A361 road
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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 The A361 bypassingFrome | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Length | 195 mi (314 km) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end | Ilfracombe | |||
| North end | Kilsby(nearRugby) | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United Kingdom | |||
| Primary destinations | Barnstaple Taunton Glastonbury Shepton Mallet Frome Trowbridge Devizes Swindon Banbury | |||
| Road network | ||||
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TheA361is an A class road in southern England, which at 195 miles (314 km) is the longest three-digit A road in the UK.[1]
History[edit]
When first designated in 1922, the A361 ran from Taunton (Somerset) to Banbury (Oxfordshire).[2]It was later extended west throughBamptontoSouth Molton(Devon), on the route of the former A398, and from South Molton to Barnstaple and Ilfracombe, previously part of the route of theA373.In 1988, when the North Devon Link Road was opened, the A361 was switched to its present route. The old route from Taunton through Bampton to South Molton was downgraded to become the B3227. In the 1970s the route was extended north from Banbury to Daventry (Northamptonshire), providing a link to theM1 motorwaynearCrick.
Route[edit]
Devon[edit]
The road starts in Ilfracombe as part of the town's High Street, and is mostly single carriageway. The road passes through the villages of Knowle and Braunton, before becomingdual carriagewaystandard at Ashford, which continues for the short distance to Barnstaple. From there it passes the town's railway station then merges with theA39for a short while before splitting back off near Portmore Golf Park. The section from Barnstaple to the M5 near Tiverton has been designated the North Devon Link Road, and enables relatively fast access to theAtlantic Highway,relieving pressure on the northern section of the A39 and A358. This section is a modern, wide single carriagewaytrunk road(which was de-trunked in 2002), apart from the 5-mile (8.0 km) stretch between Tiverton and the M5, which is dual carriageway.Tiverton Parkway railway stationis situated close to the junction with the motorway in order to give easy rail connections for people driving from north Devon. Some sections of road are on the alignment of theDevon and Somerset Railway,including the Castle Hill Viaduct over the River Bray, where the stone pillars formerly used to support a lattice girder railway bridge now support the road.[3]
Somerset and south Wiltshire[edit]
The road merges with theA38from Junction 27 of theM5untilTaunton.The rest of the road, from there to Swindon, is largely county-road class. It crosses theSomerset LevelsseparatingCurry Moorfrom North Moor and Salt Moor, where in flood conditions such as the winter of 2012/2013 the Athelney spillway runs across the road[4]if the drain level at Curry Moor pumping station exceeds 7.1m,[5]making the road impassable. Next, it passes by the towns of Street and Glastonbury and briefly merges with theA39again. From there it continues northeast nearCranmore(the home of theEast Somerset Railway) and originally passed throughFrome,which it now bypasses to the east. It briefly merges with theA36then passes through villages atRodeand into Wiltshire atSouthwick.Here it is signposted alternatively viaTrowbridgeor throughNorth BradleyandYarnbrook(which could have been reached if the Frome bypass had continued to follow the railway) to merge with theA350before diverging towardsDevizes.
A4361[edit]
From its junction with theA4at Beckhampton, northwards throughAvebury,the A361 has been renumbered theA4361as it heads forSwindontown centre viaWroughton.It emerges nearStratton St Margaret,becoming the A361 again at the junction with theA419which passes northeast of Swindon.
North Wiltshire and Gloucestershire[edit]
This road linksHighworthtoLechladeand has no pavement for the entire length apart from a small section inInglesham.It carries traffic at high speeds.[6]
TheThames PathNational Trail follows the verge for a little over one mile between Upper Inglesham andInglesham.[7][8]On entering Lechlade, the road crosses the Grade II listedHalfpenny Bridge,[9]which marks the navigable limit of theRiver Thamesfor powered craft. Lines painted onto the panels on the bridge parapets indicate the border between the ceremonial counties of Wiltshire (to the south) and Gloucestershire (to the north).[10]
Oxfordshire[edit]
The road crosses into Oxfordshire a few miles north of Lechlade and heads towardsCotswold Wildlife Park,Burford andChipping Nortonpassing many Oxfordshire villages on its way. It is also the boundary for theCotswolds AONBat Lechlade. It then entersBanburyfrom the southwest as an arterial road passing the Banbury Cross, and heading north, the A361multiplexeson the Southam Road roundabout of theA422.For about two miles the route is signed asA422,the dual carriageway Hennef Way until Junction 11 of theM40.
Northamptonshire[edit]
From there it heads northeast through the villages ofWardington,Chipping Warden,Byfield,Charwelton,andBadby.Arelief roadfor Chipping Warden was constructed in 2021, in conjunction with neighbouring works forHS2.Sections of land were purchased in the 1970s after the road was upgraded from theB4038to the A361 to straighten out some of the sharper corners but the vast majority of these works were never done. The road then multiplexes once more, this time with theA45just outsideDaventry.Once the A45 leaves Daventry forCoventry,the remaining section of single carriageway ring road is signed as A361, before it once again turns north toKilsbyto terminate on theA5at its northern end.
Points of interest[edit]
| Point | Coordinates (Links to map resources) |
OS Grid Ref | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start: Ilfracombe | 51°12′19″N4°07′37″W/ 51.2053°N 4.1270°W | SS514473 | Ilfracombe |
| Jnc 27, M5 | 50°55′04″N3°21′22″W/ 50.9177°N 3.3562°W | ST047140 | Tiverton Parkway railway station |
| Halfpenny Bridge | 51°41′33″N1°41′33″W/ 51.6924°N 1.6924°W | SU213993 | Lechlade |
| Jnc 11, M40 | 52°04′22″N1°18′48″W/ 52.0727°N 1.3133°W | SP472418 | Banbury |
| End: Kilsby | 52°20′02″N1°10′23″W/ 52.3340°N 1.1730°W | SP563710 | Kilsby |
A roads in Zone 3 of theGreat Britain road numbering scheme | ||
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References[edit]
- ^"Road Facts and Figures".SABRE.Retrieved9 July2011.
- ^1922 road list
- ^"Filleigh Viaduct".gracesguide.Retrieved16 February2014.
- ^"Floods on Somerset Moors (levels) 25 Nov 2012 near East Lyng".David Orr.Retrieved1 February2013.
- ^"Flood Warnings A361 East Lyng to Burrowbridge".Environment Agency.Retrieved25 December2013.
- ^"Upper Inglesham Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan"(PDF).Swindon Borough Council. p. 11.Retrieved28 June2017.
- ^"Thames Path — Part 2 Cricklade to Lechlade".Tim Bertuchi.Retrieved14 October2012.
- ^"Thames Path – Route Description".National Trails.Retrieved18 May2016.
- ^Historic England."Lechlade Halfpenny Bridge and Tollhouse (1303058)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved6 May2020.
- ^Historic England."Lechlade Halfpenny Bridge (1023393)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved6 May2020.
External links[edit]
- From Watford Gap to Camelot– a travelog following a section of the A361