A1101

The A1101 runs through the heart of the Cambridgeshire Fenlands into west Suffolk. Its length (it is the longest 4-digit A-road in the country) suggests its importance, although most of the road is not a primary route due to its numerous twists and turns.

Route

The road starts just outside Long Sutton at a roundabout on the A17 and, initially primary, heads south along a reasonably straight road to Wisbech. It runs through the town, meeting the A47 bypass at the other side, and turns southeast to Outwell. The A1122 takes up the primary route to Downham Market, while the A1101 heads south through the Hundred Foot Drain, and out the other side to Littleport. This section travels across the flood plain at Welney, which is regularly closed during the winter months as the water levels make it impassible. At Littleport, the A1101 briefly multiplexes with the A10 along the bypass.

Shippea Hill Level Crossing

After crossing the railway and leaving the A10, the A1101 runs southeast through slightly less flat countryside. The Ely to Norwich railway line is crossed at Shippea Hill level crossing, then the road runs past RAF Mildenhall (the old route went straight and is now lost under the runway) to meet the A11 and A1065 at the Fiveways Roundabout in Barton Mills. There's then a run through woodland then along the valley of the River Lark southeast to Bury St Edmunds. After going under the A14 the road ends at a roundabout where it meets the A1302 and a spur of the A143.

History

The A1101 was originally the A150 to Wisbech, the A47 to Outwell, and the B1101 to Bury St Edmunds; the last stretch into the town was the original line of the A143. By 1927, the B1101 section had been upgraded to Class I, with the road unusually keeping its number but changing its prefix.

On 1 April 1933 the A47 was rerouted via King's Lynn instead of Downham Market. The A1101 took over its former route to Wisbech, with the remainder of the old A47 route becoming the A1122.

On 1 April 1935 the A1101 was further extended over the former A150 to Long Sutton, as it was by this time recognised as an important continuous cross-country route.

Videos

Flooded Welney wash, Massey 3630

Taking the massey 3630 through welney wash when it was flooded back in April.

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