A40 road
Encyclopedia
The A40 is a major trunk road
connecting London to Fishguard
, Wales and officially called The London to Fishguard Trunk Road (A40) in all legal documents and Acts. It is 256 miles (412 km) long.
It is one of the few remaining of the "old" trunk routes not to have been superseded by a direct motorway link, though some parts, such as the southern section from London to Oxford
are now better served by the M40
. Part of the A40 forms a section of the unsigned Euroroute
E30
, which the Welsh Assembly Government refers to as "one of the lowest standard sections of the Trans European Road Network in the United Kingdom"
to Fishguard. The road still begins and ends in the same places, but a number of changes have been made to its route.
The first change dates from 1935, between Ross-on-Wye
and Abergavenny
. The original route of the A40 was via Skenfrith
; this road was renumbered the B4521. The A40 was rerouted via Raglan
; between Ross and Raglan it replaced part of the A48, between Raglan and Llanvihangel-nigh-Usk it replaced the B4234, and between Llanvihangel and Abergavenny it replaced part of the A471.
Subsequently, the A40 was rerouted within west London. Western Avenue dates from the 1930s, but was originally opened as the A403. After the Second World War, the A40 was rerouted along part of the A219 (west of Notting Hill) and Western Avenue. The old route (via Acton, Ealing, Southall, Hayes, Hillingdon and Uxbridge) was renumbered the A4020.
.
In central London it is named High Holborn
, then Oxford Street
. At Marble Arch
it joins the A5 Edgware Road as far as the Marylebone Flyover to become Westway
; formerly classified A40(M) as an elevated motorway, it has now been downgraded to 'A' road status. It takes the A40 to meet Western Avenue. With two exceptions, Western Avenue forms a grade-separated motorway standard dual-carriageway between Paddington (Westway) and the M40 motorway
, which goes off towards Oxford
and Birmingham
. The two exceptions are Gypsy Corner and Savoy Circus, both of which cause the traffic to stop at traffic lights. For the greater part, the road is six lanes wide, with stretches of four lane road. At Denham Roundabout
, the six lane Western Avenue becomes the M40
.
and High Wycombe
. Beyond Stokenchurch
the road is much quieter, when meeting the B4009 and A329 those roads have priority. East of Oxford the A40 becomes a busy dual carriageway again, carrying traffic from the M40 to Oxford and beyond. The route forms the Eastern section of the Ring road crossing the A44 and A34 at the Northern tip.
bypass, with a grade separated junction. The dual carriageway then finishes at a roundabout. For the rest of Oxfordshire
and Gloucestershire
until Cheltenham
, other than for a few short stretches, the road is single carriageway. This section has the highest point of the entire A40 which is 250m (820ft) above sea level, located 5km west of the A429 junction. Before Andoversford
the A436 breaks off to the west to try and take traffic away from descending into the centre of Cheltenham itself. The road travels through Cheltenham town centre along at least two parallel routes (neither is part of a one-way system: Sandford Road and Montpellier Terrace make up one part, Thirlestaine Road and Suffolk Road the other). Afterwards it becomes dual carriageway out of Cheltenham (past GCHQ) and has a junction with the M5 motorway
. The junction is a three-level stacked roundabout, where neither road is interrupted.
bypass, most of which is dual carriageway. For the rest of Gloucestershire, and a part of Herefordshire
, the road is single carriageway until Ross-on-Wye
. It then connects with the M50 motorway
. After this, forms part of a high quality dual carriageway between South Wales
and the Midlands
. In Monmouthshire
, the A40 has a grade separated junction with the A449
, which continues as dual carriageway to Newport
and the M4
. The A40 now travels west, still as dual carriageway to Abergavenny
.
until Brecon
. The section between Abergavenny and Brecon has one of the highest points of the A40 which is 200 metres (656.2 ft) above sea level and is located at Bwlch
, which is Welsh for 'mountain pass'. The Brecon Bypass is a short, lightly trafficked dual carriageway which runs around the south of the town. At the end of the Brecon bypass the roads returns to a single carriageway and forms the northern edge of the Brecon Beacons until Llandeilo
. From here the A40 continues until Carmarthen
. At Carmarthen the A40 forms the eastern Carmarthen bypass as a dual carriageway, and meets up with the A48 at Pensarn. The section of the road from Abergavenny to Carmarthen offers stunning scenery (looking from Bwlch eastwards towards Abergavenny is a highlight) as well as being an excellent drivers' road, with fast open sections as well as tighter hedge-lined sections. Driving time from Abergavenny to Carmarthen is between 60 and 90 minutes.
