what is the most unsual motorway junction?

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 13:26

M1J46_A63_A6120 wrote:Feeble replies really compared to some others...

M1 J38 Haigh Roundabout - the A637 doesn't cross the M1, the road off to the east in unclassified, and there is a bus stop road cut into the eastern edge of the roundabout.

Show me the law that says the road has to cross the motorway at a junction.

Gareth Thomas · Post by **Gareth Thomas** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 14:17

I think the old design for M2 Junction 3 (the A229 at Chatham) was certainly unique!

I'll see if I can find a scan of it somewhere, for those who don't know what it looked like (it now looks completely different).

On the theme of the M2, I think Junction 5 wth the A249 is also quite unique!

Pgd · Post by **Pgd** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 14:25

Show me the law that says the road has to cross the motorway at a junction.

Well, there is no law, but it is an unusual feature you have to admit! As for most unusual, I'm not so sure; it's just a roundabout interchange when all's said and done.

For my part, I'd say M8 J15 must be one of the most unusal - going east the mainline isn't the through route; there are free-flow links to nothing to the south, ignoring the dual-carriageway to the north; and there are additional local links all over the place. Even if it was completed it would still be pretty wierd!

autismuk · Post by **autismuk** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 16:08

M58 Junction 5, near Skelmersdale......... how did this ever get built ?

M1J46_A63_A6120 · Post by **M1J46_A63_A6120** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 16:25

Pgd wrote:
Show me the law that says the road has to cross the motorway at a junction.
Well, there is no law, but it is an unusual feature you have to admit! As for most unusual, I'm not so sure; it's just a roundabout interchange when all's said and done.

Well I was only trying to contribute, I did say in my original message

M1J46_A63_A6120 wrote:Feeble replies really compared to some others

I'll not bother in future.

Whether _any_ of the answers concerned can be classed as "MOST unusual motorway junction" is an issue of subjectiveness.

ForestChav · Post by **ForestChav** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 18:17

M1J46_A63_A6120 wrote:M1 J23a - basically two restricted access junctions, so that northbound traffic uses this junction to get to East Midlands Airport and southbound traffic uses it to get on the A42 - but not possible vice-versa.

All the other movements are covered by 24a and 24 though, if the A453 to Nottm (ex-A648) ever gets dualled then it will probably link with the A50 at 24a and 24 will be closed.

The whole area is a mess but that's only because the HA couldn't build M64/42.

vinh24 · Post by **vinh24** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 18:49

M25 jct 5

vinh24 · Post by **vinh24** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 19:49

M40 jct 1

Pgd · Post by **Pgd** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 19:50

Pgd wrote:
Quote:
Show me the law that says the road has to cross the motorway at a junction.

Well, there is no law, but it is an unusual feature you have to admit! As for most unusual, I'm not so sure; it's just a roundabout interchange when all's said and done.

Well I was only trying to contribute, I did say in my original message

M1J46_A63_A6120 wrote:
Feeble replies really compared to some others

I'll not bother in future.

Whether _any_ of the answers concerned can be classed as "MOST unusual motorway junction" is an issue of subjectiveness.

Sorry M1J46_A63_A6120, I didn't mean any offence! Just a bit of banter; and I was partly standing up for you in fact -- it is an unusual feature!
And you're right, of course: it's all subjective.

M11 Man · Post by **M11 Man** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 22:17

Sunil_of_Yoxley wrote:M11 J4
M11 J5
M11 J8

Not sure about J5, but certainly J4 and J8, as well as J14

M42_J10 · Post by **M42_J10** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 04:25

M11 J1

M1J46_A63_A6120 · Post by **M1J46_A63_A6120** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 13:11

Pgd wrote:
Pgd wrote:
Quote:
Show me the law that says the road has to cross the motorway at a junction.

Well, there is no law, but it is an unusual feature you have to admit! As for most unusual, I'm not so sure; it's just a roundabout interchange when all's said and done.

Well I was only trying to contribute, I did say in my original message

M1J46_A63_A6120 wrote:
Feeble replies really compared to some others

I'll not bother in future.

Whether _any_ of the answers concerned can be classed as "MOST unusual motorway junction" is an issue of subjectiveness.
Sorry M1J46_A63_A6120, I didn't mean any offence! Just a bit of banter; and I was partly standing up for you in fact -- it is an unusual feature!
And you're right, of course: it's all subjective.

I know you didn't PGD, I was complaining (in a jokey way) about Paul's rather short sharp reply that should be at the very top of this box. I have no grievance with either of you at all.

