A4100
A4100 | ||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||
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From: | Blackheath (SO975865) | |||
To: | Brierley Hill (SO919868) | |||
Distance: | 4.2 miles (6.8 km) | |||
Meets: | A4034, B4171, A459, B4173, B4174, A4036, B4172, A461 | |||
Former Number(s): | B4172, B4179 | |||
Highway Authorities | ||||
Traditional Counties | ||||
Route outline (key) | ||||
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The A4100 runs across the southern part of the Black Country, from Blackheath to Brierley Hill via Rowley Regis, Cradley Heath and Quarry Bank.
Route
The road starts at traffic lights on the eastern side of the Blackheath bypass, where the A4034 TOTSOs. We head west along the northern side of the bypass, rejoining the road's original route, the High Street, near Blackheath library.
The route continues west along a residential road before descending steeply to pass Rowley Regis Cemetery. At the bottom of the hill we turn sharply left at a roundabout to cross the Dudley Canal and run through industry into Old Hill. There is a brief multiplex here with the A459 between adjacent roundabouts; signs claim the two roads have equal status.
The road continues west and bypasses the centre of Cradley Heath, multiplexing with the B4173 as it does so. After rejoining the old road we run on to the station, bending sharply right to avoid crossing the railway line at a level crossing. The road remains residential as we change metropolitan borough at the junction with the B4174.
We run along Quarry Bank High Street and climb to a signalised crossroads where we meet the A4036. This used to be a staggered crossroads but the A4100 has been straightened. On the far side we continue along Mount Pleasant then turn right at a roundabout, with the B4172 continuing our route ahead. We continue along Mill Street and cross a roundabout which provides access to the Merry Hill Centre before going over the Dudley Canal and ending at traffic lights on the A461 Brierley Hill bypass.
History
It was upgraded in April 1925 from a combination of the B4172 from Cradley Heath to Mount Pleasant and the B4179 between Mount Pleasant and Brierley Hill, whilst the section from Cradley Heath to Blackheath was upgraded from an unclassified road in the 1930s.
Cradley Heath Bypass opened in September 2007. It cost £11 million which included land purchases, demolition and the historic Worker’s Institute being re-located to the Black Country Living Museum.