with 10 miles (16.1 km) of dual carriageway. After this, the road is a mixture of 2 and 3 lane single carriageway until it ends in Fishguard
. This section of road, which is controlled by the Welsh Assembly Government is described by itself as "one of the lowest standard sections of the Trans European Road Network in the United Kingdom". As a result, a number of improvements have been made or planned for this stretch.
Haverfordwest to St Clears dualling
There were plans in 2002 for a major improvement of the 23-mile stretch between Haverfordwest
and St Clears
, which included the stretch to be upgraded to a dual carriageway. This was described as an extension to the M4 motorway network to the West Wales Coast, by virtue of it being a dual carriageway from the M4
motorway via the A48
. The £60 million scheme was subject to a European Environmental Assessment. Within a couple of years, the project appeared to be dying a very quiet death, causing local newspapers to report it being an election stunt for the two marginal constituencies that would best benefit from the improvements. The following Welsh elections saw both constituencies change the party of majority. The political party at the centre of the row instead directed the project deferment to damning environmental statements by Friends of the Earth Cymru. The scheme was officially scrapped in 2008 after a Welsh Assembly committee decided to abandon the proposals. Instead, it recommended upgrades to the existing route including bypasses around Robeston Wathen and Llanddewi Velfrey using a three-lane option. This was welcomed by the Friends of the Earth
, saying "The dual carriageway on the A40 would increase traffic levels, increase the emission of greenhouse gases, it would be harmful for the environment, it would be hugely expensive. That money would be better spent on improving public transport, on health, on education, there's no need for it. We think the assembly committee has come to the right decision".
Whitland Bypass
The last improvement to the A40 on this section prior to the Welsh Assembly Government having the devolved responsibility for this road was a 4.1 kilometres (2.5 mi) £8 million bypass around Whitland
. Constructed in 1994, the road started east of Black Bridge on the original A40, then running north of the town before rejoining the A40 at a new roundabout
just west of Llain Cottage. The Secretary of State for Wales was asked a written question by Rhodri Morgan
about adding a second carriageway to the Whitland bypass scheme, to which John Redwood
replied "There are no proposals to add a second carriageway to the Whitland bypass. The design capacity of a single carriageway two-lane highway is more than adequate to cater with the anticipated traffic flows for the foreseeable future."
Llanddewi Velfrey Bypass
A new by-pass has been granted approval by the Welsh Assembly Government at Llanddewi Velfrey in Pembrokeshire
. The scheme would improve the A40 between Llanddewi Velfrey and Penblewin, to the west of St Clears
and meet the aim of the targeted investment in infrastructure along the east-west road corridor in south Wales. From the east, it is proposed that a roundabout would be created just north of Glenfield Farm, where the straight section from St Clears ends at Bethel Chapel, and then take a new route north-west of the town of Llanddewi Velfrey, south-west over Pentroydin Fawr and Penttroydin Fech farms with cattle underpasses, a new underpass beneath the existing Llanddewi Velfrey to Llanfallteg road, before going over the original A40 at Ffynnon Wood. To the west of Ffynnon Wood, the road would then cross back over the original A40 to the east of Henllan Lodge in a way to maintain the tree lined avenue to Henllan, then run parallel to the A40 on the north side of the existing A40 to a new roundabount at Penblewin and the .
This was originally known as the Blue and Purple routes during the Consultation in 2006 for which 75% preferred the blue route, and only 20% preferred the red route. 54% felt the section from Ffynnon Wood and Penblewin Roundabound needed improvement, with both orange and purple routes preferred by 42% of the respondents. Welsh Water/Dwr Cymru expressed concerns with the red route affecting water mains and sewers, and Henllanfallteg Community Council felt the red route would not improve the quality of life in Llanddewi Velfrey. Pembrokeshire County Council
expressed concerns that the route planned was a single carriageway, and that within seven years, a dual carriageway would be required.
