DRAS Photo Galleries http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/ 26 rows en-gb 60 Tiverton Parkway - a hidden history http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1571768.html A fairly typical Parkway station on the main line to the Westcountry in east Devon. What reason would it have for being here? Monday 1 September 2008: A fairly typical Parkway station on the main line to the Westcountry in east Devon. What reason would it have for being here?

So, we start on the access road to the station from a junction on the A361. The station opened in the 1980's, yet this bridge looks a lot older - mainly because it is. This bridge (marked on some maps as Leonard Moor Bridge) used to carry the A373. The A373 used to run from the old A38 through to Tiverton and beyond. It has taken several different routes through this specific area, although there's some routes we cannot be sure on. This photo is of what would have been a road junction on the A373 before the M5 motorway. The path through the trees to the left would have taken the A373 on a mini rollercoaster ride, whilst just out of shot to the right would have been another road (now part of the Station access road) eventually leading to the old A38 near Uffculme. Quite whether or not this was also classed as the A373 we don't know, but it's almost certain that it was always the more minor road. We'll take a look at the main A373 first. The A373 was first diverted away from this alignment in October 1975 when the M5 motorway between here and Exeter opened. The A373 was straightened on what was a temporary, but smoother and less severe alignment, leaving this (and the station access road) abandoned. However, despite major developments in the area, the path of the old road can still be seen to this very day. This would have been the white edge line. ANd yes, the bend in the road would have been as severe as it looks in the photo! However, it's time to throw a spanner in the works. The while line in no imaginable way lines up with the Leonard Moor Bridge. Nor is there any evidence of another parallel bridge or road alignment. The stone wall of the existing bridge can just be seen next to the white van. Every single map that shows the old alignment also confirm that this road went over that bridge - so that;s one unsolved mystery already. Heading up the footpath. Whilst white lines are more difficult to trace, what immediately stands out are the gradient of the road (in what is a pretty flat area), and the angle the road is approaching the bridge over the railway at. Looking back down the hill with more evidence of white lines. At this point, any evidence of the old road disappears (the very end of the old tarmac can be seen at the very bottom). The oldest alignment would have taken a sharp right here to head over the railway bridge. Both the new temporary alignment and the modern dual carriageway head straignt across here. Through the gate, and out onto the modern day A361. The modern concrete railway bridge and the M5 roundabout are very close by. Back at the bottom of the track, any evidence of the old alignment has sadly been obliterated until the other side of the Leonard Moor Bridge. Looking out over a small lake. The modern A361 can be seen in the background on the embankment, with the old track behind the trees to the left. On the Station approach road now. Any evidence of the old road to Uffculme has been removed by the Parkway station - apart from maybe that bit of dirt approaching the gates. The road crossed the railway at a Level Crossing here, so it is possible, though not guaranteed. Back at the old road junction - very little evidence of what existed. Even in recent months, the scene has changed drastically - that car park and footbridge is very new. It is impossible to get the white line and the bridge in the same shot, but to put things into prespective, the fence on the right is the same one the road goes into 4 photos back. It is possible that the road crossed the stream over another bridge, but the new pedestrian bridge will have destroyed any evidence of that. A farm track heading away and passing under the newest A361 (note the bizarre embankment on a bridge). Also note how there is notrace of the old road, despite the fact that this would have been pretty much exactly where it would have crossed. The different tarmac on the track further down has nothing to do with it. A map to hopefully help you get your head around where we are! On Leonard Moor Bridge itself now. The old A373 would have dived off to the left here and up that track. That mysterious white line would have seemingly emerged well off to the left of here, indicating a second bridge. However, you can see a slight kink in the brickwork of the bridge - pointing towards the track. Presumably, if this did carry the A373, this would have been the start of the bend in the road to the left. If anyone does have more information, photos, maps, documents etc etc that could help solve the mystery, then please get in touch! (See home page of DRAS for details). Away from that track now, we look west from Leonard Moor Bridge towards Tiverton (away from the station). You can easily see how this has an More white lines, though thankfully this one doesn't give us a headache! It is remarkable that it has survived over 30 years since the road was diverted. But up ahead, it disappears and the verge changes. Thankfully, we can explain this one. It's all to do with the coming of the M5 motorway. In October 1975, not only did the M5 open, but the A373 changed course. In this field, we can clearly see the startof an embankment, which curves away towards the modern A361. Whilst the car park has destroyed a lot beyond the hedge, the course of this temporary road is clear. It lasted 8 years before being closed with the coming of the modern day dual carriageway. Looking at where the newer alignment would have met the old one. Another development has been built on the old road, but it is obviouls how they would have merged. A composting site - how rubbish. (Sorry!). Not much evidence of old tarmac, sadly. Sorry about that bush to the left, but you can just see how the old road would have gone off ot the right (as it does today), with the temporary alignment diving off to the left. We can say that, without doubt, this was the A373 until 1983 when the dual carriageway opened. Of course this would have been practically disused for 3 years between the dual carriageway opening and the Parkway opening. Even road signs that today look silly and out of place still exist - although it's difficult to tell just how new this one is. The signed side road (with a sign most definately from 1983!) Continuing towards Tiverton. Today, the station access road dives off to the right and ends at a T junction - left for the old A373 and right for the A361 GSJ. Of course, the old road went straight across to the left of the trees - sadly the fact that people often park there makes it rather difficult to photograph! A final look back towards the station. On the other side of the M5 now. This is the old road between the station and Uffculme. It used to run straight from where I'm stood and up along the road in the picture, but both are dead ends now, so traffic shunted off to the right - onto the A38. Looking back the other way towards Uffculme. The road through to the station is now private, so it will be closed off at times. Bizarre signposting. The height restriction barrier (presumably to help prevent fly tipping?). The road is noticably narrower at this point. Close up of the height restriction. And finally, these signs kind of put me off investigating any further! At the very end of the road is this barricade.

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]]> Mon Sep 1 2008 Bristol http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1381638.html Photos from the Bristol area Monday 1 October 2007: Photos from the Bristol area

About to cross Bristol's most famous landmark - the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Probably one of the only roads in the UK with a 25mph limit. On the bridge deck. Passing through one of the quite narrow arches. ...and a raise in the speed limit back up to 30. The bridge from below - entering the A4 Portway. The tunnel passes directly under the bridge. Massive changes in the City Centre with the new Broadmead Shopping Centre. Mina Road - just off the M32 at J3. It may seem like an average residential road in a Bristol suburb, but it has one or two rather interesting features. We exit here just as the motorway starts. At the other end, a tunnel. The road is a dead end, it only serves a few houses and industrial units, and this is the only way in and out of the area. Probably the most engineered dead-end residential road in the UK! As I say, Mina Road looks to be mostly just a bog standard road. Straight on here is interesting... ...because you end up right on the motorway with no advance warning whatsoever. Also note how the footpath carries on beyond the start of motorway sign. An unusual diagrammatic, and directions to the wonderfully named Fishponds. Bradley Stoke Way, in the north of the city. It links the A38 and M5 to, erm, Bradley Stoke. A very wide songle carriageway after the end of the dual carriageway. It gets narrower - nothing special yet. But the grass to the left is significant. The roundabout seems quite large. And now things become obvious. This was meant to be a dual carriageway. The bridge is a giveaway. Despite its rural appearance, there is quite a bit of housing around here, hence the 40 limit. The cycle lanes are a recent addition. The old markings can still be seen. This section was built as a dual carriageway, for some reason. At Bradley Stoke now. Still 40. Still a lot of grass to the left. There is a lot of brand new housing here, and the speace has been retained, so dualling is still a possibility. The wider verge isn't so obvious here - the bushes cover it all. Oddly, this bridge is only wide enough for the existing S2. This makes quite a good alternative to the motorways if they ever get congested - only the locals really seem to use it. More brand new housing, more space retained. Further back, a cycle lane was added. Here, one has been removed. Quite odd. Another roundabout. The cycle lane returns - even though the footpath is shared use. One of the very few side roads. Another roundabout. this is with the B4057, which is also future proofed for dualling. This bit is dual - but where's all the traffic. Quite a nice bridge. Another roundabout. What's that direction sign telling us? We can't go straight on! The road ends randomly at a road leading to a railway station. So, we now go onto the B4057. No turning left. The dual carriageway ends. Why were oarts dualled, and others not? More reserved verges for a new carriageway. Not much traffic to warrant dualling. Speed limit drops to 30 ahead. The road widens for another roundabout. To Carhampton Lane now, by the UWE in Stoke Gifford. A rare road feature - a HOV lane. Bristol seems to be a hotbed for them. It soon ends at some traffic lights at the A4174 ring road. On the ring road - this was built as dual carriageway. Some odd bollards. I like the way they tell us we're about to use a signal controlled junction. Despite that neither this nor the A38 are primary.

