The Egg (roundabout)
Encyclopedia
The Egg is a magic roundabout in Tamworth
, Staffordshire
. The Egg forms the junction of the A51
, A453 and A513 and terminates the B5000. It consists of the roads Ankerdrive and Bolebridge Street, and is listed as being part of the A51. The Egg has a cinema complex and restaurant in the centre, and has the River Anker
running through it. The Snowdome
and Tamworth FC also directly adjoin the junction. The Egg was voted the fourth worst roundabout in Britain in 2005. http://www.easier.com/view/News/Motoring/article-33515.html
The "Bolebridge Egg" as it is locally known has been enormously controversial since its construction. Its construction involved the demolition of many Victorian houses on the old Bolebridge Street along with the complete demolition of several neighbouring streets, including arched row and two historic pubs.
The construction also involved the demolition of the medieval causeway bridge "The Bole Bridge". The neighbouring medieval Lady Bay Bridge was saved from demolition.
In the 1970s the egg became the location for several large blocks of council flats used to house the Birmingham overspill, known locally as the "Colditz Flats". They were condemned as an eyesore by the people of the town, and were just as unpopular with the inhabitants who disliked living on a flood plain, situated between an A road and river. They were eventually demolished.
In modern times the egg is still controversial due to its many accidents and phantom traffic jams, especially around its many mini-round-abouts. The exit for the Ventura Park Retail Park is particularly controversial and is often subject of local news reports.
Originally, traffic would traverse The Egg in a clockwise direction. The Highways Agency
found this frustrated motorists and installed mini roundabouts at the junctions onto The Egg, thus allowing both clockwise and anti clockwise movement of traffic. Further alterations came about with the junction to Tamworth Road and Glascote Road, where the slip road was closed off thus leaving a separate access for Tamworth Road, Amington and another for Glascote and Kettlebrook Roads.
Tamworth
Tamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. The Egg forms the junction of the A51
A51 road
The A51 is a road in England running from Kingsbury in Warwickshire to Chester. The road follows the following route:*Kingsbury*Tamworth*Lichfield*Rugeley *Little Haywood*Great Haywood*Weston*Sandon...
, A453 and A513 and terminates the B5000. It consists of the roads Ankerdrive and Bolebridge Street, and is listed as being part of the A51. The Egg has a cinema complex and restaurant in the centre, and has the River Anker
River Anker
The River Anker is a river in England. The river flows through the centre of Nuneaton towards Tamworth in Staffordshire. The river continues on before merging with the River Tame in Tamworth...
running through it. The Snowdome
Snowdome
SnowDome, , is an indoor ski slope just off the A5 road in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England. It opened in May 1994, and was the first full sized recreational indoor ski slope in the UK.-Facilities:...
and Tamworth FC also directly adjoin the junction. The Egg was voted the fourth worst roundabout in Britain in 2005. http://www.easier.com/view/News/Motoring/article-33515.html
The "Bolebridge Egg" as it is locally known has been enormously controversial since its construction. Its construction involved the demolition of many Victorian houses on the old Bolebridge Street along with the complete demolition of several neighbouring streets, including arched row and two historic pubs.
The construction also involved the demolition of the medieval causeway bridge "The Bole Bridge". The neighbouring medieval Lady Bay Bridge was saved from demolition.
In the 1970s the egg became the location for several large blocks of council flats used to house the Birmingham overspill, known locally as the "Colditz Flats". They were condemned as an eyesore by the people of the town, and were just as unpopular with the inhabitants who disliked living on a flood plain, situated between an A road and river. They were eventually demolished.
In modern times the egg is still controversial due to its many accidents and phantom traffic jams, especially around its many mini-round-abouts. The exit for the Ventura Park Retail Park is particularly controversial and is often subject of local news reports.
Originally, traffic would traverse The Egg in a clockwise direction. The Highways Agency
Highways Agency
The Highways Agency is an executive agency, part of the Department for Transport in England. It has responsibility for managing the core road network in England...
found this frustrated motorists and installed mini roundabouts at the junctions onto The Egg, thus allowing both clockwise and anti clockwise movement of traffic. Further alterations came about with the junction to Tamworth Road and Glascote Road, where the slip road was closed off thus leaving a separate access for Tamworth Road, Amington and another for Glascote and Kettlebrook Roads.