M1J46_A63_A6120 · Post by **M1J46_A63_A6120** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 13:12

ForestChav wrote:
M1J46_A63_A6120 wrote:M1 J23a - basically two restricted access junctions, so that northbound traffic uses this junction to get to East Midlands Airport and southbound traffic uses it to get on the A42 - but not possible vice-versa.
All the other movements are covered by 24a and 24 though, if the A453 to Nottm (ex-A648) ever gets dualled then it will probably link with the A50 at 24a and 24 will be closed.

The whole area is a mess but that's only because the HA couldn't build M64/42.

Did the A453 go all the way to Brum before the A42/M42 opened? Which route did it take? When did it get renumbered from A648 then?

Steven · Post by **Steven** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 13:56

M1J46_A63_A6120 wrote:Did the A453 go all the way to Brum before the A42/M42 opened? Which route did it take?

I believe that it did - though I'm willing to be wrong.

Certainly in 1975 it is shown as starting in Perry Barr, then heading into Tamworth on its present route. Then, it follows the now B5493, B5006, B587 then the u/c road through Breedon on the Hill, then straight through the centre of Castle Donington, before emerging on the B6540 to Long Eaton, then heading into Nottingham along the now-A6005.

Col · Post by **Col** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 14:29

My 1976 map also states the same thing. Starts at Perry Barr on the A34 and ends near the Broadmarsh Centre in Nottingham on the current A6005.

To be quite honest, I don't know why they don't renumber parts of the road to be more in keeping with what zone it is in. The current A453 is in three seperate bits - the Birmingham/Tamworth bit, the East Midlands Airport stretch and the Nottingham part.

Until recently as well, there were signs on the M42 J11 that the B5493 was not the A453, despite not having been that for about 10 years!

Lonewolf · Post by **Lonewolf** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 15:03

Did the A453 go all the way to Brum before the A42/M42 opened?

It certainly did. When I was just a sprog, we used to visit my mothers parents in Brum. It was an epic journey worthy of Scott of the Antarctic in those days. After battling cyclops on the A1, and outrunning the skeleton warriors on the M18, we'd come off the M1 at junction 23 on the A512. Passing an old manor house was the highlight of that stretch cos mam could say "nearly there now, theres the manor house". How easily we children were conned.

We would join the A453 near the present J13 of the A42 and go through Ashby, with the castle the next 'nearly there' landmark. From there it was A453 all the way. Across the present J12 of the A42, through Measham (B5493 now) and the unclassified road to the top of the M42, becomes B5493 again after the junction. Through No Mans Heath (always thought that an odd name) and all the way into Tamworth to the 3 way split called the Fountain (reason unknown). Out to Mile Oak and across the A5. On to cross the A446 at Bassetts Pole (its the A38 now) and into Sutton Coldfield, where we multiplexed with the (then) A38 for a short way. Turning off right we'd pass Sutton Park, cross the A452 and terminate on the A34 at Perry Barr as now.

Actually that last bit is a lie because granddad lived in Erdington and we went down the A452 to there lol, but I did do the rest in the 60s.

M1J46_A63_A6120 · Post by **M1J46_A63_A6120** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 15:22

Wow. I have friends in Measham, never realised it had a proper A road through the middle of it!!! There are road signs in Ashby and (I think) Measham that refer to "Birmingham" which I always thought was odd - now I know.

The strange thing in my opinion is why the route from M42 J11 to Tamworth (present B5493, through Seckington etc) could not retain the A designation, I cannot see the logic in sending Tamworth traffic down to the next junction to come all the way up again.

I guess the only/main reason that A453 was dropped (here and elsewhere) was to make people think that it wasn't an important route, and to use A42/M42 instead?

Which bit was originally called A648 then? Was that the route of the present A453 from M1 J24 to Nottingham through Ratcliffe?

Interestingly, the streetmap here refers to A453(T) and ditto here - relate to another thread.

Col · Post by **Col** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 17:05

The A648 was indeed the bit from the M1 J24. It passed the Ratcliffe Power Station and after passing Clifton, it followed the present day B679 to end up at the junction of the A60/A606.

It was all changed to the A453 soon after.

Steven · Post by **Steven** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 17:30

M1J46_A63_A6120 wrote:Interestingly, the streetmap here refers to A453(T) and ditto here - relate to another thread.

Ah yes, the OS had a habit of sticking (T) on the end of road numbers to designate Trunk Roads.

B4133 · Post by **B4133** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 18:46

what about worsley braided interchange (junc 13/14/15) thats a total mess.

B4133.