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]]> Mon Oct 1 2007 M4 Widening J29-32 http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1362774.html Photos of the widening works on the M4 in Wales between J29 and 32. Tuesday 4 September 2007: Photos of the widening works on the M4 in Wales between J29 and 32.

January 2008. Entering the M4 eastbound from the A470. The matrix reads On the mainline. All earthworks have been finished here and signposts are going up - presumably the ones here will be for a route confirmation sign. The wider road has been squeezed through all the existing structures. Central reservation work and more new signposts. I think the hard shoulder will be lost here. Into the contraflow. Not a view you'd normally see - wrong way on the M4! Whilst you can't see much from this side, there's not a huge amout to see - just more of the same. The other carriageway being surfaced at this point. You can see that there is room under that next bridge for a 3rd lane to be added to the westbound carriageway. Up the hill... Not a lot to say, to be honest. Still going in the seemingly never ending contraflow. That sign ahead tells us we only have to put up with this for another four and a half miles.... Wonder why such a fuss is being created over the M1 and M6 widening when the M4 can seem to do it with relative ease and no fuss at all. Three miles to go! Traffic management on the other carriageway - taking traffic away from the verge. Still going. This is even more tedious at a strict 50mph. Zzzz... ....... .....Oooh! A junction ahead! This sign is in an awful position, as we cannot actually leave the motorway from this side. The weather gets worse as we go further. New signposts on the other side. Another badly placed sign. Junction 30. And after all that, we cross back over. More works beyond the junction. Passing over a bridge. Just about at the end of the works now. Heading west just before J30. Major work hasn't yet started between J29 and 30. Where's the other carriageway gone? Start of the works. All the major works are on the eastbound side at the moment. Presumably they will switch over when they can get 4 running lanes on that side. Contraflow through J30. Major earthworks immediately after the junction. Not too much going on here though. Mind the camera! A reasonable 50 limit here. More earthworks. Over a bridge - presumably the hard shoulders will be lost here. Under the arch bridge. Not too congested. major retaining works here. The pillars of this bridge seemed particularly exposed now the surrounding earth has been removed. More traffic. 1 mile to the A470. That'll be quite a tight bend on the inside. More exposed pillars.

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]]> Tue Sep 4 2007 A38 Dobwalls bypass http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1341297.html Photos of the construction of the latest new road in the South-West - the A38 Dobwalls bypass in Cornwall. Sunday 5 August 2007: Photos of the construction of the latest new road in the South-West - the A38 Dobwalls bypass in Cornwall.

November 2007 - approaching the start of the bypass works at Liskeard. The cutting is finished, and surfacing is starting on the other side of the barrier. The cutting and some new road surface and barriers on the opposite carriageway. The new local access road will be on the left here beside Moorswater Industrial Estate. A small cutting for the new dual carriageway, with the local road running on the embankment to the left of it. The bypass will cross the line of the current road here. The bypass goes off to the right. Works crossing. The bypass about to head north of the village. Entering Dobwalls village. In the village itself, this is the old A390 junction. The A390 now meets at the new roundabout. Approaching the western end of the bypass. The new roundabout. The new roundabout. Heading onto the temporary A390. The finished road will be to the left and pass over the railway line. Diving down to the low bridge. The new embankment is to the left. Quite a steep gradient here. The embankment to the left will carry the new A390. The view over Dobwalls from the A390. The path of the new road can clearly be seen. A sign for the new roundabout ahead. The new alignment can be seen ahead. The old markings can still be seen. Up to the new roundabout. At the roundabout. Heading off to Bodmin now. On the new alignment. The old A38 has been dug up and was just to the left. A new footpath here - note that there's no road markings. Turned aroundnow heading eastbound to Dobwalls. The last of the old alignment can just be seen to the right. Sweeping down to the roundabout. Approaching the roundabout. Traffic queuing for the works crossing. The bypass exit. Looking over the roundabout. A good view of the new road - if it wasn't for the windscreen wipers! The works crossing. On Havett Road now, approaching the new bridge. Temporary lights now. The new bridge is progressing well - structually it's complete and the barriers have been put up. A better view of the new road. Works crossing in use. The old road markings can be seen. Getting ready to go. Heading the other way now. work on the bridge deck. When the road is routed over the bridge, this lot of land will be excavated to create a cutting. On the A38 heading east to Liskeard. Works crossing. The new local road goes off to the right on a higher level than the existing road. The dual carriageway will emerge from the cutting ahead.

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]]> Sun Aug 5 2007 Folkestone to Glasgow - and back http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1327816.html A photo tour of a roadtrip from Folkestone to Glasgow via the M20, M25, M40, M6 and M74. Photos thanks to SABRE's 'firefly'. Tuesday 17 July 2007: A photo tour of a roadtrip from Folkestone to Glasgow via the M20, M25, M40, M6 and M74. Photos thanks to SABRE's 'firefly'.

On the A20 from Dover, we're about to enter a tunnel at Folkestone just before the start of the M20 motorway. Final warning for the junction. Start of the M20. VMS with campaign message. Pointlessly big ADS. Channel Tunnel terminal on the right. 1/3 mile to junction 12. M20 Junction 12. Off up the sliproad - don't know why! Back on the M20 with a RCS. Lane gain from J11A J11A sliproad joins us from the Chunnel. Mile to J11 1/2 mile to J11 J11 fork sign Looks like we're going off again! No idea why again... The M25 getting its very own place on the RCS. 1 mile to junction 10 with an unusual sign on a motorway for the hospital. Roadworks ahead. You guessed it - we're leaving at this junction aswell! Onto the sliproad. Any ideas what the X next to the A2070 on the ADs represents? Old RCS back on the motorway. Mile until J9. Guess we'll leave here aswell. Dead straight road here - seems longer than half a mile until the exit! Blimey! Looks like we won't be leaving after all. Straight to Glasgow, then... Straight on - the motorway seems pretty quiet at the moment. Concrete section of motorway. Horrible (E) patch stuck on the ADS - in the wrong font aswell! Bit better - at least they got the right font this time. Which way if I wanted Maidstone (S)? The weather now sets in. This is the diverge for J8. RCS sign - not that you can read it. Now the windsereen is clean, we find out that we're nearly at J7! Fork for J7. I thought we stopped that, but we're leaving the motorway again. Don't know what happened to J6, but we're now 2/3 mile from J5. Gantries on the collector and distributor carriageways. M20 it is then. Going to rejoin the mainline now. Merging in with the mainline. Even if there were no bushes blocking half of it, that still looks one awfully confusing RCS. Coming up to J4. Let that lorry merge in! We now skip to J3 - the junction with the M26. Roadworks explain the greyed out lane. See. The layout changed here recently - note the disused matrix spaces and the duplicate '3'. Despite the earlier signs, the left hand lane is open.

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]]> Tue Jul 17 2007 Barnstaple Bypass Opening http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1286385.html Pictures from the opening of the Barnstaple Bypass, including the opening ceremony, a photo tour of the route, and thanks to Richard Graham, photos of the first cars on the bridge and the last cars on the Strand. Thursday 24 May 2007: Pictures from the opening of the Barnstaple Bypass, including the opening ceremony, a photo tour of the route, and thanks to Richard Graham, photos of the first cars on the bridge and the last cars on the Strand.

