Star.pngStar.pngStar grey.pngStar grey.pngStar grey.png

A168

From Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
A168
Location Map ( geo)
Cameraicon.png View gallery (31)
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

National Highways • Leeds  • North Yorkshire

Traditional Counties

Yorkshire

Route outline (key)
A168 Boston Spa - Dishforth
A168 Dishforth - Thirsk Bypass
(A19) Thirsk Bypass
A168 Thirsk Bypass - Northallerton

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

Old A1 South

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




A168
Junctions
Crossings
Roads
Places
Miscellaneous
Related Pictures
View gallery (31)
The old A1 at Nineveh - Geograph - 1709193.jpgA168 Southbound - Lane Closure - Coppermine - 18189.jpgA1 before new motorway opened - Coppermine - 1271.jpgA1 Old Wetherby Bypass - Coppermine - 1253.JPGA1 - Coppermine - 21114.jpg
Other nearby roads
Wetherby
Boroughbridge
Thirsk
Northallerton
A100-A199
A100 • A101 • A102 • A103 • A104 • A105 • A106 • A107 • A108 • A109 • A110 • A111 • A112 • A113 • A114 • A115 • A116 • A117 • A118 • A119
A120 • A121 • A122 • A123 • A124 • A125 • A126 • A127 • A128 • A129 • A130 • A131 • A132 • A133 • A134 • A135 • A136 • A137 • A138 • A139
A140 • A141 • A142 • A143 • A144 • A145 • A146 • A147 • A148 • A149 • A150 • A151 • A152 • A153 • A154 • A155 • A156 • A157 • A158 • A159
A160 • A161 • A162 • A163 • A164 • A165 • A166 • A167 • A168 • A169 • A170 • A171 • A172 • A173 • A174 • A175 • A176 • A177 • A178 • A179
A180 • A181 • A182 • A183 • A184 • A185 • A186 • A187 • A188 • A189 • A190 • A191 • A192 • A193 • A194 • A195 • A196 • A197 • A198 • A199
Defunct Itineraries & Motorways: A102(M) East Cross Route • A102(M) Southern Approach • A106(E) • A108(N) • A108(S) • A115 • A118
A132 • A122 • A135 • A138 • A139 • A147 • A154 • A160 • A167(M) • A168(M) • A176 • A180(W) • A180(E) • A194(M) • A194 • A195(M) • A195


SABRE - The Society for All British and Irish Road Enthusiasts
Discuss - Digest - Discover - Help