A168
A168 | |||||||||||||
Location Map ( geo) | |||||||||||||
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From: | Boston Spa (SE409457) | ||||||||||||
To: | Northallerton (SE370932) | ||||||||||||
Via: | Wetherby, Thirsk | ||||||||||||
Distance: | 35 miles (56.3 km) | ||||||||||||
Meets: | A1(M), A659, A58, A661, A59, A6055, A168(M), A167, A19, A170, A61, A167 | ||||||||||||
Former Number(s): | A1, A167 | ||||||||||||
Primary Destinations | |||||||||||||
Highway Authorities | |||||||||||||
Traditional Counties | |||||||||||||
Route outline (key) | |||||||||||||
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The A168 runs across northern Yorkshire, partially taking over sections of the A1 bypassed by A1(M), then forms a useful link to the A19.
Route
This road is now much extended (in 1922 its southern end was in Thirsk), as south of Dishforth it has taken over one of the old carriageways of the A1, and now runs parallel to the new A1(M) (the other carriageway has been torn up). This section carries very little traffic (most of it local), but is retained for motorway-prohibited traffic, and also allows for intermediate junctions.
The road starts on the A659 not far from A1(M) J45 and heads north alongside the motorway via Wetherby. A detour at Walshford where the A168 crosses the motorway marks a temporary terminus, after which the road goes through Boroughbridge where it crosses the River Ure (a favourite with crossword compilers).
On arrival at Dishforth Interchange (J49) the A168 leaves the motorway and TOTSOs to become a fast dual-carriageway. The spur of the A1(M) in this direction could be the A168(M), although this number is disputed. The A168 by-passes Topcliffe where once it passed through. The A167 turns off here. The B1448 (the pre-bypass road) splits off to Thirsk town centre as the A168 carries on to the concrete-surfaced by-pass. South of Thirsk it merges into the A19 (which has a TOTSO junction here), only to leave again north of the town (a classic "cannon" off the A19) while the A19 carries on up to Teesside.
Now non-primary once more the A168 meanders northwards to Northallerton. As a road it's not particularly interesting, with no places of any size and very few side roads. However, presently the road reaches the southern edge of Northallerton and a roundabout where, almost with a sigh of relief, it joins the A167 and ends.
Original Author(s): Chris Bertram
History
Route changes
In 1922 the A168 ran between the A61 in Thirsk and the then-A1 in Northallerton. In 1924 the road was extended to Topcliffe along what was the A167 when that road was rerouted to take over the ex-A1 between Boroughbridge and Darlington.
After World War II the A168 was extended via Dishforth to meet the A1. That road started being upgraded to motorway in 1995 and so the A168 has been extended southwards gradually ever since to form a non-motorway route parallel to the A1(M).
Improvements
Topcliffe and Asenby Bypass - the 2.2 mile D2 dual carriageway was opened in September 1977 per the Winter 1977/78 RAC World magazine. Outturn works cost £3.4 million. It was the final link in the dual carriageway between A1 and Teesside.
Links
Roads UK