A subway at Sticklepath. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. Here, you can see the police car escorting the very first vehicles across the bridge. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. The first vehicles go over the bridge. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. One of the first bunches of cars make their way over. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. The plaque. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. The media get caught out by the early opening. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. A drainage stream. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. Very few motorists realise the road's open! Photo thanks to Richard Graham. Very quiet...Photo thanks to Richard Graham. The first vehicles come the other way. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. The Town Crier....of Combe Martin. What's wrong with Barnstaples'?! Photo thanks to Richard Graham. A large convoy proceed over the bridge. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. Yes, the road is open. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. Some traffic on the bridge. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. Short queues at the Pottington Lights. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. The flag signs at Pottington. The Braunton Road junction. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. The Braunton Road junction. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. Looking up the dualled section of the bypass. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. The Braunton Road junction. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. Approaching the Braunton Road junction on what is now the B3149. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. braunton Road. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. Traffic on the bridge. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. A view of the Long Bridge. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. The Strand has now been closed to traffic, putting an end to endless stationary traffic along here. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. Very few vehicles on the Strand now. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. Workmen painting markings at the railway station. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. More line painting. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. hmmm - didn't do a very good job, did they?! Photo thanks to Richard Graham. The station viaduct, viewed from the station. Photo thanks to Richard Graham. As I walk up to the first ceremony, the coaches with the guests pull up. The media are out in force. One of the new signposts for the cycle and footpaths. The temporary podium where the guests will speak. One of the first speakers. I would tell you who he is, but I can't remember now... More talking. Shame you can't hear it. The bridge in the background. The oficial handover of the bridge from the contractors to the council. The woman was there as a representative to Transport Minister Douglas Alexander, who didn't make it because of 'post-election duties'. The man is the chief executive of Edmund Nuttall Ltd - the main contractors. The Chief Executive of Edmund Nuttall speaking. Another speaker... ...and another. This is Brian Greenslade, leader of Devon County Council. Greenslade with the bridge he's about to open. The unveiling of the plaque. Unfortunately, the media got in the way. This was when the plaque was unveiled - not that you can tell. Tried to get a good photo here of the plaque - and failed. The media and congestion on Sticklepath Hill. Now the plaque unveiling is over, it's time to have a look at the finished road. Looking back at the crowd.

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]]> Thu May 24 2007 A30 Goss Moor http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1279667.html The new A30 dual carriageway over Goss Moor in Cornwall replaces the old road under the infamous Iron Bridge, and is openign in 2 stages in May and July 2007. Monday 14 May 2007: The new A30 dual carriageway over Goss Moor in Cornwall replaces the old road under the infamous Iron Bridge, and is openign in 2 stages in May and July 2007.

February 2008. The old A30 near the Iron Bridge. A deserted dead straight road. Further up, this is the old road where the side road leading to the level crossing was. The side road now has priority, with the bit where the photo was taken from now being a car park access road. This is the car park at the entrance to the new path and bridleway. The old A30 road markings are still visible for a very short stretch. This seems to carry on forever. A slalom course now in place. To the left is a sand track for horses. A couple of other walkers using the new path. Hard to believe that this bit of tarmac was probably the busiest stretch of road in Cornwall, and the cause of misery to many motorists. Looking out across Goss Moor to the new road. Now bypassed, this is the old A30 heading west out of Victoria. An old warning sign for overheight vehicles. Approaching the B3274 junction, patching lets us know of road closures. The Iron bridge becomes visible. Who would have ever thought seeing this road this quiet?! The bridge itself. Presumably a lot of the warnings of the low bridge will be removed. Dead straight and nothing on it. Wait until the boy racers find it. Looking out at the new road. Hmmm - no way to go here? Well, the road ahead is closed - but which one? We're forced to turn right... ...but that's closed aswell! Legally, all we can do is turn around. But there's one more side road up the old A30, so lets go there... The road after those signs is definately closed. Signage covered up to reflect this. A quick sneak behind the barriers. Nothing apart from works vehicles and local access will ever travel along here again. I wonder if the speed camera will stay?! The side road served by the old A30. A works vehicle that appeared since I went past. Back towards the Iron bridge. One of the old height detectors. ...and the other one, with a new bridge in the background. The bridge again. No patching on this sign - even though the road to the left is closed. Note that the traffic lights are still on. Seems quite a waste of electricity to me. Heading back towards Victoria. A fantastic road to drive when there's nobody else around! Entering Victoria. One of the old petrol stations which will surely close. An old route confirmation sign. The old and new A30's. The old Little Chef and patched up sign. Temporary flag sign. the other petrol station - this looks like it will close first. On the divertoed road. Up towards the junction... ...and around the bend. The first roundabout at the junction. This is where the new A30 currently ends, so its back to the old road. On the A30 heading to Bodmin. Quite quiet today - maybe its the weather. Past the depot. Who needs a bypass, eh?! This could easily be mistaken for a bypassed section! Another new alignment where old and new run side by side. You can see for quite a distance.

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]]> Mon May 14 2007 North Devon Link Road http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1268564.html The final section of the NDLR opened in 1988, and it has been vital in boosting north Devon's economy. However, it does have a poor safety record. Take a look at the whole route here. Tuesday 1 May 2007: The final section of the NDLR opened in 1988, and it has been vital in boosting north Devon's economy. However, it does have a poor safety record. Take a look at the whole route here.

Heading southbound on the M5, we are half a mile before junction 27. Quite often in the summer months, due to the tourists, traffic wanting the A361 is queuing back up here, and beyond. Approaching the junction. Heading up the sliproad. Better turn right, then! Past the services... ...and over the motorway. Off we go onto the oldest section of the link road. There's two junctions vey closely spaced together here, and they still managed to fit a layby in. Not the smartest idea ever... The old A373 road to Tiverton can be found by leaving here. The dual carriageway to Tiverton also used to be the A373 when it opened in 1983 - it changed to the A361 in 1988 when the link road to Barnstaple opened. The slip road leaves us - the final exit for 6 miles. Note the 'North Devon Link' on the route confirnation sign. Over the Grand Western Canal. Then the road turns quite boring... Just a standard D2. And it was raining. Traffic nearly always flows freely, though. Not like the single carriageway sections. Over the brow of the hill. ...and around the bend. Still raining. And still boring. It wasn't quite as dark as the picture makes it appear - things do improve, though... ...but not yet. Raining quite heavily now, and not making good picture taking. If you can make it out, there's a half mile ADS for the next junction - the A396. I did well managing to avoid taking pictures of my wipers - until now. Oh, and there's an LDS on the left if you can see it... Diverge ahead. About to go under the junction. The slip road merges in, and I take a photo of my wiper. Quite a tight bend here. It goes on... ...and on... ...and on. But something's happening ahead. The end of the dual carriageway ahead. Choose your tourist attraction - although Tiverton Castle is rubbish... On the roundabout. And now crossing the River Exe. Why the big space between the two signs? It's bvecause there was a 60 sign on there aswell, but they've all been patched over. See - the weather has improved! On the first S2+1 stretch, you can clearly see the old markings when downhill traffic was allowed to overtake. The hill is deceptively steep - I'm only doing about 40 here. Very quiet today - there's very often queuing traffic going the other way for the roundabout. Around the bend - again... An NSL repeater. These are brand new - they conform to the regulations hence why all the 60 signs have been patched over. Speed camera just visible on the right. Up another steep hill. What's that sign ahead on the left? Ah - we're about to lose our extra lane! The hatching here used to be another lane, but there's a junction just over the brow of the hill, so closing it off probably wasn't a bad idea. You can see the different colours of tarmac in the centre - that's where the lane used to end. The turn-off for Stoodleigh. Another side road ahead. And a dead end? Off a new-build road? What you can't see is another road off to the left which it used to connect to. Although it doesn't look busy, we;re only doing about 45 at this point because of the slowcoaches in front. You rarely stand a chance with overtaking outside of the S2+1 sections because of oncoming traffic, so we have to put up with it.

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]]> Tue May 1 2007 Traffic Signals http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1268555.html A collection of various traffic signals. If you know the types of signals in each photo, please leave a comment! Tuesday 1 May 2007: A collection of various traffic signals. If you know the types of signals in each photo, please leave a comment!

