Oldings Corner
Oldings Corner | |||
Location Map ( geo) | |||
| |||
Location | |||
Hatfield | |||
County | |||
Hertfordshire | |||
Highway Authority | |||
National Highways | |||
Junction Type | |||
dumbbell | |||
Roads Joined | |||
A1(M), A414, A1001, A6129 | |||
Junctions related to the A1001 | |||
Oldings Corner is the name given to junction 4 of the A1(M). It takes its name from the Jack Olding factory that once occupied the site to the south of the main roundabout, presently occupied by Tesco.
Description
The present junction was built in 1986 as part of the A1(M) Hatfield Tunnel scheme and is a dumbbell style junction, albeit one where the eastern roundabout is substantially bigger than the western roundabout. The reason for this is that the eastern roundabout gives access to and from the southbound carriageway of the A1(M), the A414, A6129 and A1001 whereas the western roundabout only accesses the northbound carriageway of the A1(M). As such, the western roundabout and the overbridge are both under motorway regulations.
History
The junction first came about with the construction of the Barnet Bypass and North Orbital Road. The junction is at the point where the Great North Road diverged from the Barnet Bypass; the old road followed the line of the present A414 to the smaller roundabout to the east, and then went to the south parallel to the railway line.
Prior to constructing the present junction, the A414 joined the A1 slightly to the south of the roundabout. The original line of the A414 remains as a back entrance to the Tesco site, and an old green direction sign which remained for many years has subsequently been removed.
When originally built, the eastern roundabout was a conventional roundabout. It is slightly elongated from north to south. This was done to reduce the construction cost of the roundabout as the whole thing is built on embankment - to build a circular roundabout would have required substantially more material.
By around 2000 (date uncertain) the roundabout was over capacity so the roundabout was widened and signalised.
Routes
Route | To | Notes |
The North, Stevenage | ||
London & M25, St Albans (A414) | ||
Hertford, Welwyn Gdn City | ||
Hatfield, The Galleria, Fielder Centre, Hatfield Business Park, Public Weighbridge | ||
Stanborough, Wheathampstead (B653), Gosling Sports Park, Stanborough Park |
Videos
Hatfield Tunnel - Concept to Reality
Watch the Hatfield Tunnel being built in this fascinating documentary produced jointly by the University of Herts, formerly Hatfield Polytechnic and Hertfordshire County Council.
Links
- The Unofficial Website for Hatfield - Jack Olding
- Britain From Above - Oldings Corner (Photo from 22 July 1949) (archive.org)