Gallery:Exeter
A blanket 20 mph limit now applies across the entire city centre of Exeter, including a number of roads where 30 mph is an entirely reasonable (and indeed commonplace) speed. The buses ignore it too!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Sep 13, 2008 by PeterA5145
The entrance to Exeter from the west, up a narrow hill and, into the city. Now the B3212
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 17, 2009 by SteveA30
Descending through the outskirts of Exeter.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 17, 2009 by SteveA30
Approaching St Thomas, with the Cathedral visible in the distance.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 17, 2009 by SteveA30
The original went straight on and, also in the early years of the bypass. Later, it was rerouted via the right turn, where widening of the corner was undertaken.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 17, 2009 by SteveA30
Onto the bypass now, even though it was not built as such.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 17, 2009 by SteveA30
Continuing eastwards.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 17, 2009 by SteveA30
Now it looks the part. A30/A38 together, now reverted to A379, as it was originally.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 17, 2009 by SteveA30
Approaching Matford rbt. Cut those bushes back!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 17, 2009 by SteveA30
Now A379 to M5 J30
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 17, 2009 by SteveA30
The northern half of the bypass was itself bypassed in Oct 75, when the M5 opened to J30, via this freeflow link. The bit I have just done was bypassed in May 77, when the final stretch to J31 opened, ending Exeter's famous part in road history.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 17, 2009 by SteveA30
Crossing the Exeter Canal. The lifting of the bridge must have intensified the already bad summer queues.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 17, 2009 by SteveA30
Crossing the River Exe.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 17, 2009 by SteveA30
The handsome structure, built from the local red sandstone, taking the bypass over the original A30 into Exeter.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Sep 18, 2008 by SteveA30
The link from the old A30 to the old A38, left here. It was a T junction in the olden days. Original A30 went straight on into Exeter. The bridge carrying the bypass, is in the distance. Sept 14 2008
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Sep 18, 2008 by SteveA30
A view of the cantenery lighting on the M5 at Exeter before it is replaced.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 22, 2006 by DavidBrown
A severe weight and width restriction on the Iron Bridge in Exeter, dating back to 1835, which once carried the main road north out of the city.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Sep 13, 2008 by PeterA5145
...on the A3015 at Middlemoor. Quite a lot of information to take in, there.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 21, 2006 by DavidBrown
Very bad patching on a sign at Middlemoor in Exeter. Plus the B3181 shouldn't be in brackets, as the road is the B3181!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 21, 2006 by DavidBrown
Fingerpost signs wth only an outline of a chevron like this are common in Devon. This example is just off the A3015 at Digby, Exeter. You probably can't make it out, but there is also a fingerpost sign with a blue chevron in the background. These are also common in Devon.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Nov 19, 2005 by DavidBrown
A close up of the cantenery lights on the M5 near Exeter.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 21, 2006 by DavidBrown
Looking northbound just before junction 30. Note the Cantenery lighting.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 21, 2006 by DavidBrown
Looking southbound near junction 30.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 21, 2006 by DavidBrown
Looking north along an S4 section, now part of the A379 to the Dawlish area, so still seeing some of its traditional holiday traffic.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Sep 18, 2008 by SteveA30
Clearly room under the railway bridge for the carriageways to widen. Unfortunately, the bridge is in the way of us seeing the embankment in the middle ahead, clearly showing that something bigger was planned.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 21, 2006 by DavidBrown
The carriageways start to split. Obviously something bigger was planned.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 21, 2006 by DavidBrown
Near Digby. An unusual distance for an advance warning fork. It's normally half a mile.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 21, 2006 by DavidBrown
No idea of the reason behind this, although a number of other signs had suffered the same treatment
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Sep 13, 2008 by PeterA5145
Formerly the B3181, as this sign tells us.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 21, 2006 by DavidBrown
The old Exeter bypass, looking southbound.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 21, 2006 by DavidBrown
The old Exeter bypass, which was infamous for conjestion before the M5 was built.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 21, 2006 by DavidBrown
An illegal metric-only sign at Digby P+R, Exeter. Note also how the height on the sign is different from the one on the height barrier (also netric only)!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 21, 2006 by DavidBrown
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Is this the biggest level crossing in the UK? The road crosses 6 tracks in total.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 08, 2005 by DavidBrown
This map (OS 1' 5th series sheet 138) dates from 1936. The A35 shows signs of having been realigned, too, as it diverts north-westwards to meet the A30 just to the west of the GSJ rather than heading on the obvious line into the city. Originally uploaded to Coppermine on May 18, 2006 by FosseWay
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End of an era. The long running saga of the A38/M5 finally comes to an end. The last section of M5, from J30-31 opens on Friday May 27, only just in time for that weekends Bank Holiday. The Exeter bypass becomes part of road history. The other delays last year, were due to the J26-27 section not opening until Oct 76, resulting in Wellington to Tiverton being the last rural bit of A38, -the 'longest lane'- to see heavy summer traffic.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Sep 08, 2008 by SteveA30
The M5 finally makes it down to Exeter, at least as far as J30, then via the new link to the bypass. So, half of the famous bypass is relieved. It will be 18 months before the second half is. Also not open yet is Bridgwater to Taunton J24-25 and, Wellington to Tiverton, J26-27. Priority went to bypassing all the major towns first. The 'longest lane', is now reduced to 2 rural sections each side of Taunton.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Sep 02, 2008 by SteveA30
Other parts of the country may have seen major advances in the motorway network over the last 2 years but, in the West Country, it is still business as usual. However, the M5 is marching south and, reached Bristol on Dec 3 1971. Gradually, the locals are waking up to the changes this road will bring in its wake.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 26, 2008 by SteveA30
The end is in sight for Haldon Hill. London to Penzance A38 eh? The A259 gets a bit of dualling as well.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 06, 2008 by SteveA30
A route confirmation sign on the A3015 in Exeter - except with the words 'Ring Road' instead of a road number.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 21, 2006 by DavidBrown
A ring road sign on the A3015 in Exeter. Exeter doesn't really have a proper ring road - the A3015 is more of a bypass.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 21, 2006 by DavidBrown
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This 180-metre stretch of the lane that ran north from the A30 to Monkerton and Pinhoe remains charmingly rural, in spite of being within the Exeter Business Park, and is closed to traffic. A section beside <a href='http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/783871'>SX9693 : Ashford House, Exeter</a> is now a modern footpath, and the section to the north has been progressively modernised and is now a commuter route.
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The pub is beside Polsloe Bridge station on the Exeter and Exmouth Railway. Under the bridge, the Pinhoe Road continues towards Exeter city centre just over a mile away.
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Exit for the A379 and A376. also exit for the Services.
Looking towards the small road known as West Street from Western Way.