A466 between Monmouth and Chepstow. Wig Wags at a level crossing in Dunster, near Minehead, which don't have the new red and white border. An ungated level crossing near Crediton. A48 Newport Souther Distributor. The old traffic signals at Pilton Bridge in Barnstaple. 'Permament' temporary lights on the B3230 in Ilfracombe. A temporary pedestrian crossing near Bideford. Close up of the full crossing. A temporary ramp for disabled people. The push button unit. The reason for the crossing - a footpath closure. The push button unit in use. The green man. General view of the crossing. The crossing in use. The crossing acts like a puffin - hence the red and amber phase. A new traffic signal waiting to be put up at the Square in Barnstaple. New signals on the A361 in Barnstaple. Temporary lights in Braunton. A close up of the base and supports. The rear of the signals.

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]]> Tue May 1 2007 A358/A303 dualling http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1222625.html Plans of the new road between Taunton and South Petherton, including a new M5 J25A. This is part of long term plans to dual the whole of the A303 between the M5 and M3. Thursday 1 March 2007: Plans of the new road between Taunton and South Petherton, including a new M5 J25A. This is part of long term plans to dual the whole of the A303 between the M5 and M3.

Showing the general Haydon Farm (M5 J25A) and Ruishton Court complex. The link between the M5 and A358 will be D2M. If you look closely at Haydon Farm, you will see what I mean by there only being just enough room for the loop. The problem with a normal fork, despite the land being available, is that a bigger bridge would be needed, and the existing bridge just south of J25A would need demolishing and replacing. It would also pass quite close to some houses just visible in the far SW of the map - so the extra cost would have little benefit. Overview of the route to the A378 junction. Text readable at the top when zoomed in. Close-up of existing J25 and P+R site. Close-up of the Henlade area. Note how close the new road will pass to some houses. Close-up of J25A. You can see how little room there is for a fork before the Holway Road overbridge, and how close it would pass to that building with the 'Haydon Farm Junction' tag on it. Profile of the first part of the new road. A blurred picture of the bit parallel to the existing dual carriageway. Close-up of the A378 Thornfalcon junction. Most of the junctions will be dumbells - although note how the eastbound on-slip doesn't connect to the roundabout here. Also note how there is only one carriageway on the road to the existing dual carriagway - the road will be singled, with the old carriageway being converted into a foot/cycle path. The approach to the A303 junction, which is just visible on the right. The A303/A358 junction will be a dumbbell junction. Note how that there will be a short multiplex between the existing roundabot (to be retained) and the new junction. I'm not sure if the old A358 will pass under the new road, or be closed off to traffic. Dumbbell at Hayes End (South Petherton). Junction to close. Incorrect sign on the A358 in Henlade - showing the road as non-primary. Starting a tour of the section to be upgraded, we're heading westbound on the A303 approaching South Petherton. Some side roads which will be closed when the upgrade takes place. Approaching the end of the dual carriageway. Roundabout ahead. The upgrade will go straight on and bypass the roundabout. Coming onto the roundabout. An odd flag sign - and the start of the Ilminster bypass. The road is now an alternating S2+1. Some of the old markings from when this was a WS2 can just be seen in the middle lane. One of the bridges which will be demolished with the upgrade. The problem with S2+1 - there are queues on the single lane bits. The second lane changes direction. Onto a concrete section. The old WS2 markings can clearly still be seen. About to lose our lane. Changing over again. You can inagine a WS2 being quite dangerous on a bend like this. A speed camera placed very strategically - on a bit just where the two lanes are about to end and where vehicles will be going quicker to overtake that final lorry. Money-making scam...? Road narrows again. Not many places where you go both over and under a bridge at the same time.

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]]> Thu Mar 1 2007 A48 Newport Southern Distributor http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1198263.html A photo tour of the relatively new Southern Distributor Road in Newport, South Wales. Thursday 1 February 2007: A photo tour of the relatively new Southern Distributor Road in Newport, South Wales.

We've just come off the M4 at junction 24, we head along the new A48 Newport Southern Distributor road. This first section is an upgraded version of the A455. Approaching the first roundabout for the Ringland estate. The main purpose of the road is to provide estates like this with quick access to the motorway network rather than taking through traffic around Newport - although it does make a great alternative to the congested M4. Nearly all of the dualled sections have a 50 limit. The road is actually pretty quiet - although I would have thought it could get busier during rush hour. The turning for Llanwern village. Try reading all the info on those signs when speeding past at 50... Starting to turn to face west, with the Ringland estate still on our right. The first part of the road looks very similar throughout. A footbridge linking the estate to a school. Another roundabout ahead. The end of the Ringland bypass. Not the amount of wasted space on the direction sign. The road takes several sharp turns at roundabout junctions - the first one is ahead. Again - an unnecescarrily big sign. Using the filter lane bypassing the roundabout - about to go over the main rail line into south Wales. The road regains its familiar look. Newport Retail Park ahead on the left. Another roundabout. The road going to the bottom left on the sign used to be the access to Llanwern Steelworks - which is still on the signs despite having been closed for a couple of years! Around the roundabout. The road briefly becomes D3 between two roundbaouts. Just after the second roundabout in quick succession. The most impressive feature of this road can just be seen in the distance now. Approaching our first light-controlled junction. The first of two light-controlled junctions in quick succession. The final junction before the new bridge. About to head over the bridge. A very impressive bridge. Approaching the turn-off for the city centre. The A4042 is the only A-road that we meet in between the two M4 junctions. At the traffic lights. Another sharp turn ahead. Approaching the roundabout. The Transporter Bridge comes into sight. Approaching the junction for the Transporter Bridge. Two lighjt controlled junctions meet us in quick succession. At the second junction. Roadworks mean a lane closure and a 30mph limit. Newport Docks are on our left. Now passing the odd-named 'Level of Mendalgief', which is to the right here. A sharp bend to the right. Note how the M4 is now the only destination on the A48 - reducing wasted space on the sign! Coming off the roundabout. Passing over a railway line. The road after another roundabout. Approaching the Tredegar area of Newport. About to pass a fire station. Coming up to another roundabout - this one is with the old A48, now the B4237. Traffic lights for the roundabout and a filter lane. The exit for Cardiff. This section was the A48 before the new road - and is the only single carriageway section left. The S4 stretch has a 40mph limit, unlike the rest of the road which is 50mph. Approaching the M4. Note the lack of billingual names on that sign. The roundabout for the M4.

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]]> Thu Feb 1 2007 Britain in 1950 http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1173136.html Post-war Britain. No motorways, but plenty of new bypasses and lots of reconstruction of many city centres. See it all mapped out in this 1950 Bartholemew's Road Atlas, part of the 'AA Road Book of England and Wales'. With thanks to Nick Booth for the scans. Monday 1 January 2007: Post-war Britain. No motorways, but plenty of new bypasses and lots of reconstruction of many city centres. See it all mapped out in this 1950 Bartholemew's Road Atlas, part of the 'AA Road Book of England and Wales'. With thanks to Nick Booth for the scans.

Aberystwyth Abingdon Alnwick Altrincham Arundel Ashbourne Ashby Aylesbury Baldock Banbury Bangor Barnstaple Basingstoke Bath Beccles Bedford Berkhamstead Berwick-upon-Tweed Bexhill Bideford Birmingham Inner Birmingham Outer Bishops Stortford Blackburn Blackpool Bognor Bolton Bournemouth Bradford Bridgnorth Bridgwater Bridlington Brighton and Hove Bristol Broadstairs Buckingham Burnley Burton-upon-Trent Bury St Edmunds Buxton Cambridge Canterbury Cardiff Carlisle Carmarthen Chelmsford Cheltenham Chester Chesterfield Chichister

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]]> Mon Jan 1 2007 M5 motorway http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1149981.html A photo tour of the whole of the M5 motorway between Birmingham and Exeter. Friday 1 December 2006: A photo tour of the whole of the M5 motorway between Birmingham and Exeter.

