A631
A631 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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From: | Greenland, Sheffield (SK391889) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To: | near South Elkington (TF309871) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Via: | Maltby, Gainsborough, Market Rasen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance: | 62.8 miles (101.1 km) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Meets: | A6102, M1, A6109, A6178, A630, A618, A6123, A6021, M18, A634, A60, A638, A161, A620, A156, A159, A15, A1103, A46, A157 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Primary Destinations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Highway Authorities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Doncaster • Lincolnshire • Nottinghamshire • Rotherham • Sheffield | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Traditional Counties | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route outline (key) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The A631 is a cross-country route, largely primary, running west to east between South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. During the course of its 63 route miles across a variety of landscapes both industrial and deeply rural it meets with and crosses 18 other A roads as well as two motorways.
Route
Greenland - South Elkington
The A631 starts as part of the "official" Sheffield outer ring road. It starts at Greenland, in the East End of Sheffield, and forms a dualled road to meet the M1 at the southern end of J34, on the Tinsley viaduct. It then splits in two with a short spur running along the lower deck of the viaduct to allow access to the northbound M1 as well as the A6109. The main route then takes a 180-degree turn (marking the original beginning of the A631) and heads to meet the A630 at Canklow, beginning a short multiplex with the A631 number dominant (it was here many years before the A630 turned up!). It flows along the southern edge of Rotherham, through many a roundabout and junction, staying dualled throughout. In this area, Rotherham Council have over a number of years been planting the verges and central reservation of the A630 and A631 with wildflowers, in order to attract bee and other insect life while at the same time saving on mowing costs. This has proven very popular, adding lots of colour to the road during spring and summer.
At Wickersley it passes the M18 at J1, then passes through the mining towns of Maltby and Tickhill. At Tickhill it turns through two right angles, collecting in, and spitting out the A60 in the process. That road is dominant in the multiplex despite the fact it has essentially been replaced by the A1(M) in this area.
After passing under the A1(M), the A631 delivers us at the doors of Bawtry, a market town strategically placed on the Great North Road, in the shadow of the East Coast mainline. There is a short multiplex along the A638 (former A1) before the A631 leaves Bawtry heading eastwards, passing Everton, and heading to Gainsborough. There are short dualled bypasses of Gringley on the Hill and Beckingham.
At the entrance to Gainsborough you pass over the River Trent. This is one of four crossings of the Trent downstream of the A1 at Newark (the other three being the A18 and M180 near Scunthorpe, and the A57 toll bridge). Although the original route of the A631 east of Gainsborough was along the present B1433 it has always used the current bridge. Leaving Gainsborough up the hill, you then pass through miles of countryside, with a nodding glance to Caenby Corner where it meets the A15 Ermine Street, a popular stop off point for coach trips to the coast.
After being primary and (relatively) straight east-west for some distance, there is an unexpected sharp bend to the right just after Bishopbridge, where the A1103 bears off to the left taking primary status with it. The A631 now zigzags through West Rasen to reach Middle Rasen, where there is a multiplex along the A46 through the village. At the near side we have priority but we turn off at the other end to regain the A631 number and pass through the centre of Market Rasen. The road through town is wider than expected - but there is a low railway bridge en route. We leave town past the racecourse before passing through a wood.
The final throes of the A631 is a picturesque journey through the Lincolnshire Wolds, before finally ending on the A157 just before the A16 Louth bypass. From here the holiday resorts are yours to choose from, although generally you can pick from Mablethorpe, Ingoldmells or Skegness. Anywhere else, and you've come the wrong way.
Opening Dates
Year | Section | Notes |
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1937 | Scaftworth Bypass | The 0.3 mile road was completed by August 1937 following grants being received in April 1936. |
1938 | Beckingham Bypass | The 0.7 mile south-west section from Church Street to Bar Road was opened on 10 December 1938. Scheme cost was £20,000. The other sections were opened later. |
1939 | Gringley-on-the-Hill Bypass | Construction started on the 0.9 mile road in January 1937. Further work on the bypass was authorised by the Council in February 1939. It may have opened later than 1939. It is shown on a Bartholomews map of 1942. |
1974 | Beckingham Bypass Extension | Eastwards dual carriageway extension of the existing southern bypass (to bypass the level crossing on Ramper Road). Opened on 18 January 1974. Also opened was the new A161 western bypass. Contractor was A.F. Budge Ltd., cost £725,000. |
1974 | Gainsborough Relief Road | Thorndike Way. The 2.5 mile dual carriageway from Trent Bridge to Corringham Road was opened on 10 May 1974 by John Hedley-Lewis, County Council Chairman. Contractor was Tarmac Construction Ltd., cost £1.25 million. Named after the famous Gainsborough actress Sybil Thorndike. |
Links
Sheffield County Council Traffic Cameras
Rotherham Advertiser
The Times
- Wild flowers turn the A630 into a bee road (24.06.2019)