Robeston Wathen Bypass
A new by-pass has been constructed between Penblewin and Slebech Park making the road straighter and with a '2+1' road layout to help improve overtaking opportunities. This is the first time this design has been introduced in Wales.
Starting to the west of Toch Lane (approx. 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east of Slebech
), the route travels eastwards for 4.6 kilometres (2.9 mi), passing 200 metres (656.2 ft) south of Robeston Wathen, and ending 0.5 kilometre (0.310686368324903 mi) east of the village, just west of Flimstone Lane.
Construction started on the route in February 2009, with the works completed and the new road opening 1 March 2011. The road was built by Costain
. The scheme was nearly £14 million over the initial budget of £27.6 million, eventually costing £41.4 million. The Welsh Assembly Government explains this increase as being the result of inflation and land costs, saying the original budget did not include either, as well as additional statutory procedures, additional works following some design standards, and the increase in VAT.
The Kell
The Kell is located on a section of the A40 that forms a north-south corridor between Fishguard
, 17 kilometres (10.6 mi) to the north and Haverfordwest
, 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) to the south, close to Treffgarne
and Spittal
. The improvement saw about 0.48 kilometre (0.298258913591907 mi) of new trunk road commencing at a point on the trunk road approximately 622 metres south of the centreline of the junction of the A40 trunk road with the C3059 road to Spittal and extending in a generally northerly direction to a point approximately 112 metres south of the junction of the trunk road with the C3059 road to Spittal. This resulted in the road being rerouted through pasture to the east of the original road, taking a right hand bend about 160 metres (524.9 ft) south of The Old Mill, taking a 5.5% gradient, and rejoining the original road 210 metres (689 ft) north of The Kell. The original road has subsequently been converted to an access road for The Old Mill, Beavers Lodge and The Kell, accessing the new road at The Old Mill.
Trunk road
A trunk road, trunk highway, or strategic road is a major road—usually connecting two or more cities, ports, airports, and other things.—which is the recommended route for long-distance and freight traffic...
connecting London to Fishguard
Fishguard
Fishguard is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, with a population of 3,300 . The community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5043 at the 2001 census....
, Wales and officially called The London to Fishguard Trunk Road (A40) in all legal documents and Acts. It is 256 miles (412 km) long.
It is one of the few remaining of the "old" trunk routes not to have been superseded by a direct motorway link, though some parts, such as the southern section from London to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
are now better served by the M40
M40 motorway
The M40 motorway is a motorway in the British transport network that forms a major part of the connection between London and Birmingham. Part of this road forms a section of the unsigned European route E05...
. Part of the A40 forms a section of the unsigned Euroroute
International E-road network
The international E-road network is a numbering system for roads in Europe developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe . The network is numbered from E 1 up and its roads cross national borders...
E30
European route E30
European route E 30 is an A-Class West-East European route, extending from the southern Irish port of Cork in the west to the Russian city of Omsk in the east...
, which the Welsh Assembly Government refers to as "one of the lowest standard sections of the Trans European Road Network in the United Kingdom"
History
The original (1923) route of the A40 was the City of LondonCity of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
to Fishguard. The road still begins and ends in the same places, but a number of changes have been made to its route.
The first change dates from 1935, between Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye is a small market town with a population of 10,089 in southeastern Herefordshire, England, located on the River Wye, and on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean.-History:...
and Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
. The original route of the A40 was via Skenfrith
Skenfrith
Skenfrith is a small village in Monmouthshire, south-east Wales, in the United Kingdom. It is located on the River Monnow, close to the border between Wales and England, about 6 miles north-west of Monmouth.- History and amenities :...
; this road was renumbered the B4521. The A40 was rerouted via Raglan
Raglan, Monmouthshire
Raglan is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, United Kingdom. It is located some 9 miles south-west of Monmouth, midway between Monmouth and Abergavenny on the A40 road very near to the junction with the A449 road...
; between Ross and Raglan it replaced part of the A48, between Raglan and Llanvihangel-nigh-Usk it replaced the B4234, and between Llanvihangel and Abergavenny it replaced part of the A471.
Subsequently, the A40 was rerouted within west London. Western Avenue dates from the 1930s, but was originally opened as the A403. After the Second World War, the A40 was rerouted along part of the A219 (west of Notting Hill) and Western Avenue. The old route (via Acton, Ealing, Southall, Hayes, Hillingdon and Uxbridge) was renumbered the A4020.