On the link road from the M6 northbound to the M5 southbound. Midlands-style gantry with the message sign on top of the gantry rather than in front of it. About to merge in with the M6 southbound traffic. We now carry on as a D3M, with more gantries that are looking a little worse for wear. A very rural feel at the moment - that's because we're in the Sandwell Valley Country Park area. Junction 1 coming up - turn off for the Black Country! The junction 1 diverge - at West Brom. Now we feel like we're on an urban motorway - the grass verges have gone. Now on the elevated section with some rather sharp corners. The gantry in the distance on the far left gives you some idea of how much the road deviates at the moment. Junction 2 - and more sharp corners. A little closer towards the junction, and we're dead straight! Diverge for junction 2 - Dudley. Passing over junction 2. Off the elevated section now, but we keep the sharp corners. Through the concrete cutting near Halesowen. ...and out the other side. Nothing really to mention other than the different design of gantry up ahead. Approaching junction 3. Two thirds of a mile to junction 3. No, I don't know why they used two thirds and one third of a mile for the ADS rather than the standard mile and half mile. More trees. Passing over junction 3. The on-slip merges in. Straight approaching Frankley services. The memory on my camera's nearly full, so I need to pull over and change the memory stick - that is if you want to see any more photos? Off into the services for a few moments... New mwmory stick, and merging back onto the mainline. Quite dark. And straight. Again. Trust me - there are more interesting features along here. See - some workmen. Note how none of the bridges at the moment have room for a hard shoulder - this is because the motorway south of J3 was originally a D3M, before being widened after the Strensham-Solihull motorway bit the dust. A bridge near junction 4. The designers of this motorway couldn't decide whether they wanted to make it ultra-bendy or ultra-straight. So they did both. See what I mean? We're right on top of junction 4 now, and our first of 7 meetings with the A38. Note how it says 'London (M40)' despite the fact that you have to take the M42 to get to the M40. More sharp bends on a hard shoulder-less D3. M42 coming up. The hatching on the right is for sightline purposes - not a fourth lane. Close-up of the travel time VMS. Travel time VMS. We want to head south-west...obviously. More sharp bends... ...followed by more long straights through the M42 junction.

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]]> Fri Dec 1 2006 A38 Devon Expressway http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1039628.html The A38 Devon Expressway is basically a continuation of the M5 from Exeter to Plymouth. Lots of people think this should be a motorway - this photo tour will help explain why it never will be. Tuesday 1 August 2006: The A38 Devon Expressway is basically a continuation of the M5 from Exeter to Plymouth. Lots of people think this should be a motorway - this photo tour will help explain why it never will be.

The final leg of the M5 - just after junction 30. note the cantenery lighting. ADS for junction 31 ahead. Over the Exe viaduct. Gantries for junction 31 - and the end of the motorway ahead. ...in the lane for the A38. The A30 goes off to the left - we're sticking with the A38. The motorway comes to an end. You don't notice an immediate difference in the quality of the road - this could easily be the M5. Route confirmation that this is no longer the M5! The A379 merges in... Advance warning of slow lorries and the junction ahead. First reason for this not being a motorway - there's a lot of local junctions. Another Y sign Gantries for the split ahead. ...and here we are at the bottom of Haldon hill - the second reason for the lack of a motorway. Same location on a far sunnier day approaching the A382. The slip road diverges. Route confirmation sign saying we're 25 miles from Plymouth. Trago Mills is on our left. Quite a quiet day. That's Bickington church ahead of us. Not a cloud in the sky. The bridge for the A383 junction can be seen ahead. The A383 now merges in on our left. Approaching a side road for Farlacombe. Through some woods. Approaching Ashburton. The first junction for Ashburton ahead. The merge after the junction. A slippery bypass following recent resurfacing works. Half a mile from the second Ashburton junction. Some of the local and tourist destinations. The diverge for the junction... On a cloudier day, we can see the A380 going off to the left at a very steep gradient, whilst the A38 bears off to the right. We regain our third lane, as the A380 from Torbay passes over us. Despite being a nice, wide D3, with plenty of room for a hard shoulder, the road here is extremely steep for a dual carriageway - I was strugging to do 40! Haldon Hill is simply way too steep to be of motorway standard. Here's another problem with the A38 - it has lots of side roads. Whilst none of them actually involve crossing the central reservation, the on/off slips can be very short. We lose our third lane at the top of the hill. Reaching the brow of the hill. With a little hatching on our right after losing the third lane, we come across one of many small service areas along the route. The carriageways split as we descend towards the Harcombe Bends. We are now about to descent on a 6% gradient. Probably not a place I would want to pull into a layby! Sharp bends ahead - although they are nowhere near as bad southbound as they are northbound. A 'Y' fork sign approaching Chudleigh. This certaintly doesn't seem like a trunk dual carriageway. Apologies for the windscreen wiper - as you might be able to guess it was raining. A floppy sign approaching the B3344, and another service area. The road then gradually climbs. Note the low bridge sign over the left hand lane - obviously design specs for this road were quite low. The other design of bridge we encounter along the route. We start to descend again - see a theme forming here? Approaching Chudleigh Knighton, and the B3344 again. The B3344 is basically the old A38 at the moment.

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]]> Tue Aug 1 2006 Abandoned A399 http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c1008354.html The A399 around Berrynarbor near Combe Martin has changed course twice in the 20th century, both times due to landslides. Saturday 1 July 2006: The A399 around Berrynarbor near Combe Martin has changed course twice in the 20th century, both times due to landslides.

On the former A399 looking towards Ilfracombe. The old road dives off to join the current A399 at a T-junction. Looking up the former A399.The road is practically intact - only the road markings have worn slightly since it was closed in the early 1990's. I think that there was an old petrol station on the right here. All the original cats eyes are still there. Even the old bus shelter survives, now used as a tourist information point. The South West Coastal Footpath ran along the old A399 for a few years after the road itself was closed to traffic, but a second major landslide meant that the footpath had to b diverted. Looking back towards Ilfracombe. The new road heading towards Combe Martin. Heading towards the Berrynarbour junction, with the old road off to the left. Going back down the hill. This road is very steep, and provides a real rollercoaster ride! To the other side of the landslide. This new road was built to serve the houses on the old A399. Looking down the old A399 towards Ilfracombe. Warning that the road doesn't go anywhere. The new slip road to the A399 dives off to the right. The old A399 used to bear left here, although there is no trace of it. Some old road markings still exist. This road now only serves one house, and it is very hard to recognise it as a former A road. The scene of one of the landslides. It could well be that the access to the house will have to be diverted if there is another landslide. No trace of the old road here. The place where the original Ilfracombe-Combe Martin road and the former A399 meet. More on the original road later... Back to the Ilfracombe side, and the original alignment until the 1920's. The road name says it all. You can still walk the whole length of the road as it is part of the SWCP, although the vast majority of it has changed beyond recognition. Obviously a fly-tipping problem here. Looking back towards Combe Martin. Heading towards Ilfracombe, this definately does look like it was once far more important. If there were no landslides, the chances are that this road would still have changed beyond recognition as it would not be suitable for today's traffic levels. Looks like the road ahead ends... Now we have a dirt track. Could be anywhere, really. No sign of an old road. Nearer to Ilfracombe on the existing A399. This is where the old hairpin bend was before realignment in the 20's. The old road is still open as access to a caravan site. Nice tree-lined section Apologies for the poor image quality. Around the bend, this road still looks well used. ...and we come to a sudden end. The caravan site is off to the rght, and there is no trace of the old road ahead. That explains a lot! looking towards Ilfracombe. Warning of the SWCP diversion. No trace of old road markings or cats eyes here. This is as far as we can get. Unfortunately, the owner of the house has built a garage on the old road, so we can't see what's past it.

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]]> Sat Jul 1 2006 Fantasy Maps and Road Layouts http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c976895.html Fantasy Plans and maps - all my own imagination! Sunday 14 May 2006: Fantasy Plans and maps - all my own imagination!

