Devon Expressway: Difference between revisions
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The '''Devon Expressway''' is a 40-mile dual carriageway which is incorporated into the [[A38 road]]. It is |
The '''Devon Expressway''' is a 40-mile dual carriageway which is incorporated into the [[A38 road]]. It is mainly s two-lane dual carriageway which runs between [[Exeter]] and [[Plymouth]] serving as a continuation of the [[M5 motorway]]. |
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The M5, running from [[Birmingham]] to Exeter, was constructed in stages between [[1962]] and [[1977]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/m5/timeline.shtml | work= cbrd.co.uk | title= Motorway Database - M5 | accessdate= 2009-07-03}}</ref> The Devon Expressway was developed around the same time to provide a fast road to serve key communities in [[Devon]] and serve as a continuation of the M5 that was completed in 1977, giving the [[West Midlands]] and [[West Country]] a direct motorway/trunk road link with Plymouth. Unlike the M5, the Devon Expressway wasn't designed as a single coherent route, rather a series of bypasses which were connected by upgrading the existing A38 route inbetween.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/a38-devon/ | work= cbrd.co.uk | title= Motorway Database - A38 Devon | accessdate= 2009-07-03}}</ref> |
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The route begins near the village of [[Kennford]], south of Exeter, at the terminus of the M5. This initial section was opened in 1977, along with the remaining section of the M5, and is a three-lane dual carriageway. The village of Kennford is bypassed, on an allignment of a [[1930s]] bypass, which was upgraded to dual carriageway in the [[1960s]] and then widened to a dual three-lane road in [[1975]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1974/jul/31/roads-south-west | work= Hansard | title= Roads (South-West), Hansard, 31 July 1974| accessdate= 2009-07-03}}</ref>. After Kennford, the route splits, with the [[A380 road]] heading towards [[Torbay]]. At this point, the road becomes a dual two-lane road although a third-lane emerges immediately for uphill traffic as the route climbs Haldon Hill, which has a maximum gradient of 1 in 7. The third lane is lost at the top of the hill, and the next section, the Harcombe bends is an original dual carriageway section, older than the rest of the route and this is evident with its sharp bends. The villages of [[Chudleigh]] and [[Chudleigh Knighton]] are bypassed on a new allignment, which opened in 1973, and the following section at Heathfield was upgraded from the original route between [[1966]] and [[1968]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.highways.gov.uk/aboutus/documents/FOI_HA_Data_Response_Road_Bridges_Construction_Dates.pdf | work= Highways Agency | title= List of Road Bridge Construction Dates| accessdate= 2009-07-03}}</ref> The route finishes at the [[Tamar Bridge]]. It is a common route for tourists travelling to [[Cornwall]], though those wanting to use a continuous dual carriageway route to Cornwall can use the [[A30 road|A30]] rather than the Devon Expressway.<references/> |
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The Devon Expressway was developed in the [[1960s]] and [[1970s]] to provide a fast road to serve key communities in [[Devon]] and serve as a continuation of the [[M5 motorway]] that was completed in [[1977]], giving the [[West Midlands]] and [[West Country]] a direct motorway/trunk road link with Plymouth. |
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The route begins at the village of [[Kennford]], south of Exeter, where the M5 meets its terminus, and finishes at the [[Tamar Bridge]]. It is a common route for tourists travelling to [[Cornwall]], though those wanting to use a continuous dual carriageway route to Cornwall can use the [[A30 road|A30]] rather than the Devon Expressway. |
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The route was formed from a few existing stretches of the original A38 combined with several new roads by-passing nearby towns and villages. |
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{{coord missing|Devon}} |
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The Devon Expressway is a 40-mile dual carriageway which is incorporated into the A38 road. It is mainly s two-lane dual carriageway which runs between Exeter and Plymouth serving as a continuation of the M5 motorway.
The M5, running from Birmingham to Exeter, was constructed in stages between 1962 and 1977.[1] The Devon Expressway was developed around the same time to provide a fast road to serve key communities in Devon and serve as a continuation of the M5 that was completed in 1977, giving the West Midlands and West Country a direct motorway/trunk road link with Plymouth. Unlike the M5, the Devon Expressway wasn't designed as a single coherent route, rather a series of bypasses which were connected by upgrading the existing A38 route inbetween.[2]
The route begins near the village of Kennford, south of Exeter, at the terminus of the M5. This initial section was opened in 1977, along with the remaining section of the M5, and is a three-lane dual carriageway. The village of Kennford is bypassed, on an allignment of a 1930s bypass, which was upgraded to dual carriageway in the 1960s and then widened to a dual three-lane road in 1975.[3]. After Kennford, the route splits, with the A380 road heading towards Torbay. At this point, the road becomes a dual two-lane road although a third-lane emerges immediately for uphill traffic as the route climbs Haldon Hill, which has a maximum gradient of 1 in 7. The third lane is lost at the top of the hill, and the next section, the Harcombe bends is an original dual carriageway section, older than the rest of the route and this is evident with its sharp bends. The villages of Chudleigh and Chudleigh Knighton are bypassed on a new allignment, which opened in 1973, and the following section at Heathfield was upgraded from the original route between 1966 and 1968.[4] The route finishes at the Tamar Bridge. It is a common route for tourists travelling to Cornwall, though those wanting to use a continuous dual carriageway route to Cornwall can use the A30 rather than the Devon Expressway.
- ^ "Motorway Database - M5". cbrd.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ "Motorway Database - A38 Devon". cbrd.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ "Roads (South-West), Hansard, 31 July 1974". Hansard. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ "List of Road Bridge Construction Dates" (PDF). Highways Agency. Retrieved 2009-07-03.