A15 road (England)

UK road routebox
road= A15
length-mi=
length-km=
direction= North-South
start= Hessle
destinations= Lincoln
Sleaford
Peterborough
end= Norman Cross
construction-date=
completion-date=
junctions= ukroadsmall|63
ukroadsmall|164
ukroadsmall|1077
ukroadsmall|180
ukmotorwaysmall|180
ukroadsmall|18
ukroadsmall|631
ukroadsmall|1055
ukroadsmall|46
ukroadsmall|158
ukroadsmall|57
ukroadsmall|607
ukroadsmall|17
ukroadsmall|153
ukroadsmall|52
ukroadsmall|151
ukroadsmall|16
ukroadsmall|47
ukroadsmall|1260
ukroadsmall|1129
ukroadsmall|605
ukmotorwayAsmall|1The A15 is a major road in England. It runs north from Peterborough via Market Deeping, Bourne, Sleaford and Lincoln before it is interrupted at its junction with the M180 near Scawby. The road restarts ten miles (16 km) east, and then continues north past Barton-upon-Humber and over the Humber Bridge before terminating at Hessle near Kingston upon Hull.

Driving conditions

According to the AA, the route is convert|95|mi|km long, and should take 2 1/4 hours. Norman Cross - Bourne takes 33 minutes, Bourne to Lincoln takes 46 minutes and Lincoln to the Humber Bridge takes 54 minutes.

A section of the A15 provides the longest stretch of straight road in the UK

Route

Peterborough

The A15 is Peterborough's main connecting road from the south to the A1(M), [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/885179 joining] near Stilton, at Norman Cross, though this short stretch is only single carriageway and has many sets of traffic lights and speed cameras. It begins as "London Road" at [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/885202 junction] 16 of the A1(M) with the B1043 (former A1) in Cambridgeshire and the district of North West Cambridgeshire. From here to Yaxley it passes the " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/885173 Norman Cross Hotel] " and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/379714 follows] the City of Peterborough and Cambridgeshire boundary, where there is the BP "Little Hampton Filling Station" on the left and a junction with the B1091 (for Farcet). It enters the City of Peterborough near Hampton Vale on the left, and meets the A1260 "The Serpentine", which leads to two much faster routes around Peterborough, at a roundabout near a large Tesco and Serpentine Green [http://www.serpentinegreen.net Shopping Centre] on the left. Next is a roundabout for the [http://www.cygnetpark.co.uk Cygnet Park] business park on the left, home of the new headquarters of News International. It enters Old Fletton near the headquarters of Hotpoint to the left. There is a staggered junction with the A1129 and it crosses the East Coast Main Line. It [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/83410 passes] Peterborough United on the right in New Fletton. It meets the start of the A605 at a roundabout and crosses the River Nene. The old A15 route heading out of Peterborough is known as "Lincoln Road" - a main shopping area.

The A15 takes two routes through Peterborough:
* The route on the west side begins as " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/465153 Bourges Boulevard] " at Peterborough Crown Court, meets the A1179 (former A47), passes the Peterborough railway station and the Esso "Westside Service Station" on the left, meets three roundabouts near Millfield and New England. It follows the East Coast Main Line and becomes "Lincoln Road" and " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/672644 Werrington Parkway] " after the A47 GSJ. It passes a Morrisons just after the A47 at Walton, then passes four roundabouts, crossing the Peterborough to Lincoln Line.
* The route on the east side starts at the "Eye" [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/354159 roundabout] with the A1139 at Newark next to the BP service station and KFC, then follows the dual-carriageway "Paston Parkway", which is the old route of the A47, and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/322311 meets] the A47. It continues as a dual-carriageway (opened in Spring 2008) at the next roundabout at Gunthorpe and follows the Car Dyke then meets another roundabout at Werrington before becoming a single carriageway and crosses the Spalding railway between Werrington and Glinton .

Both routes head through Werrington (passing either side) before joining again at Glinton with the roundabout with the B1443. There is another [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/162377 roundabout] with the B1443 (for Helpston) near the Total "Glinton Service Station" and a McDonalds. It passes Etton and meets a roundabout with the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/442601 B1524] (former route through Market Deeping), B1162 (for Northborough) and an exit for Maxey.

Kesteven

Just south of the "Welland Gate" roundabout on the A16 and B1166, it crosses the River Welland so entering South Kesteven in Lincolnshire. The roundabout marks the western end of the £7m four mile (6 km) Market Deeping bypass, finished in July 1998. The A15 and A16 roads are now merged in a one mile (1.6 km) dual-carriageway stretch. It meets the B1524 (former route) at a roundabout and heads to the left as " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/453491 Peterborough Road] " becoming "Bourne Road" and "Deeping Road". In Langtoft, where it passes the St Michael and All Angels [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/106200 church] and " [http://homepages.which.net/~rex/bourne/photos/langtoft2.jpgWaggon & Horses] ", and Baston there are convert|40|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on speed cameras. North of Baston is the [http://www.watersidegardencentre.co.uk Waterside Garden Centre] close to where it meets the north-south Roman King Street, which it follows until Rippingale. It goes over the River Glen at the point it is crossed by the [http://www.macmillanway.org Macmillan Way] , at Kate's Bridge. Just north of here is the BP "Kate's Bridge Service Station".