The proposed Norwich northern bypass. Dualled A1237 York Outer Ring Road. Strip map for a dualled A1237 York Outer Ring Road. New M37 Southern Bypass, New M5-M49 link and a few other changes. New layout for the M5 J27. New layout for the awful M40 J10. New M626 Pudsey-Disforth motorway, new motorway linking M621 and A58(M), and a few other changes.

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]]> Sun May 14 2006 Lampposts http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c976876.html A lot of photos of lampposts from around north Devon. Anyone more knowledgable than me can comment on what make and type they are, if they wish! Some photos appear quite small - click on them for a larger image. Thursday 1 June 2006: A lot of photos of lampposts from around north Devon. Anyone more knowledgable than me can comment on what make and type they are, if they wish! Some photos appear quite small - click on them for a larger image.

Concrete lamppost, Ilfracombe. Standard modern style on side streets - Ilfracombe. Old concrete lamppost, Ilfracombe. New old-style post, A361 Ilfracombe. New style in Braunton with unusual black head. Telegraph pole mounted lamp with black head in Braunton. Telegraph pole mounted lamp in Braunton. Unusual style post in Braunton. New style in Braunton with unusual black head. Telegraph pole mounted lamp with black head in Braunton. Standard style on B3231, Braunton with a longer mast arm. Standard style on B3231, Braunton with a short mast arm. Modern lamppost in Braunton. Telegraph pole mounted lamp in Braunton. Standard style on A361, Braunton with a longer mast arm. Traffic Island lamppost in Braunton. Standard style on A361, Braunton with a short mast arm. Standard style on main roads - A361 near Tarka Inn, Chivenor. A361 dual carriageway, Ashford. Unequal mast arms, A361 Ashford. Old-style lamppost in Barnstaple Standard style on The Square, Barnstaple. Unusual style on the B3232 at Newton Tracey. Unusual style on the B3232 at Newton Tracey. Unusual style in Roundswell. Old Sticklepath Terrace A361 Braunton Road, Barnstaple. Short mast arms, A361 Pottington. Unusual style lamppost in Berrynarbor. Unusual old-style lamppost in Pilton, Barnstaple. New 'UFO' column in Barnstaple. Concrete lamppost in Lynton town centre. A concrete column on a Bridgwater industrial estate. Concrete lamppost in Crediton. Concrete lamppost in Exeter, on the A377. Concrete post being replaced in yelland. The cantenery lighting, shown here at Exeter Services, is about to be replaced. The cantenery lighting and gantry for J30. The cantenery lighting stretching south. Taken from an overbridge just south of J30. Close-up of the lights. Overview of the motorway and the lights. New Iridium head and column on the A361 near Barnstaple. New Iridiums near Barnstaple Old strip lights at a LC on the A30 at Victoria (now closed)

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]]> Thu Jun 1 2006 Other Photos http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c956660.html Pictures that don't fit into one of the other collections. Friday 5 May 2006: Pictures that don't fit into one of the other collections.

Haxby Level crossing, near York. Unusual speeds humps plate in Ilfracombe. B3231 near Saunton Sands on a dull winters day. Blackmoor Gate in the 80's before it was remodelled and redeveloped. Multi-storey car park at Bridgwater Services. Multi-storey car park at Bridgwater Services. Multi-storey car park at Bridgwater Services. A466 Chepstow-Monmouth road. Old A361 in Filleigh, Devon, looking towards South Molton. Old A361 in Filleigh, Devon, looking towards Barnstaple. A170 Sutton Bank, North Yorkshire. The A38 somewhere in Devon during holiday period in the 1950's. M5 Avonmouth Bridge during widening. M49 lay-bys. M60 under construction at J23 A465 Heads of Valleys road dualling - Merthyr Tydfyl. Spath Level Crossing, near Uttoxeter, was the UK's first automated level crossing. An empty Tyne Tunnel during the strikes in March. Bramham Crossroads in the 1950's. A39 Watersmeet Valley. Give Way Level Crossing at dunster. Random roundabout in the Valley of the Rocks, Lynton. Level Crossing at Dunster with the lighs still not having the red and white striped border. S4 A403 near Avonmouth. The M4 approaching the Second Severn Crossing. M4 entering westbound at Junction 19. B3227 at Milverton The A386 on a realigned atretch near Plymouth Airport. The A386 at Yelverton. The A30 approaching the M5 near Exeter. The A30 approaching the M5 junction 31 near Exeter. Warning of the level crossing near Crediton Ungated level crossing near Crediton. The A377 in Copplestone. Note the older direction sign with out a road number. The A377/A3072 split. The A377 one-way system in Copplestone, Devon. The A379 in Teignmouth. The M5 at Taunton Deane Services. Queuing traffic and an LED sign near Barnstaple. Queues on the A39 near Bideford after an accident. The new 4-lane stretch of the M5 at Clevedon. The new Lake roundabout on the A39, where the Barnstaple bypass will emerge. LED sign warning of crossing vehicles on the A361 at Bonners Bridge, South Molton. S2 stretch near Moortown cross, with a former lane coned off. Former S2+1 stretch near Moortown Cross. One of the hills signed along the NDLR. Congestion on the single lane, nothing in the other two lanes. Typical NDLR. Advance notice of an S2+1 stretch. On the Ash Mill flyover, about to go under a quite high bridge. The GSJ at Newtown, the B3227 junction.

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]]> Fri May 5 2006 Road Signs http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c956659.html Road Signs Saturday 13 May 2006: Road Signs

An unusual dalek sign on the A5 in north Wales. An unusual 'chicanes' sign in Barnstaple, Devon. A new fingerpost sign in Barnstaple, Devon. These signs are being put up rapidly across Devon. Also note the unusual border - these are common across Devon too. How do signs like this ever get put up? Give way to two-way traffic? That's what you're told to do on the A361 at Chivenor. A school sign on the A361 in Braunton - with the children facing the wrong way! A very old sign off the A361 dual carriageway near Barnstaple in Devon. It certaintly warns you clearly enough of fast traffic! Incorrect Red Chevron signs in Barnstaple - the signs should be black and white. Patched up sign at Blackmoor Gate, Devon. A sign from a lay-by on the A39 Atlantic Highway reminding drivers of their speed limit. A bad sign in Tiverton, Devon, on the A396. The sign says this road is the A373, when it was actually made the A361 in the late 80's, making this sign nearly 20 years out of date! Also note the unusual teardrop roundabout at the top of the sign. Sign on Barnstaple Quayside. We now go to Bideford and have a look at its appaling signs - and they're obvious from the start. This awful patch is on the main A386 road into the town. 50 yards later, and these awful 'END' signs can be found. Yuck... Into the town centre, and this sign is just plain wrong. The sign says the road off to the right is a primary B3235, when it is actually a non-primary A386! A very old weight limit sign further along the A386... ...and this horrific one-way sign is just 10 yards away. How do they get it like that?! Another bad sign off the A386 - the dead-end sign must be the worst culprit for incorrect signing. Direction sign, again on the A386. That middle sector should be on a patch and not on its own colour scheme, and everything seems cramped and squeezed onto that sign. Wrong font, wrong arrows, wrong distance! I think somebody needs shooting... ...and to finish it all off, more of that awful patching on the road from Instow. No childeren allowed in McDonalds? That's what this sign is saying, but I've seen plenty of childeren there! No ramps allowed? That's apparently the case in Ilfracombe, even though its actually meant to tell motorists there's a ramp there! These signs are common along the A361 NDLR. They tell you that a crawler lane is coming up in an attempt to stop risky overtaking manouvers. Still doesn't help reduce the poor safety record along here, though. 60mph and speed camera repeater along the A361 NDLR. Illegal '20 zone' sign in Aberdeen - the ring should be red to make it enforcable. 'Hidden Sign' as a result of a closure of the M4 Second Severn Crossing. Illegal 15mph sign in Woolacombe - first because there's only one sign, and second because a x5 limit isn't allowed on a public road! Three things about this sign. First - we've just come from Ilfracombe, so why would we want to go back? Second - note the dodgy font on the 'P'. Third - why on Earth would anyone want to visit the 'Old Ice Factory'?! Old 'T' junction sign near Combe Martin. Warning of Long Delays - on a quiet country lane? The only reminder left along the A3123 that this used to be the B3343. A sign to MILLTOWN and MUDDIFORD - no need for them to be in all capitals. Old Z bend sign near Berrynarbor. World's most pointless NSL repeater in Berrynarbor, Devon? Can the sign makers make their mind up what road this is?! How can they put two different numbers on the same sign?! This road is actually the B3230. This sign on the A3123 at Mullacott really needs replacing with its awful patching and poor state. Route Confirmation sign on the A3123. Incorrect Give Way sign at Dunster near Minehead. Give way to two way traffic crossing one way road? Well, yes -that is actually what you have to do! Still upside down, though. At Sainsbury's, you now have to Give way to traffic driving slowly - and this sign isn't even upside down! Unusual fingerpost sign - presumably this is a public right of way, otherwise it wouldn't be signed. A very odd sign near Combe Martin, which provides a lot of amusement to those not in the know! Hunting the Earl of Rone (not Rome) is a yearly tradition in Combe Martin, and has been for centuries. Mr Floppy in Barbrook, near Lynton, on the A39. Sign in Lynton. Apparently, the A39 from Lynton is now a primary route. How did this mistake not get noticed? Road leading to Woody Bay, Exmoor. Old diamond Passing Place sign at Woody Bay. Car Parking sign at Woody Bay. Spectacular scenery and a modern fingerpost sign at Woody Bat, Exmoor. Old caravan site sign on the A39 near Lynton.