Central London - Denham
For the A40 in London, see A40 road (London)A40 road (London)
The A40 in London is an A road in Central and West London. It runs from outside St. Paul's Cathedral to Fishguard. The A40 in London is an A road in Central and West London. It runs from outside St. Paul's Cathedral to Fishguard. The A40 in London is an A road in Central and West London. It runs...
.
In central London it is named High Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
, then Oxford Street
Oxford Street
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, United Kingdom. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, as well as its most dense, and currently has approximately 300 shops. The street was formerly part of the London-Oxford road which began at Newgate,...
. At Marble Arch
Marble Arch
Marble Arch is a white Carrara marble monument that now stands on a large traffic island at the junction of Oxford Street, Park Lane, and Edgware Road, almost directly opposite Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park in London, England...
it joins the A5 Edgware Road as far as the Marylebone Flyover to become Westway
Westway (London)
The Westway is a long elevated dual carriageway section of the A40 route in west London running from Paddington to North Kensington. The road was constructed between 1964 and 1970 to relieve congestion at Shepherd's Bush caused by traffic from Western Avenue struggling to enter central London on...
; formerly classified A40(M) as an elevated motorway, it has now been downgraded to 'A' road status. It takes the A40 to meet Western Avenue. With two exceptions, Western Avenue forms a grade-separated motorway standard dual-carriageway between Paddington (Westway) and the M40 motorway
M40 motorway
The M40 motorway is a motorway in the British transport network that forms a major part of the connection between London and Birmingham. Part of this road forms a section of the unsigned European route E05...
, which goes off towards Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
and Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. The two exceptions are Gypsy Corner and Savoy Circus, both of which cause the traffic to stop at traffic lights. For the greater part, the road is six lanes wide, with stretches of four lane road. At Denham Roundabout
Denham Roundabout
The Denham Roundabout is a large road intersection to the west of London, at junction 1 on the M40 motorway.When Western Avenue was originally built, it ended at a point west of Uxbridge at the intersection of the road from Uxbridge towards Gerrards Cross and High Wycombe with the road from...
, the six lane Western Avenue becomes the M40
M40 motorway
The M40 motorway is a motorway in the British transport network that forms a major part of the connection between London and Birmingham. Part of this road forms a section of the unsigned European route E05...
.
Denham - Oxford
The A40 branches off Denham roundabout and runs alongside the M40 as a dual carriageway, concurrent with the A413. After the A413 branches off the A40 becomes single carriageway, still roughly following the route of the M40, passing through the towns of BeaconsfieldBeaconsfield
Beaconsfield is a market town and civil parish operating as a town council within the South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It lies northwest of Charing Cross in Central London, and south-east of the county town of Aylesbury...
and High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
. Beyond Stokenchurch
Stokenchurch
Stokenchurch is a village and civil parish within Wycombe district in Buckinghamshire England. It is in the Chiltern Hills, about south of Chinnor in Oxfordshire and west of High Wycombe. The village is a popular place to live, due to its rural location and ease of access to London and Birmingham...
the road is much quieter, when meeting the B4009 and A329 those roads have priority. East of Oxford the A40 becomes a busy dual carriageway again, carrying traffic from the M40 to Oxford and beyond. The route forms the Eastern section of the Ring road crossing the A44 and A34 at the Northern tip.
Oxford - Cheltenham (M5)
After the road passes under the A34, the A40 reverts back to single carriageway for 10 miles (16.1 km). It then turns to dual carriageway again to form the WitneyWitney
Witney is a town on the River Windrush, west of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England.The place-name 'Witney' is first attested in a Saxon charter of 969 as 'Wyttannige'; it appears as 'Witenie' in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name means 'Witta's island'....
bypass, with a grade separated junction. The dual carriageway then finishes at a roundabout. For the rest of Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
and Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
until Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, other than for a few short stretches, the road is single carriageway. This section has the highest point of the entire A40 which is 250m (820ft) above sea level, located 5km west of the A429 junction. Before Andoversford
Andoversford
Andoversford is a village and civil parish in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England, about six miles east of Cheltenham. The parish had a population of 668 according to the 2001 census....
the A436 breaks off to the west to try and take traffic away from descending into the centre of Cheltenham itself. The road travels through Cheltenham town centre along at least two parallel routes (neither is part of a one-way system: Sandford Road and Montpellier Terrace make up one part, Thirlestaine Road and Suffolk Road the other). Afterwards it becomes dual carriageway out of Cheltenham (past GCHQ) and has a junction with the M5 motorway
M5 motorway
The M5 is a motorway in England. It runs from a junction with the M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading south-west, the M5 runs east of West Bromwich and west of Birmingham through Sandwell Valley...
