A156
A156 | ||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||
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From: | Drinsey Nook (SK870743) | |||
To: | Gainsborough (SK815891) | |||
Distance: | 11 miles (17.7 km) | |||
Meets: | A57, A1133, A1500, A631 | |||
Primary Destinations | ||||
Highway Authorities | ||||
Traditional Counties | ||||
Route outline (key) | ||||
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The A156 is a reasonably short A-road in west Lincolnshire.
The road starts at a TOTSO on the A57 at Drinsey Nook to the west of Lincoln, with the main A57 turning off left towards Sheffield and, ultimately, Liverpool. Up to this point the A57 has been following the bank of the Roman Foss Dyke Canal - not to be confused with the Fosse Way, that's the A46.
The A156 starts by following the Foss Dyke but then heads west to take a detour through Fenton to Torksey Lock, where it meets the A1133 which has come down from Newark following the Trent. There is a short section of dual carriageway to aid the junction here.
The A156 then crosses the Foss Dyke just to the east of where it meets the Trent at Torksey. It then follows the Trent downstream to Gainsborough. On leaving Torksey the road crosses the now-gone Retford to Lincoln railway line. The bridge across the A156 has been removed but just to the west the rail bridge over the Trent is still in existence.
The A156 then passes through Marton (where the more direct A1500 from Lincoln meets it) and Gate Burton. Here, on the left, it passes what looks like a stately home, but on closer inspection is found to have but two bedrooms. This is The Chateau, available for holiday rents from the Landmark Trust (plug!). The road continues north through Knaith and Lea and starts to run parallel to a railway line.
The final approach to Gainsborough is fairly nondescript. The railway line is crossed via a low bridge at Gainsborough Lea Road station. After going under another railway line a roundabout is reached where the road splits. The A156 ahead provides access to the westbound A631. The eastbound A631 and the A159 to Scunthorpe is accessed via the road to the right; this road is also the southbound A156 as traffic may not turn right onto the former road.