A360 road
A360 | |
---|---|
![]() The A360 at Rollestone | |
Route information | |
Length | 24 mi (39 km) |
Major junctions | |
North West end | Devizes 51°21′13″N1°59′54″W/ 51.3537°N 1.9982°W |
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South East end | Salisbury 51°04′21″N1°48′17″W/ 51.0724°N 1.8047°W |
Location | |
Country | United Kingdom |
Constituent country | England |
Road network | |
TheA360is anA roadinWiltshire,England, running fromDevizestoSalisbury,through the villages ofPotterne,West Lavington,Tilshead,andShrewton,and passing near theStonehengeancient monument.
Route
[edit]The road is 24 miles (39 km) long and starts at the junction of theA342andA361 roadsin the town of Devizes. It continues southwards towardsSalisbury Plain,passing West Lavington via Potterne, then south-east to Shrewton via Tilshead. It turns right at Airman's Corner (a junction with an entrance toStonehengeand the B3086), crosses theA303and continues southwards into Salisbury, joining theA36near the centre of the city.[1]
History
[edit]Original route
[edit]The A360 originally ran south from Shrewton, following theRiver TillviaWinterbourne Stoketo join the A36 beyondStapleford.[2]This section was re-routed sometime before 1958,[3]at first eastward for about 2 miles (3 km) along theA344Amesbury road, then turning south near Stonehenge onto the former Devizes-Salisbury road;[4]a straighter route on higher ground which avoids the riverside villages and heads directly for Salisbury.
Longbarrow Roundabout
[edit]In November 2012, major work began on the Longbarrow Roundabout where the A360 crosses the A303, with the intention that the A360 would become the main visitors' route to Stonehenge.[5]In June 2013, the main road next to Stonehenge, the A344, was closed and drivers were advised to access the Stonehenge visitor centre via the A360 instead.[6]
Camp Hill upgrade
[edit]In 2019, work began on upgrading a junction with a minor road to a roundabout at Camp Hill near the north-west outskirts of Salisbury, as it is a notorious accident blackspot with several serious incidents.[7]
Features
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Tank_crossing_place%2C_A360_-_geograph.org.uk_-_303043.jpg/220px-Tank_crossing_place%2C_A360_-_geograph.org.uk_-_303043.jpg)
The central section of the A360 through Salisbury Plain passes through the centre ofSalisbury Plain Training Area,a majorMinistry of Defencesite. The road crosses severaltanktrails, which see sporadic active use during training exercises. A number of warning signs are placed on the road advising motorists.[8]In 2018, live firing was stopped on the site after part of Salisbury Plain caught fire, which resulted in part of the A360 being closed.[9]
In addition to Stonehenge, the A360 passes several ancient monuments, includingCamp Down,[10]abowl barrowat Longbarrow.[11]
References
[edit]- ^"A360: Devizes to Salisbury".Google Maps.Retrieved10 March2020.
- ^MOT Map 38: Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight(Map). Ordnance Survey. 1923.Retrieved10 March2020.
- ^"Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 map, sheet SU04".National Library of Scotland.1958.Retrieved26 October2021.
- ^Historic England."Milestone, Devizes Road (1318705)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved26 October2021.
- ^"Stonehenge work begins at Longbarrow A303 roundabout".BBC News. 5 November 2012.Retrieved10 March2020.
- ^"Stonehenge permanent road closure work begins".BBC News.Retrieved10 March2020.
- ^"Roundabout being installed at notorious A360 crossroads".Spire FM.9 July 2019.Retrieved10 March2020.
- ^"Salisbury Plain Training Area"(PDF).Ministry of Defence.July 2017.Retrieved10 March2020.
- ^"MoD stop live firing exercise after setting fire to Salisbury Plain".The Daily Telegraph.London. 12 July 2018.Retrieved10 March2020.
- ^"Camp Down".Milestones Web.Retrieved10 March2020.
- ^"Bowl barrow 400m south east of Longbarrow Cross Roads, east of A360".Ancient Monuments.Retrieved10 March2020.