Roads.org.uk 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
LightNews LightNews
banner
roads.org.uk
Roads.org.uk 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
@roads.org.uk
810 followers 56 following 550 posts
We write about UK road infrastructure and history! Join us for updates and other stuff from the UK's favourite roads website, www.roads.org.uk
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
roads.org.uk
Roads.org.uk 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @roads.org.uk · 27d
New! After eight years of waiting, they're online! See London's unbuilt motorways as even their planners never could in our amazing, immersive Ringways Map, hosted by the amazing SABRE Maps. It *might* be the best thing we've ever done. #ringways
The Ringways Map is here
The wait is over! The full map of the Ringways, London’s unbuilt urban motorway network, is now online. Not even the system's planners had anything like this.
www.roads.org.uk
roads.org.uk
What occupies half the M20 and might be related to badgers? Operation Brock, the semi-permanent system to use a motorway as a lorry park. Back when it first appeared we went to take a look. #kent www.roads.org.uk/blog/operati...
View along a motorway, with all traffic travelling in contraflow on the right, while the carriageway on the left has lines of cones and a single lorry in the distance View of a motorway carriageway from overhead, showing the installation of a semi-permenent barrier bolted into the road surface to divide traffic in opposite directions and the repainting of lines View of a motorway with a contraflow on the right and two lanes on the left, marked out by cones, to hold queueing lorries
November 30, 2025 at 5:08 PM
roads.org.uk
Our collection of road sign fonts has been fuelling people's imagination for 20 years. If you haven't downloaded them yet, maybe now's the time to make your own road sign? www.roads.org.uk/fonts
Fonts
Download and keep the distinctive lettering styles used on UK road signs for free.
www.roads.org.uk
November 29, 2025 at 3:20 PM
roads.org.uk
For reasons they never explained, a couple of years ago Lincolnshire County Council split a motorway in half and gave part of it a new number. It didn't need a new number. Meet the A1077(M), the motorway without a purpose. #scunthorpe www.roads.org.uk/blog/surpris...
Surprise! A new motorway
Appearing unexpectedly on signs in Lincolnshire last week, a brand new motorway has suddenly come into existence. And it's a weird one.
www.roads.org.uk
November 28, 2025 at 5:48 PM
roads.org.uk
Westminster's council has spent several years trialling "3D" zebra crossings, in the hope the optical illusion will cause drivers to slow down. The artwork is nice but would you be fooled? We paid a visit to the first one when it had just opened. www.roads.org.uk/blog/3d-zebra
A view along a suburban road in London, with a zebra crossing in the foreground. The stripes of the crossing have extra grey paint around them to form an optical illusion that looks like the stripes are raised blocks. A view across the 3D zebra crossing showing the detail of the paintwork and the different colours used to make up the illusion A view of the crossing at a slight angle which means the illusion doesn't work, instead the crossing appears as a confused array of grey shapes on the road surface
November 27, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Reposted by Roads.org.uk 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
sabre-roads.org.uk
Voiceover: they really weren't.

If you want to learn more about traffic lights generally, then may we humbly suggest the SABRE Wiki: www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/Traffic...
Traffic signals in St Pancras Road, London in 1965
November 27, 2025 at 7:37 AM
roads.org.uk
The front page of the Times said they were the first ever traffic lights on a motorway. We weren't so sure, so in 2017 we went looking... and found that the motorways are home to quite a lot of them. www.roads.org.uk/blog/traffic...
Traffic lights on motorways
The headlines shout about traffic lights on motorways to ease congestion. How can that work? And is it even news?
www.roads.org.uk
November 26, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Reposted by Roads.org.uk 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
maps.sabre-roads.org.uk
And of course if you want to see James Drake's vision of how Lancashire would have looked, you can look at his masterpiece, the Road Plan for Lancashire, released yesterday on SABRE Maps, with companion pieces on the SABRE Wiki.

buff.ly/a0ruuuS
November 25, 2025 at 10:00 PM
roads.org.uk
If you ever look at a map of Lancashire and wonder why it has more motorways than anywhere else, the answer is James Drake, a Lancashire man who you might call the father of the UK motorway network. www.roads.org.uk/articles/sir...
Sir James Drake
County Surveyor and Bridgemaster for Lancashire in the 1950s and 60s, Drake was instrumental in the motorway revolution.
www.roads.org.uk
November 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM
roads.org.uk
You can drive London's North Circular today, but it would have been a different road if sixties planners had their way. Take a look at the plans that would have fitted it in to a city-wide network of motorways. #northcircular www.roads.org.uk/ringways/rin...