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]]> Sat May 13 2006 Maps http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c956656.html Scans of various maps that have some interesting features. Monday 15 May 2006: Scans of various maps that have some interesting features.

A pre-1974 RAC map showing a motorway spur from M5 junction 21 to W-s-M town centre. This could explain the odd southbound off-slip on the M5. OS map from 1974 showing the proposed A41(M). Note how the proposed route doesn't extent to Tring. A41(M) Tring bypass - OS map from 1974 1985 AA map showing the A720 Edinburgh City bypass under construction. RAC map showing several unbuilt motorways, including the M16, M23 extension, M11 extension and A41(M). Believed to be from around 1976 (Thanks to Chris Saunders for that info). 1970's Merseyside - RAC Map. Note the M531 and the long M57 spur - extending to the A57 (shown as built, aswell!) Map from 1985 AA map showing the M85. This late 1960's map shows the Erskine Bridge as part of the M898. Of course, today, the M898 ends at the junction to the south of the bridge. Manchester Motorways - The stretch between Stockport and the M67 can be seen numbered as the M66. It also has an unbuilt spur. Also note the A6144(M) under construction. The Kingsbridge area from the AA's Old Bartholemews map showing a motorway spurto the A1. A-Z Atlas 2007 showing an odd layout at M5 junction 12. A mistake in the new Aa atlas showing the A421 Great Barford bypass as a single carriageway. The new AA atkas showing the northern Mersey Tunnel as the A59. The A6144(M) STILL exists in the latest AA atlas. Several mistakes regarding the new A1(M) near Ferrybridge in the new AA atlas. The A1246 has been labelled as the A63, the A63 west of J42 is primary, J42's layout is wrong and J40 is shown completely as motorway. Scan from the new AA atlas showing the Wetherby-Bramham stretch of the A1 as A1(M).

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]]> Mon May 15 2006 Ilfracombe http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c956652.html Photos from the Ilfracombe area. Saturday 6 May 2006: Photos from the Ilfracombe area.

The very start of the A361 in Ilfracombe High Street. Ah, a private road! This road carries on through to another road, but this isn't a public right of way, so theoretically it's a dead end. Hmmm, dead end road except for access? Wonder what 'access' is? The B3230 at Chambercombe has been closed for a few months so the road can be strightened - and a huge cliff face can be made! Approaching the roadworks - is the limit advisory or compulary?! Hmmm - obviously 'borrowed' signs from Wales! The barracade across the B3230 at Chambercome telling you the road's closed. Signs on the B3230 warning of a major closure ahead, Victorian Parade bringing traffic to a halt on the A361 in Ilfracombe.

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]]> Sat May 6 2006 Exeter http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c956651.html Photos from the Exeter area. Monday 8 May 2006: Photos from the Exeter area.

Devon fingerpost sign - note the outline of a chevron and no border. A bad patch on a sign on the Exeter bypass at the Middlemoor roundabout. That (B3181) just looks awful there. I wonder what was underneat the patch before? Lots of fingerpost signs on the Exeter bypass. 'Ring Road' confirmation sign - even though the A3015, to gove it irs proper name, is no more than a bypass. The only remaining B3181 sign left on the A3015. This road was upgraded along with many others in Devon in the 90's. Green lights only ahead? I think this sign needs replacing. A view of the Exeter bypass (A3015) looking north. A view of the Exeter bypass (A3015) looking south. A ring road sign on Exeter bypass - even though it isn't really a ring road - it comes nowhere near to forming a circle! Unusual sign - 20 limits normally come out into 30 limits, not 40 as we see here. Hmm, a road that's 'Unsuitable for motors' in an Exeter industrial area?! This has to be worth a look... Looking back at the bypass which we just came off... There doesn't seem to be anything making this road unsuitable for motors... ...and that's it. The end. You could get a bus down there! What was that 'Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles' sign going on about?! ..talking of heights, metrification seems to be creeping in! On the A379, the carriageways start to split as they head towards the M5... ... and we can see that there is room under the bridge for more roadspace. Clearly something bigger was planned - possibly a freeflow link to the M5. An unusual distance an a first ADS - doesn't leave a lot of time for drivers to move over! The M5 looking northbound at J30, with the cantenery lighting. A close-up of the cantenery lighting on the M5. M5 looking southbound near J30. St Stephens Arch in Exeter city centre - possibly the lowest public right of way in the UK? Anyone over 5 foot tall has to duck to get under here! Use the Link shop alongsind to get an idea of the size. Merge in Turn sign on the A377 in Exeter. Unusual lane guidance sign on the A3015 at the A379 trumpet. Both lanes open? Why tell us that?! New SOS phones on the M5. Jersey Concrete barrier on the M5 at J29. Jersey Concrete barrier on the M5 at J29. Jersey Concrete barrier on the M5 between J29 and 30. New lampposts on the M5 between J29 and 30. Jersey Concrete barrier on the M5 at J30. Summer traffic management on the A30 approaching the M5 - still in place in November. Summer traffic management on the A30 approaching the M5 - still in place in November. Summer traffic management on the A30 approaching the M5 - still in place in November. Summer traffic management on the A30 approaching the M5 - still in place in November. Summer traffic management on the A30 approaching the M5 - still in place in November. Summer traffic management on the A30 approaching the M5 - still in place in November. Summer traffic management on the A30 approaching the M5 - still in place in November. Widened sliproad on the northbound off-slip at J30. At the Moto services in Exeter to look at the rubbish new signs. First comes a mixture of everything. Brand new to the far left with a standard no entry sign. Old signs are in the middle directing people to the hotel and petrol station along with more no entry signs - by the old standard these aren't too bad. On the far right is an ancient old no entry sign. The first appaling signage. Teh no entry sign is fine. The two-way traffic sign is fine. The tower of signs directing people to the petrol station for cars and the parking area. Now, if they're going to use official no entry signs, why not use official Parking signs? And where do HGV's wanting to fill up go? And we're being told with the official signage that we MUST go north east and north west at the same time? At least the new speed limit signage is up to scratch. Mind, there wasn't a lot wrong with it before.... ...apart from the 'Minimum speed limit' road markings, which have been rubbishly burnt off. It's all a bit, errr, rubbish really. How high can we go? Normal signs here. Why have one Stop sign when you can have two?! At the min-roundabout, you must turn right and get some fuel. Any need for SIX height restriction signs?! Mini-roundabout signs are used as advance warining - not at the junction itself. And finally, a sign that makes sense! You must turn right - which you must! Don't know what the diversion's for, though.

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]]> Mon May 8 2006 Barnstaple http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c956646.html Photos from the Barnstaple area. Sunday 7 May 2006: Photos from the Barnstaple area.

