Gallery:A421
New A421 approaching the Black Cat rbt on August 24 2006, opening day. Existing A421 on right. LC and Travelodge on left.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
Looking east between Gt Barford and Roxton.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
Looking west down the hill towards Gt Barford.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
Looking east near Roxton. Soon to be old road on right.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
Looking east.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
Looking west, as the village awaits its release from heavy traffic.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
Business as usual for the snack bar in distance.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
Official opening of the Gt Barford bypass, on the westbound side. 4 tapes were cut, for the benefit of TV crews! Managed reality, I think they call it.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
Traffic opening was set for 1pm but, suddenly at 12.10, traffic was approaching from Black Cat, catching onlookers out. I was walking away from the bridge and had to run back. This opening of the westbound side first, was a major tactical error, as the next pics will show.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
Within 10 minutes of the w/bnd opening, traffic was tailing back 2 miles to this point. At Black Cat, they had conflicts with both A1 n/bnd and now, A421 w/bnd, making an almost impenetrable wall of traffic. Note the snack bar guy has already gone. As soon as he realised it was open, he packed up and headed for the layby where the tape cutting was held, getting caught in up in this queue first though.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
A Highways guy in a van turned up in a panic and made a frantic looking mobile call. No doubt, it was something like, 'get that bloody road open, its chaos out here!'
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
At 1pm, the eastbound side did open, as scheduled. I decided to stay here though, as this was much more interesting. This captures the absolute end of the A421 at this spot, about 1.20, as the supply of regular traffic dries up. The lorry is the final vehicle to use the layby in its role as a stop for A421 traffic.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
The unexpected turn of events messed up my photo plans, such that I only had 1 left for the 'after' shots. I chose the 3 lane section, just in case the County Council narrowed it later. This was at about 1.45pm, only half an hour after all that chaos and U turning.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
I joined the back of the queue to get this unique shot of the first queues on the new A421 and, the last queue of A421 traffic on the now old road. Within 5 minutes, the old road was finally cleared of through traffic, at about 1.30pm. Presumably, it was the police who decided to open the w/bnd side 50 mins before the e/bnd. Fat lot they know about traffic management and conflicts.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
Eastbound through the new A428 junction at the eastern end of the Bedford Bypass
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 30, 2006 by CJ
Pretty standard D2 really. Looking west from Barford Road overbridge
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 30, 2006 by CJ
Eastbound, nearing the end of the bypass at the A1 roundabout
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 30, 2006 by CJ== Summary ==
The queue was rapidly heading back towards Gt Barford so, many turned back. This wasn't as dangerous as it would have been 30 mins earlier, as the w/bnd side was of course deserted.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 14, 2007 by SteveA30
Looking across a field to junction 13 of the M1. The junction is due to be upgraded as part of the expansion plans for Milton Keynes. Currently it is something of a bottleneck.
M1 widening under construction, Handy Cross improvements, Linslade-Stoke Hammond bypass finished, Bedford western bypass and M1 link proposed and odd junction on the new A249 in AtoZ 2007 GB Atlas Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 26, 2006 by sabristo simon
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Standing Way is the A421
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From the east
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Skirting the southern margins of the town. Approaching Malborough Street.
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Just west of the Tingewick Road industrial estate turn off from A421
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About to cross the river Great Ouse.