North Circular Road
1960s plans to upgrade the North Circular Road to form one of London's motorway "Ringways" would have seen it change out of all recognition.
www.roads.org.uk
November 24, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Roads.org.uk 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
neilturner.me.uk
The spoil from the tunnel dig was used to create a nearby RSPB nature reserve, and there's plenty of information about the tunnel construction there. neilturner.me.uk/2025/09/07/o...
Our 2025 holiday: RSPB Conwy - Neil Turner's Blog
I’m almost done with our holiday posts – this is the penultimate one, and is about the RSPB Nature Reserve at Conwy. It’s relatively new, having opened in 1995, and exists because of the building of t...
neilturner.me.uk
November 23, 2025 at 5:45 PM
roads.org.uk
Conwy is home to an impressive array of bridges and tunnels, many of them on (or formerly on) the A55. The Conwy Tunnel itself isn't the most glamorous but it's probably the most used. An unusual arch commemorates its opening and frames a view of the town. #conwy
Portal of a tunnel carrying a dual carriageway. The tunnel is square in shape since it is a submerged tube and not bored in the conventional way A sign listing restrictions on traffic that can use the tunnel in both English and Welsh, starting with the large words DIM and NO. Plaque marking the opening of the tunnel, reading "to commemorate the opening of the Conwy Tunnel by Her Majesty the Queen 25th October 1991" Rectangular concrete archway, bearing a brass commemorative plaque, which frames a view of Conwy's castle and town walls seen across the river
November 23, 2025 at 3:03 PM
roads.org.uk
The UK's last long distance motorway isn't without controversy - but for a while one thing it did lack was anywhere to stop for a toilet break. Our guide to the M40 has all you need to know. www.roads.org.uk/motorway/m40
M40
The second motorway from London to Birmingham, calling in at Oxford on the way, is calmer and prettier than the alternative - but caused far more problems to build.
www.roads.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 5:48 PM
roads.org.uk
There used to be a lot of temporary flyovers in the UK - but by their nature they disappear eventually. We paid a visit to the rickety Army and Navy Flyover in Chelmsford just before it got its marching orders. #chelmsford www.roads.org.uk/blog/what-go...
What goes up must come down
Nothing lasts forever. This week, after 43 years, the "temporary" Army and Navy flyover has been given its marching orders.
www.roads.org.uk
November 20, 2025 at 6:41 PM
roads.org.uk
There's a lot more flags on English streets than there were a few months ago. Most are St George's Crosses and Union Jacks. So why are Kent County Council putting EU flags on their signs? www.roads.org.uk/blog/red-whi...
Red, white and blue
Kent County Council is run by eurosceptic nationalists. So why are they putting EU flags on their road signs?
www.roads.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 6:58 PM
roads.org.uk
Not long now until Christmas. If you've already been asked what you'd like, maybe our list of road themed gifts will help? www.roads.org.uk/blog/gifts-r...
Gifts for road lovers
Keep being asked what you want for Christmas? No problem: here’s our pick of road-related Christmas treats for 2021.
www.roads.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 5:47 PM
roads.org.uk
Skelmersdale's link to the motorway network has a strange history, and the book that celebrated its opening reveals some little-known secrets about unrealised plans for the New Town. Take a look in our museum of Opening Booklets. #skelmersdale www.roads.org.uk/opening-book...
Black and white aerial photograph of the M6/M58 interchange under construction, with looped sliproads near the camera and two huge roundabouts Plan of new roads serving Skelmersdale New Town, including the M6, a "regional road" linking it to the motorway, and several main roads in the town itself Black and white aerial photograph of the western part of Skelmersdale, with a pair of huge roundabouts under construction and labels for some of the roads and housing estates
November 16, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Reposted by Roads.org.uk 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
mikeyashworth.bsky.social
The '60s saw the start of construction of the main spine of the UK's motorway network; 15 Nov 1963 & Minister of Transport Ernest Marples, an interesting character in his own right, officially opens the Staffordshire-Cheshire section of the M6. @showmeasign.online @roads.org.uk @sabre-roads.org.uk
A quite lavish brochure issued to commemorate the opening of the Hanchurch, Staffordshire, to Lymm, Cheshire, section of the M6 motorway that was formally opened by the Minister of Transport, Ernest Marples, on Friday 15 November 1963. Marples, whose tenure as Minister in the Conservative Government, was controversal given his links to the building company Marples Ridgway, was busy at the time as various sections of motorways opened at which he presided. This thirty three mile section of motorway, for which Staffordshire County Council and Cheshire County Council had acted as agents for on behalf of the Ministry of Transport, linked the recently opened Stafford - Hanchurch sections of 1962 in the south and the Lymm to Bamber Bridge section to the north that had opened on 29 July 1963. The main contractors were Scott & Wilson, Kirkpatrick & Partners as consulting civil and structural engineers along with main contractors Tarmac Ltd., on the North Cheshire section, Sir Lindsay Parkinson & Co. Ltd., for the South Cheshire section and John Laing Construction Ltd. for the Staffordshire section. As well as the motorway segregated junctions were constructed with the A556, A54 for Holmes Chapel, A534 for Sandbach and the junction at Barthomley for the eventaul A500 North Potteries link road. Two service stations at Keele and Knutsford were also constructed. The brochure contains facts and figures as well as numerous photographs of construction and completed features. It was printed in Stafford by R. W. Hourd & Son Ltd. The cover is white, the two council coat of arms either side of the main title set in Chisel typeface. Text below in red and black.