. The junction is a three-level stacked roundabout, where neither road is interrupted.
Cheltenham (M5) - Abergavenny
The A40 then forms the GloucesterGloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
bypass, most of which is dual carriageway. For the rest of Gloucestershire, and a part of Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, the road is single carriageway until Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye is a small market town with a population of 10,089 in southeastern Herefordshire, England, located on the River Wye, and on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean.-History:...
. It then connects with the M50 motorway
M50 motorway (Great Britain)
The M50 is a motorway in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire, England. It is long and is sometimes referred to as the Ross Spur. It is the only motorway-class road in Herefordshire.-Route:...
. After this, forms part of a high quality dual carriageway between South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
and the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
. In Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
, the A40 has a grade separated junction with the A449
A449 road
The A449 is a major road in the United Kingdom. It runs north from junction 24 of the M4 motorway at Newport in South Wales to Stafford in Staffordshire....
, which continues as dual carriageway to Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
and the M4
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
. The A40 now travels west, still as dual carriageway to Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
.
Abergavenny - Carmarthen
Beyond Abergavenny road returns to single carriageway, for a trip through the eastern Brecon BeaconsBrecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons is a mountain range in South Wales. In a narrow sense, the name refers to the range of popular peaks south of Brecon, including South Wales' highest mountain, Pen y Fan, and which together form the central section of the Brecon Beacons National Park...
until Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
. The section between Abergavenny and Brecon has one of the highest points of the A40 which is 200 metres (656.2 ft) above sea level and is located at Bwlch
Bwlch
Bwlch is a small village on a col between two hills, where the present day A40 road now runs, between Brecon and Crickhowell in Powys, southern Wales...
, which is Welsh for 'mountain pass'. The Brecon Bypass is a short, lightly trafficked dual carriageway which runs around the south of the town. At the end of the Brecon bypass the roads returns to a single carriageway and forms the northern edge of the Brecon Beacons until Llandeilo
Llandeilo
Llandeilo is a town in Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated at the crossing of the River Towy by the A483 on a 19th century stone bridge. Its population is 1,731.The town is served by Llandeilo railway station on the Heart of Wales Line.- Early history :...
. From here the A40 continues until Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
. At Carmarthen the A40 forms the eastern Carmarthen bypass as a dual carriageway, and meets up with the A48 at Pensarn. The section of the road from Abergavenny to Carmarthen offers stunning scenery (looking from Bwlch eastwards towards Abergavenny is a highlight) as well as being an excellent drivers' road, with fast open sections as well as tighter hedge-lined sections. Driving time from Abergavenny to Carmarthen is between 60 and 90 minutes.
Carmarthen - Fishguard
At Carmarthen, the road "takes over" the main thoroughfare from the Motorway Network to Ireland from the A48 which ends at Carmarthen. Here, the A40 crosses the River Towy bridge by two 90-degree junctions, before continung to St ClearsSt Clears
St Clears is a small town on the River Tâf in Carmarthenshire, Wales. According to the 2001 UK census, it has a population of 2,820 people, most of whom are Welsh-speaking, although there is a marked difference between the southern and northern ends of the town in percentage terms.-History:The...
with 10 miles (16.1 km) of dual carriageway. After this, the road is a mixture of 2 and 3 lane single carriageway until it ends in Fishguard
Fishguard
Fishguard is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, with a population of 3,300 . The community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5043 at the 2001 census....
. This section of road, which is controlled by the Welsh Assembly Government is described by itself as "one of the lowest standard sections of the Trans European Road Network in the United Kingdom". As a result, a number of improvements have been made or planned for this stretch.
