A40
Route
The A40 is a major road that runs between London and Fishguard. Going via Oxford and Gloucester it is a road of varying degrees of standard from ex motorway to S2. At a distance of 263 miles it makes the A40 Britain's 7th longest road.
See Route Sections: Central London - Denham • Denham - Wheatley • Wheatley - Witney • Witney - Cheltenham • Cheltenham - Ross • Ross - Abergavenny • Abergavenny - Brecon • Brecon - Carmarthen • Carmarthen - Haverfordwest • Haverfordwest - Fishguard
History
As with many of the long A-roads, the A40 has had a vast array of upgrades over the years. Some major, others not so major. However the section from Denham to Oxford Services was mostly replaced by the M40 therefore this section has had very few changes.
Notable locations and improvements
Holborn Viaduct
Holborn Viaduct is the city of London's only bridge wholly within the square mile. Built in 1869, it allows the A40 to cross the A201. The lost River Fleet is underneath the A201.
Denham Roundabout
The Denham Roundabout is where the A40 become M40. It is where the A40 loses it trunk status until Oxford services
Golden Valley Junction
The Golden Valley junction is where the A40 meets the M5. It is one of the busiest junctions found on the M5 therefore a important one.
Gibraltar Tunnels
The Gibraltar Tunnels (Welsh:Twneli Gibraltar) are found at Monmouth. Also known as the Monmouth Tunnel it is to the south of Monmouth and was built in the 1960s.
Opening Dates
Month | Year | Section | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Robeston Wathen Bypass | Opened on 18 March 2011. | |
2000 | Westway | Road downgraded from Motorway to A40. | |
1998 | Fishguard Western bypass | It was due to open in early 1998 per the OS 1:250000 map. | |
1996 | Whitland bypass | Opened on 30 July 1996. | |
1994 | Llandeilo Northern Bypass | The 1.7 mile single carriageway road opened on 23 December 1994 per the Land Compensation Act notice. The official opening was on 17 January 1995 by Gwylim Jones, Welsh Roads Minister. Cost £4 million. | |
1987 | Pengawse Hill (Whitland) Diversion | Opened on 20 February 1987. | |
1987 | Treffgarne Quarries Improvement | ||
1985 | Ross-on-Wye Relief Road | Eastern Bypass opened on 15 February 1985. | |
1984 | Northleach Bypass | Due to be officially opened on 31 July 1984. | |
1984 | St Clears to Carmarthen | It was reported as having opened 3 months previous by the 25 January 1985 Carmarthen Journal. The official opening was on 7 June 1985 by John Stradling Thomas, Minister of State at the Welsh Office. | |
1983 | Carmarthen Southern Bypass | Opened on 22 July 1983 (together with A48 section to Nant-y-caws). | |
1983 | Gloucester Northern Bypass | The western section between Over and A38 Tewkesbury Road was due to open on 21 June 1983. This completed the 3.3 mile D2 / S2 road. Contractor was Sir Alfred McAlpine and Sons (Southern) Ltd., outturn works cost £9.8 million. | |
1982 | Pont-y-Fenni Diversion | Opened on 18 October 1982. | |
1982 | Gloucester Northern Bypass | The eastern section between A38 Tewkesbury Road and Elmbridge Court Roundabout was due to open on 2 September 1982. | |
1980 | Brecon Bypass | Opened on 22 August 1980 prior to the official opening on 28 October 1980 by Lord Gibson-Watt, former Welsh Office Minister of State. | |
1979 | St Clears Bypass | Opened on 9 November 1979. | |
1977 | Witney Bypass | Opened on 19 April 1977 by William Rodgers, Minister of Transport (per ATV Today broadcast). | |
1973 | Llywel Diversion | Opened in September 1973 per the Cymru : Wales 1973 Report | |
1971 | Carmarthen Diversion | Llysonnen Road to Blue Street. The 1.5 mile dual carriageway was substantially completed and brought into use by the end of 1971 per the Cymru : Wales 1971 Report. | |
1971 | Andoversford Bypass | An ATV Today clip of 20 September 1971 reported a crash on the bypass (MACE Archive). Work was ongoing in March 1970. It may have opened in 1970. Dual carriageway. | |
1969 | Gloucester - Cheltenham Link Road | Golden valley Bypass opened on 19 September 1969. | |
1969 | Mitchel Troy - Raglan | Opened on 1 February 1969. | |
1967 | Mitchell Troy and Gibraltar Diversion | Opened on 30 June 1967. It included the Gibraltar Tunnels. | |
1967 | Monmouth Bypass: Dixton Extension | Opened on 4 February 1967. | |
1964 | Wheatley Bypass | May have opened in 1963. | |
1964 | Wilton - Goodrich Cross | Fully opened in 1964, parts may have opened earlier. | |
1964 | Herefordshire Boundary - Dixton, Monmouth | The dualling was completed in 1964 per the Wales 1964 Report. | |
1964 | Raglan Bypass | Completed in 1964 per the Wales 1964 Report. | |
1960 | Ross-on-Wye Bypass | Opened on 3 September 1960 (prior to the M50 opening), It included the Bridstow Bridge over the River Wye. Opened as A449 (until the 1985 Eastern bypass). | |
1935 | Oxford Northern Bypass | Eynsham to Wolvercote Roundabout. | |
1934 | Oxford Northern Bypass | Wolvercote Roundabout to Headington opened in July 1934. | |
1928 | Newbridge Diversion (Llanstinan) | The diversion and new bridge were formally opened on 2 February 1928 by Wilfred Ashley, Minister of Transport. Reported as Diversion at Cilau. A 400 yard extension to the previous diversion was mentioned by the Western Mail of 7 January 1929. With a cutting and embankment it is likely be the north end of the Newbridge Diversion. | |
1928 | Wolf's Castle Diversion | The bypass of the Devil's Elbow hairpin in the village and new bridge were formally opened on 2 February 1928 by Wilfred Ashley, Minister of Transport. The new gradient was 1 in 14. | |
1927 | Dashwood Hill Bypass | Opened on 27 October 1927. | |
1869 | Holborn Viaduct | Bridge over the A201. |
Links
- Roads.org.uk - Out of London: A40 07.09.2018 (archive.org)
legislation.gov.uk
- The A487 and A40 Trunk Roads (Fishguard, Pembrokeshire) (One Way Traffic) Order 2020 - This order provides for the changes to one-way traffic flows in Fishguard resulting from the construction of the new relief road in the town centre.
- The London to Fishguard Trunk Road (A40) (Llanddewi Velfrey to Penblewin Improvement and De-Trunking) Order 2021 - This piece of legislation provides for a new road alignment between Llanddewi Velfrey and Penblewin, and detrunking of the old road
- The London to Fishguard Trunk Road (A40) (Penblewin to Redstone Cross Improvement and De-Trunking) Order 2021 - This piece of legislation provides for a new road alignment between Penblewin and Redstone Cross, and detrunking of the old road
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