November 15, 2025 at 11:08 AM
roads.org.uk
Our Motorway Database is famous for its strip maps of major roads, but there's more to them than meets the eye. Take a look at our guide to make the most of the colours and symbols that pack so much information into these tiny maps. www.roads.org.uk/motorway/key...
Key to exit lists
For the full detail on the UK motorway and expressway network, you can’t beat the exit lists in our Motorway Database. Here's how to get the most out of them.
www.roads.org.uk
November 15, 2025 at 3:20 PM
roads.org.uk
The UK's road numbers all radiate from a central point in London. So if you follow them back to the start, you'll find a central point, right? Er, no. Join us in the search for the hub that never existed. www.roads.org.uk/blog/middle-...
The middle of nowhere
A national system of road numbers radiating from a central point suggests there is… well, a central point. But if you go looking for it you’ll find it doesn’t exist.
www.roads.org.uk
November 14, 2025 at 5:48 PM
roads.org.uk
Have you heard? Our epic Ringways Map was finally published last week, laying out London's unbuilt urban motorways in full detail for the first time ever. Our blog post has all the details: www.roads.org.uk/blog/ringway...
A map of Clapham Junction with two huge triangular motorway interchanges overlaid on it, connected by a six carriageway road, and with other motorways radiating out in all directions. Images in this post contain OS data © Crown copyright and database right (2017). A map of Chiswick, with the Chiswick Roundabout at the centre, over which a sprawling motorway interchange has been drawn A map of Denham, just outside Uxbridge, over which a huge motorway interchange has been drawn, showing a four-level stack and braided sliproads connecting to other adjacent interchanges A map of Harlow, over which a much bigger and more extensive road network has been drawn
November 13, 2025 at 6:41 PM
roads.org.uk
Roads are full of numbers - not just A and B-roads, but junctions, kilometre posts and street lights too. If you're au fait with all of those, perhaps we can introduce you to one for the real nerds. They're called Road Codes. www.roads.org.uk/blog/matrix-...
Matrix signs reloaded
There's a system for everything on the roads, but few are as ingenious or obscure as Road Codes to identify electronic equipment.
www.roads.org.uk
November 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
roads.org.uk
In the early 70s, South East London came within inches of building a massive four-level motorway interchange. What happened to the Shooters Hill to Falconwood Motorway? #eltham www.roads.org.uk/ringways/sou...
A2 and A2(M)
London's ancient main road to Canterbury and Dover has been bypassed over and over again, and in the sixties was supposed to be replaced in part with an urban motorway. Parts were finished in the…
www.roads.org.uk
November 11, 2025 at 5:47 PM
roads.org.uk
If you liked the Ringways Map, this is for you 👇🏻
maps.sabre-roads.org.uk SABRE Maps @maps.sabre-roads.org.uk · 20d
Well, we promised a follow-up for #MapMonday to the fascinating London Ringways #Map for another major city in Great Britain, so here it is...

The Greater Glasgow Transportation Study from 1968.
November 10, 2025 at 6:08 PM
roads.org.uk
It's meant to spare you from a nasty collision, but is the Accident Black Spot sign really helping? We pay a visit to Essex to see the resurrection of a questionable idea from the past. #essex www.roads.org.uk/blog/acciden...
Accident Black Spot
Someone's been bringing 1950s signs back from the dead. Is that wise?
www.roads.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 5:08 PM
roads.org.uk
It is a VERY good week for maps 🤩
maps.sabre-roads.org.uk SABRE Maps @maps.sabre-roads.org.uk · 21d
Keep your eyes on SABRE Maps tomorrow - following the Ringways Map publication, we'll be publishing another huge set of plans for a different major city in Great Britain so that you can compare them clearly against our huge map collection. Any ideas as to which city it will be?
Planning #map extract of an unbuilt motorway to motorway junction just outside a major city in Great Britain
November 9, 2025 at 7:56 PM