Gallery:Longest Lane
The "longest lane" project was an attempt by SABRE members to find the longest continual lane of traffic in Britain. This took us on a journey from West London to the West Midlands, and back. Here's what happened.
The Longest lane is lane 2. Here beginneth the longest lane uninterrupted by give way lines. Where is it going to take us? 'THE WEST', says the green sign, but we are going to end up further east than here, at the other end of the A302! Follow the bus in front, but keep in the right hand lane.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is on the right.
Round the corner, and the left lane is now a bus lane, but the right lane is for all traffic. When the underpass merges in ahead, the right lane will become the centre lane. (We've overtaken that No 10 - Routemasters don't spend so long at the stops!)Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is in the middle. The road sign on the left still calls the junction by this name, although the shop on the corner ahead now carries the Burberry name. 'A4 WEST' it says in the centre (and left) lane. The No 10 bus is back! 'KEN' it says in the right hand lane - not a tribute to the mayor, but indicating it's the route for Kensington
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is on the right. Still two lanes here, although the markings are currently missing outside Harrods itself
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is in the middle. A third lane appears on our right
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is on the right. Down to two lanes again, as we follow the curve into the Cromwell Road. (I'm now on a different bus, but haven't gained the front seat!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is on the right. Looking back along Cromwell Road, as the bus rejoins it after the detour to serve South Kensington station
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is in the middle. On the Cromwell Road, two lanes become three - but only the centre lane will get very far!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is in the middle. The lanes have now gone from two to three, but the left lane is lost here briefly to avoid an overhanging tree
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is in the middle. The right lane ends here at the Marloes Road Junction, only to resume immediately afterwards
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is in the middle. The Centre lane heads ever westwards, but the bus turns off here.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
longest lane is the centre lane Another set of lights
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
longest lane is the centre lane Approaching the flyover, a sign for the lane drop can be seen on the left hand side
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
longest lane is the left lane We regain a third lane, on the left, at the end of the flyover
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
longest lane is the centre lane We briefly get a fourth lane on the left, which peels off to Richmond and eventually the M3
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
longest lane is the centre lane Last traffic lights until Gipsy Corner, 289 miles on!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
longest lane is the centre lane the signs for the lane drop can be seen ahead
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
The lane drop as the A4 becomes the M4 elevated section
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)_-_Coppermine_-_1849.JPG)
the off slip drops down, as the onslip climbs beyond it
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
Longest lane is the left The third lane appears on the right ahead - and the hard shoulder appears on the left!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
camera is in the longest lane Traffic merging from the on slip from Heathrow
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
longest lane is the centre left lane At busy times there is much weaving between Heathrow and M25 traffic here
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
Signs for the lane drop appear ahead
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
longest lane is the one the driver is in Take the left lane for the world's longest car park, the M25!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
longest lane is the left lane
M25 traffic joining here will need to weave with traffic intending to leave at Junction 5
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
longest lane is the centre-left
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
longest lane is the centre-left lane (i.e immediately to the driver's right) Signs for the lane-drop ahead
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)
longest lane is the left-centre lane (i.e. the one immediately to the right of the camera) The end of the far lane section: the Lonhest Lane is now the left hand lane all the way to the M5 junction at Almondsbury
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 30, 2005 by t1(M)_-_Coppermine_-_1176.jpg)
Sketch of the lane layout showing how the longest lane makes it round this junction.
OP Martyn H
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by M4Simon
The Longest Lane is the nearer one (on the other side of the crash barrier) . The Marylebone flyover can be seen in the background. Traffic from the A404, which has been running underneath the Westway, can join here, but there is no lane gain.
We've come a long way from the previous picture, on the M4 near Slough, but it's not really very far away! After the last picture the lane is uninterrupted along the A4, M4, M5, M42, M40, and A40. Contributions to help plug the gap are welcome!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is in the middle. Tiger tails where the Marylebone Flyover returns to ground level. We gain a lane on the left at this point, which stays with us to Kings Cross, although for much of its length it's buses only. The road ceases to be the A40 here, and becomes the A501.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is in the middle.
We're on a bus for most of the rest of the way now. The bus makes a detour here to Marylebone station, but the Longest Lane goes straight on!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is lane 2. Near Mme Tussauds. The right hand lane splits several times along here to allow right hand turns, and the left lane is a bus lane. the Longest Lane (in the middle) just keeps going!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is in the middle. The left lane splits to provide a bus lane.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is in the middle. The lane drop for the Euston Underpass The left lane and off slip have been closed off today for resurfacing
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is on the left. A rare shot! Usually buses stay at ground level to serve the bus stops here. University College Hospital can beseen ahead, built on the site of a building I used to work in.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is on the left. Seen from above. Our lane will become the middle one again at the top of the ramp. St Pancras church is visible in the distance
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is in the middle. Once again we gain a lane on the left as we exit the underpass. Ahead, it becomes a bus lane
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is in the middle. Buses turn off into the bus station here, but all three lanes continue. The right hand lane finally ends at the next traffic lights, so when the bus re-joins there will be only two lanes.
One of the lodges from the original Euston station of the 1830s can be seen behind the bus in front.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)_-_Coppermine_-_517.JPG)
The Longest lane is in the middle. Looking back the way we came, this is the parting of the ways. White Van Man is in the Longest Lane. The right hand lane, our companion since leaving the M5, leaves us here
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is on the right. The road is here temporarily diverted whilst work is carried out to build a new concourse for the Underground station
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is on the right.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is on the right. Now three lanes again. All three continue beyond the traffic lights into Pentonville Road. (Taken from a No 45 bus, in rather worse lighting conditions than most of the pictures on this stretch!}
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is on the right. We enter Pentonville Road - the A501 continues straight ahead up the hill towards the Angel, but what do the markings in our lane say?
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)
The Longest lane is on the right. The left two lanes continue as the A501 Pentonville Road, but ours turns right (across the contra flow bus lane) to become the start of the A201 - very out-of zone at this point
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)
The A201, although a long way out of zone! Having turned the corner, the lane splits into three. The right one loops back to Kings Cross. The left one will shortly be a bus lane. Take the middle one!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)
Just after Mount Pleasant Sorting Office, descending the valley of the Fleet towards Holborn. Only one lane here, plus an intermitent bus lane.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 21, 2005 by t1(M)
seen from the north - only one lane each way here
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 09, 2005 by t1(M)
