mid seventies.
I'm going for 1977, going off the OS Route Planning Map. The Birmingham inset on the 1977 edition has the numbers as the photo above (A38/A4097), but the 1978 edition has them as present.
Steven
Motorway Historian

Founder Member, SABRE ex-Presidents' Corner

Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki today!
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Try getting involved!

User avatar
A42_Sparks
Member
Posts: 958
Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2003 23:20
Location: Ballymena, N Ireland

Re: Spaghetti and Aston Expressway at 50

Post by A42_Sparks »

m6tollt3suttoncoldfield wrote: Thu May 26, 2022 23:44 Obviously before the A38 was redirected away from Gravelly Hill to the Tyburn Road. Does it look like the sign is patched with the alternatives ready for the change underneath as it can’t have been long after opening that the change happened?
Yes if you adjust the contrast you can see that 'A38' is on a patch wide enough for a four-digit A number as Truvelo noted.

'Tamworth' is on a patch as well.
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35755
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: Spaghetti and Aston Expressway at 50

Post by Bryn666 »

A42_Sparks wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 19:49
m6tollt3suttoncoldfield wrote: Thu May 26, 2022 23:44 Obviously before the A38 was redirected away from Gravelly Hill to the Tyburn Road. Does it look like the sign is patched with the alternatives ready for the change underneath as it can’t have been long after opening that the change happened?
Yes if you adjust the contrast you can see that 'A38' is on a patch wide enough for a four-digit A number as Truvelo noted.

'Tamworth' is on a patch as well.
Yes, looks very much like a temporary plate that could be taken off the sign later.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
User avatar
owen b
Member
Posts: 9861
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2003 15:22
Location: Luton

Re: Spaghetti and Aston Expressway at 50

Post by owen b »

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ ... t-obituary
"Royston Foot, who has died aged 95, was a civil engineer with an expertise in precast concrete who worked in motorway construction and on newspaper buildings. He was a key part of the design team for Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary."

The obituary was published in the print edition today, although I see that it was published online on August 27th.
Owen
Post Reply