Gallery:Launceston
This was a 2 way street into the 1970's at least. All 4 arms were in use and, a well known local policeman directed traffic all day in the 60's and, had a smile for everyone.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2009 by SteveA30
Exeter street on the right, coming up from the hairpin bend, where the wartime bypass veered sharply away, until 1976., when the second bypass opened. Note pavements made entirely of granite.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2009 by SteveA30
The hairpin bend has recently had this pavement extension added, reducing road space on the left by half for no obvious reason, 33 years after the bypass opened. Exeter St. coming out on the right.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2009 by SteveA30
I'm not sure where this sign is now, hopefully preserved in the town. August Bank Holiday Monday 75
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 24, 2008 by SteveA30
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The unusual telegraph pole has been there since the 60's and probably, much longer, with its nice finial on top. The stone wall of the original bend can be seen here, by the signs.
Note : The pole actually appears to be carrying power lines. There will be 3 live and 1 neutral at 240v. Each building uses 1 live and the neutral.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2006 by SteveA30
Another bunch come up. Their was no pavement on the left in A30 days, you walked behind the white wall, which always had large chunks missing and loose bricks lying around. Summer days here were chaos, as locals trying to turn right into one of the side roads had to look out for artics coming round the bend downhill, whilst waiting for a gap. Queues stretched from Lifton and back towards Okehampton, which was another bottleneck of course.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2006 by SteveA30
Downhill lorries had to go very wide to allow space for uphill ones like this. Locals coming out of the 2 turns also had to hold back from the line to keep their front wings intact!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2006 by SteveA30
Another one swings round during the diversion caused by rebuilding the River Tamar bridge on the bypass.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2006 by SteveA30
Standing here on the original alignment of the bend, looking west, at a westbound lorry, heading east. Just for a few yards.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2006 by SteveA30
As it was only a w/bnd flow, there were no conflicts but, in A30 days, downhill lorries hugged the kerb to allow space for the uphill ones. In the 2 evenings, only 1 lorry went downhill and, that was a yellow highways one loaded with cones and signs so, probably only there because of the diversion.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2006 by SteveA30
Prouts Corner, Launceston on the old A30, in the quiet state its been in since Wed. March 31 1976, when the bypass opened, just after 11am. A news item on the HA website on 22/6/06 warned of a 2 night diversion, w/bnd only from 7pm to 6am, on 27 & 28 June, which meant daylight for at least 3 hours. I was ready and waiting.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2006 by SteveA30
The diversion commences and old scenarios are repeated. Not much space and, many conflicting movements. This was only a w/bnd diversion, with e/bnd also in the old days, the scenes can be imagined.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2006 by SteveA30
An artic pokes its nose into Prouts Corner. The original bend followed the line by the white car and, the outside must have been where the centre lines now are, I would guess. This was far too tight for even the smaller lorries of old and was soon widened. The A388 comes out of the road by the red building and used to multiplex with the A30 in the foreground. Now, it goes in 3 directions here, having assumed the A30's route downhill also. Original A30 pre-war, went along the other left hand turn into town.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2006 by SteveA30
This was the start of the bypass from about 1939 but, around 1942/3, it was widened as seen here, because the RAF Queen Mary trailers couldn't get round, and the town route was/is even tighter. They were used to collect damaged planes for repair. They were a common sight on our roads until the late 60's at least. Note the trailer roof flexing on the bend.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2006 by SteveA30
The pre war A30 carried on up Exeter St. where I'm standing. Tavistock Rd. to the right was just a T junction, before the widening of the bend in the war, about 1942. Original alignment, by the garages. Prouts Garage was where the flats are behind the lorry and was another cause of hold ups from those turning right into it.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2006 by SteveA30
Another convoy grinds up Kensey Hill. The e/bnd downhill diversion occured on Nov. 28/29, entirely in the dark of course. Amusing to observe uphill locals swerving to avoid downhill artic trailers cutting across their path just here....
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2006 by SteveA30
Another artic scrapes around Prouts Corner. The tyre marks were from these two evenings activities.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2006 by SteveA30
Westbound but, heading east, then south, before finally turning west back at the bypass. When the bypass opened in 1976, it was the first dualled section between Exeter and west of Bodmin.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2006 by SteveA30
04/03/09 Launceston. At about 3pm, four seperate accidents took place over a 300 yard stretch of the A30 on the Devon/Cornwall border - 9 vehicles were involved altogether. There was fuel on the eastbound carriageway just before the crash scene, and very heavy downpours could have contributed.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Mar 04, 2009 by DavidBrown
The Cornish & Devon Post reports on the low key opening of the Launceston bypass on Wed. March 31 1976. The Link Road in the top junction diagram, was the temporary A30 for about a year, because the D2 wiped out the original road for about 1 mile.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 30, 2006 by SteveA30_Philip_Halling_-_Geograph_-_2862382.jpg)