Haverfordwest to St Clears dualling
There were plans in 2002 for a major improvement of the 23-mile stretch between Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales and serves as the County's principal commercial and administrative centre. Haverfordwest is the most populous urban area in Pembrokeshire, with a population of 13,367 in 2001; though its community boundaries make it the second most populous...
and St Clears
St Clears
St Clears is a small town on the River Tâf in Carmarthenshire, Wales. According to the 2001 UK census, it has a population of 2,820 people, most of whom are Welsh-speaking, although there is a marked difference between the southern and northern ends of the town in percentage terms.-History:The...
, which included the stretch to be upgraded to a dual carriageway. This was described as an extension to the M4 motorway network to the West Wales Coast, by virtue of it being a dual carriageway from the M4
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
motorway via the A48
A48 road
The A48 is a major trunk road in Great Britain. It runs from the A40 at Highnam west of Gloucester to the A40 at Carmarthen. Before the construction of the M4 motorway and the first Severn Bridge in the mid 1960s it was the principal route into South Wales. For most of its journey through Wales,...
. The £60 million scheme was subject to a European Environmental Assessment. Within a couple of years, the project appeared to be dying a very quiet death, causing local newspapers to report it being an election stunt for the two marginal constituencies that would best benefit from the improvements. The following Welsh elections saw both constituencies change the party of majority. The political party at the centre of the row instead directed the project deferment to damning environmental statements by Friends of the Earth Cymru. The scheme was officially scrapped in 2008 after a Welsh Assembly committee decided to abandon the proposals. Instead, it recommended upgrades to the existing route including bypasses around Robeston Wathen and Llanddewi Velfrey using a three-lane option. This was welcomed by the Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
, saying "The dual carriageway on the A40 would increase traffic levels, increase the emission of greenhouse gases, it would be harmful for the environment, it would be hugely expensive. That money would be better spent on improving public transport, on health, on education, there's no need for it. We think the assembly committee has come to the right decision".
Whitland Bypass
The last improvement to the A40 on this section prior to the Welsh Assembly Government having the devolved responsibility for this road was a 4.1 kilometres (2.5 mi) £8 million bypass around Whitland
Whitland
Whitland is a small town in Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales, lying on the River Tâf. Whitland is home to the elusive "Whitland Trout" noted for its eggs and oily scales.- History :...
. Constructed in 1994, the road started east of Black Bridge on the original A40, then running north of the town before rejoining the A40 at a new roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
just west of Llain Cottage. The Secretary of State for Wales was asked a written question by Rhodri Morgan
Rhodri Morgan
Hywel Rhodri Morgan is a Welsh Labour politician who, as First Secretary for Wales, and subsequently First Minister, was leader of the Welsh Assembly Government from 2000 to 2009. A former leader of Welsh Labour, he was the Assembly Member for Cardiff West from 1999 to 2011...
about adding a second carriageway to the Whitland bypass scheme, to which John Redwood
John Redwood
John Alan Redwood is a British Conservative Party politician and Member of Parliament for Wokingham. He was formerly Secretary of State for Wales in Prime Minister John Major's Cabinet and was an unsuccessful challenger for the leadership of the Conservative Party in 1995...
replied "There are no proposals to add a second carriageway to the Whitland bypass. The design capacity of a single carriageway two-lane highway is more than adequate to cater with the anticipated traffic flows for the foreseeable future."
Llanddewi Velfrey Bypass
A new by-pass has been granted approval by the Welsh Assembly Government at Llanddewi Velfrey in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
. The scheme would improve the A40 between Llanddewi Velfrey and Penblewin, to the west of St Clears
St Clears
St Clears is a small town on the River Tâf in Carmarthenshire, Wales. According to the 2001 UK census, it has a population of 2,820 people, most of whom are Welsh-speaking, although there is a marked difference between the southern and northern ends of the town in percentage terms.-History:The...
and meet the aim of the targeted investment in infrastructure along the east-west road corridor in south Wales. From the east, it is proposed that a roundabout would be created just north of Glenfield Farm, where the straight section from St Clears ends at Bethel Chapel, and then take a new route north-west of the town of Llanddewi Velfrey, south-west over Pentroydin Fawr and Penttroydin Fech farms with cattle underpasses, a new underpass beneath the existing Llanddewi Velfrey to Llanfallteg road, before going over the original A40 at Ffynnon Wood. To the west of Ffynnon Wood, the road would then cross back over the original A40 to the east of Henllan Lodge in a way to maintain the tree lined avenue to Henllan, then run parallel to the A40 on the north side of the existing A40 to a new roundabount at Penblewin and the .