One of the new VMS signs in Barnstaple giving information about the town's car parks. An upside down 'give way to oncoming traffic' sign. A mini roundabout sign in Barnstaple - even though the roundabout itself was removed over a year ago! EDIT JULY 2006 - this sign has now been moved 50 yards up the road to another roundabout. A primary countdown sign on the non-primary A361 at Pottington. An odd set of bus stops outside Barnstaple railway station - the bus lane ends at a car parking bay! The markings will make more sense once the Barnstaple bypass scheme is complete when there will be a bus only road from here to the old Sticklepath Hill. Queuing traffic on a wet A361. It's unusual for traffic to be queuing back this far in both lanes. One of the signs warning most traffic to get in the left lane, which makes the queues a lot longer than necesarry. This will change with the opening of the bypass. Random roundabout with a telegraph pole. Hmmm - lots of choices of where to park! Erm, how can you nearly have spaces? Either the 'Nearly' should have a number, or the spaces should read 'Full'. Very odd arrows indeed. This is the third set of arrows for this sign. The A39 Barnstaple bypass is now S2, with the old overtaking lane being hatched out. Why?!?! The works now finished with some highly dangerous bollards in the middle of the road to prevent overtaking. Roadworks on the A361 Barnstaple bypass through the infamous bollards. Note that a load have been removed. I wouldn't like to have been the person who had to walk down the middle of the road removing the bollards. Warning of the works ahead. Road narrows. The works have finished now, so the bollards have to be put back. Shame they remembered to do that... Changes implemented on The Strand - traffic heading away from the Square now has to give way. Close up of the warning sign. OK, it is a Sunday evening, but it's spooky seeing this road this quiet. New temporary signs. Now, if you get to this point and you're in a vehicle that's longer than permitted, what do you do? I saw exactly what a few days later (without my camera) - go the wrong way down the one way street and emerge on the Long Bridge. No traffic on here anymore. Any need for the pedestrian crossing to stay switched on? The blocked off exit onto the Square. Some of the traffic lights have been removed. new signs restricting entry onto the Strand. No idea what's on the other side of the flip panel. The temporary layout on The Square. Taw vale is now closed to all traffic except buses and taxis.

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]]> Sun May 7 2006 Barnstaple Western Bypass http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c956643.html Photos of the Barnstaple Western bypass under construction. Thursday 11 May 2006: Photos of the Barnstaple Western bypass under construction.

The link road curving away from the expanded Longbridge roundabout. New VMS sign for Barnstaple Car parking - switched on several weeks before the link roads opened. A more general view of the new link roads looking west. An access road will lead into the Leaderflush Shapland site from the Sticklepath Link roads. The Sticklepath Link roads under construction. This is the South West Coastal Footpath - not very scenic at this point! Downstream Bridge support. Bridge supports near the nmorth bank of the Taw. Bridge supports for the new bypass under coonstruction. One argument against the new road was that the construction work would harm wildlife. This photo proves otherwise. There's lots of these temporary signs directing pedestrians and cyclists. This causeway has been built to allow construction vehicles to access the Barnstaple Downstream Bridge whilst avoiding the town centre. These first photos were taken in February 2006. Bridge support on the south bank of the Taw. The innards of a bridge support not yet surrounded in concrete. Sticklepath Link road. The old A3125 Sticklepath Hill - now only open to local traffic. Looking back up to where the new road merges ans the redundant GATSO! A new mini-roundabout has been built. Another view of the mini-roundabout. The now-closed A3125 on the railway bridges, which will be demolished in weeks. The new roundabout as viewed from the old railway bridges. The new cutting beside the railway station. Approaching the Longbridge roundabout. Forward to May 2006. The new Sticklepath link roads are open. This is where the old and new alignments meet. Nice views across Barnstaple... We get a good look at the roundabout (and the queue ahead!) Looking down the old A3125, now just a road to the small village of Lake. We enter a contraflow system through the roundabout. Looking at where the bypass will go towards the bridge. The exit from the roundabout for the new bridge. Looking at the centre of the roundabout, we can see the new cutting. Exiting the roundabout towards the town centre on te A3125. Along the eastern link road, which is D2, towards the town centre and the Longbridge roundabout. The access road into the Leaderflush Shapland site. A panoramic shot of the bridge under construction. The Longbridge roundabout viewed from the former A3125. Split pavement for a cycleway. Looking along Sticklepath Terace - now a cul-de-sac. Could you imagine kids playin footie in the street when this was the A39 trunk road? How things change... A lone sign still remains - it's now wrong, obviously. Now residents are allowed to park outside their homes. Preperation for the demolition of the old railway bridges. Part of the old road sealed off as it is torn up. the new railway viaduct will pass over a bus road, linking the atation to the old Sticklepath Hill. The surroundings have certaintly altered recently... The railway cutting, looking south. The road is nearly complete south of here. In 8 months time, I would be stood on a busy bypass bridge. ...and it'll never open again. A now redundant bus stop. Panoraminc of the bridge - June 2006

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]]> Thu May 11 2006 Abandoned A361 http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c956637.html An old section of the A361 near Ilfracombe. It is now a lay-by. Tuesday 9 May 2006: An old section of the A361 near Ilfracombe. It is now a lay-by.

Looking at the old road, the old double white lines are still visible, and there are lots of patches covering up where the cats eyes used to be. Looking at the southern end, where the new and old roads split, some junction markings are still visible 20 years after this bit of road was bypassed (newer junction visible in background) The road surface along half of the lay-by has been renewed at some point. The space in between the old and new roads is now a car park and picnic area. No signs of old markings on the resurfaced stretch. It is clear to see where the road surface changes, and the old markings appear. You get a sense of how narrow the old road was. Plus there was quite a sharp, blind corner. You can see why this was bypassed. Around the bend. It goes on forever! A new sign telling visitors to take their litter home. That bend continues past some woodland... Looking back the other way across the Devon countryside. Honest, this bend ends - eventually! ....you do believe me, don't you? ...see! We're at the end, where the old and new alignments meet. A good old 'NO' sign - although quite whether anyone enforces these by-laws is another question. There's nothing to stop me parking there at night!

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]]> Tue May 9 2006 Braunton's Road to Nowhere http://dras-photos.fotopic.net/c907398.html Velator Way in Braunton goes from the A361 to....well, nowhere, really. Wednesday 10 May 2006: Velator Way in Braunton goes from the A361 to....well, nowhere, really.

The junction between Velator Way and the A361, looking towards Chivenor. The fingerpost signs also have the space at the top. This road looks quite major, with clearway restrictions and cycle lanes. Looking back towards the A361. The cycle lanes are unusual - almost like a dual carriageway, Cyclists are encouraged to cycle on the left hand pavement (depending on direction of travel), with the right hand pavement having these signs. Major looking road - but not a car to be seen! Even the cycle symbols on the pavement face the right way! A rare feature - a traffic island. Roundaout up ahead - note the 'empty space' from previous signs has disappeared. This is because the old factory was accessed by a road going off to the right - which would have probably had a different sign. The roundabout up ahead. Looking back towards the A361. Look, a car! This sign claims that the road is actually part of the A361, when infact it's just unclassified. This sign tells us to go to Braunton along South Street - even tough the residents have been complaining for ages that their road is being used as a rat run! This design of roundabout is common in north Devon - it allows lorries to get around easier with the brick circle. South Street goes off to the right - and the abandoned road carries on behind the concete barriers and the parked cars (which are breaking the law as we're still on a clearway - and one of them's mine!) the concrete barriers preventing further vehicular access - but pedestrians can still get past. Looking back towards the roundabout and barriers. Over a new bridge passing over the River Caen, which hasn't been used a lot. This is where the road ends - at the site of the former factory. Plans have been submitted for a new supermarket here, although residents want this to be part of a southern bypass to link up to the B3231 Saunton Road. The ADS on the A361 heading towards Barnstaple. Note the gap at the top. It once said 'Brannoc Fibres' - a major factory and the reason why Velator Way was built. But it closed, and we're now left with a road to, well, nowhere.

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]]> Wed May 10 2006