This was originally known as the Blue and Purple routes during the Consultation in 2006 for which 75% preferred the blue route, and only 20% preferred the red route. 54% felt the section from Ffynnon Wood and Penblewin Roundabound needed improvement, with both orange and purple routes preferred by 42% of the respondents. Welsh Water/Dwr Cymru expressed concerns with the red route affecting water mains and sewers, and Henllanfallteg Community Council felt the red route would not improve the quality of life in Llanddewi Velfrey. Pembrokeshire County Council
Pembrokeshire County Council
Pembrokeshire County Council is the governing body for Pembrokeshire, one of the Principal Areas of Wales.-Political makeup:Elections take place every four years. The last election was 1 May 2008.- Current composition :- Historic results :...
expressed concerns that the route planned was a single carriageway, and that within seven years, a dual carriageway would be required.
Robeston Wathen Bypass
A new by-pass has been constructed between Penblewin and Slebech Park making the road straighter and with a '2+1' road layout to help improve overtaking opportunities. This is the first time this design has been introduced in Wales.
Starting to the west of Toch Lane (approx. 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east of Slebech
Slebech
Slebech is a parish in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. The community of Slebech is a sparsely populated on the northern shore of the Eastern River Cleddau. It shares common land boundaries with the Communities of Uzmaston and Boulston, Wiston and Llawhaden and mainly consists of farmland and woodland...
), the route travels eastwards for 4.6 kilometres (2.9 mi), passing 200 metres (656.2 ft) south of Robeston Wathen, and ending 0.5 kilometre (0.310686368324903 mi) east of the village, just west of Flimstone Lane.
Construction started on the route in February 2009, with the works completed and the new road opening 1 March 2011. The road was built by Costain
Costain
The Manx name Costain derives from Thorstein and is of Viking origin. Theoretically every Costain in the world is related because the name comes from just one clan that established itself on the IoM around 1100 years ago. So Costain for example started in a small workshop on the Colby Main Road...
. The scheme was nearly £14 million over the initial budget of £27.6 million, eventually costing £41.4 million. The Welsh Assembly Government explains this increase as being the result of inflation and land costs, saying the original budget did not include either, as well as additional statutory procedures, additional works following some design standards, and the increase in VAT.
The Kell
The Kell is located on a section of the A40 that forms a north-south corridor between Fishguard
Fishguard
Fishguard is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, with a population of 3,300 . The community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5043 at the 2001 census....
, 17 kilometres (10.6 mi) to the north and Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales and serves as the County's principal commercial and administrative centre. Haverfordwest is the most populous urban area in Pembrokeshire, with a population of 13,367 in 2001; though its community boundaries make it the second most populous...
, 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) to the south, close to Treffgarne
Treffgarne
Treffgarne is a small village in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales.- Location & History :It lies to the south of the Preseli Hills. The village name is derived from 'tref' meaning town and 'garne' meaning rock, or the 'town of the rock'...
and Spittal
Spittal, Pembrokeshire
Spittal is a village and community that lies approximately halfway between Haverfordwest and Fishguard, near the village of Wolf's Castle in the county of Pembrokeshire in west Wales. It gets its name from the same root as Hospital and Spitalfields in London: the village possessed a hospitium ...
. The improvement saw about 0.48 kilometre (0.298258913591907 mi) of new trunk road commencing at a point on the trunk road approximately 622 metres south of the centreline of the junction of the A40 trunk road with the C3059 road to Spittal and extending in a generally northerly direction to a point approximately 112 metres south of the junction of the trunk road with the C3059 road to Spittal. This resulted in the road being rerouted through pasture to the east of the original road, taking a right hand bend about 160 metres (524.9 ft) south of The Old Mill, taking a 5.5% gradient, and rejoining the original road 210 metres (689 ft) north of The Kell. The original road has subsequently been converted to an access road for The Old Mill, Beavers Lodge and The Kell, accessing the new road at The Old Mill.
Further reading
- Edward Platt, Leadville: A Biography of the A40 (Picador, 2001). ISBN 0-330-39263-8.