There is a left turn for Obthorpe and it goes through Thurlby, passing the " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/693365 Horseshoe] " pub, then Northorpe, before coming to the small town of Bourne. It meets the A151 at a new roundabout, then it leaves to the right, where the road becomes "South Road". It passes Bourne Grammar School, then the "Masons Arms" and "Red Lion" pubs on the left, and Bourne Abbey as "South Street". In "North Street", it passes the [http://homepages.which.net/~rex/bourne/burghleycentre.htm Burghley Centre] (shops), and "Royal Oak" and " [http://homepages.which.net/~rex/bourne/burghleyarms.htm Burghley Arms] " and "Nags Head" on the right. There is the Esso "Bourne Service Station" on the left, which has a Tesco Express. The section north of Bourne to the junction with the A153 near Sleaford is often quiet. It becomes "North Road", passing close to Dyke, and goes through Morton as "Bourne Road", passing the " [http://www.charleswells.co.uk/home/pub-guide/pub/kingshead-morton Kings Head] " and " [http://www.pub-explorer.com/olpg/the-lordnelson/morton/index.htm Lord Nelson] " pubs. It becomes " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/312149 Folkingham Road] " and there is a right turn for Haconby and a junction with the B1177 (for Billingborough). Close by are Rippingale and Kirkby Underwood. It passes by Aslackby and the " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/275210 Robin Hood and Little John] ", then it goes past a [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/90682 water tower] and through the middle of Folkingham as "Bourne Road" at the northern end of which it becomes "Sleaford Road" and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/360133 enters] North Kesteven.

There is the "Threekingham Bar" [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/360104 roundabout] with the east-west A52, and it goes through Osbournby, as "London Road" where it passes the " [http://www.whichcotearms.com Whichcote Arms] " pub and the [http://www.osbournby.lincs.sch.uk primary school] . It passes the "Tally Ho Inn", near Aswarby, then there are left turns for Aunsby and Swarby. Sleaford and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/360524 Silk Willoughby] were until 1993 on the A15, which slowed traffic down chronically as the traffic went across a level crossing and through Sleaford's shopping area. The £5.7m bypass opened on 16 September 1993, by Douglas Hogg, where there is a roundabout with the A153 and B1517, where the traffic increases. The A15 crosses the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/122470 railway] and River Slea then leaves the bypass at the "Holdingham" roundabout with the A17 and B1518 (former route). Situated on this large roundabout are a Little Chef with a Travelodge, a McDonalds and the Total "Holdingham Service Station". As "Lincoln Road", it goes close to Leasingham meeting the B1209, which used to be on the A15. There is a [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/384168 junction] for Cranwell with the B1429. It meets the B1191 (for Scopwick), B1202 and B1178. At Boothby Graffoe Heath, it passes the " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/490205 Kitchen] " cafe. On the route to Lincoln, it goes near to two RAF bases - RAF Digby, which is used for communications rather than as a flying station, and across the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/419932 end] of the runway of RAF Waddington, which flies AWACS and Nimrod aircraft. [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/687930 Next] to the runway at Waddington is an old Vulcan.

Lincoln

At Bracebridge Heath, it passes the Total "Sleaford Road Service Station", just before it meets the end of the A607 at traffic lights. Towards Lincoln, it meets the B1131 as "London Road". It is crossed by the Viking Way at the moment Lincoln Cathedral comes into full view. Here the road is on the brink of the descent of "Cross O'Cliff Hill" and the entry into the City of Lincoln. It meets the A1434 "Newark Road" from North Hykeham at traffic lights near the Priory LSST, where it becomes " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/568993 St Catherine's Road] ", and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/567595 passes] an Eleanor Cross. At a roundabout at the south end of (what becomes) Lincoln's "High Street", it exits to the right along "South Park" and meets the B1188 at traffic lights, where it heads left as " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/411652 Canwick Road] ". At [http://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/content/articles/2008/06/26/pelhambridge_50_feature.shtml Pelham Bridge] (which was opened by the Queen in 1958), it crosses the railway near Tesco on the right, the train station on the left, the junction with the start of the A57 and Siemens factory. It crosses the River Witham, before heading up the hill on the north side of the Lincoln Gap, and heading in the direction of the A158 as "Lindum Road" (for Skegness) then "Wragby Road", past Lincoln Christ's Hospital School and a Tesco near a left turn for the B1182 then meets the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/52821 B1308] near the large Carlton Centre Retail Park with a McDonalds. A new [http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/section.asp?docId=30145 eastern bypass] to the A158/A15 junction has been announced, though funding is proving difficult.

Lindsey

North of Lincoln, the A15 enters West Lindsey, and meets the start of the A158 at a roundabout, then [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/275900 runs concurrently] with the A46 to the "Riseholme" roundabout, then [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/275160 follows] the Roman road Ermine Street past the Riseholme College of Agriculture, now part of the University of Lincoln, and [http://www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk Lincolnshire Showground] to the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/89223 left] . At the end of a 40mph section with a speed camera is the "Tillbridge Lane" [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/89224 roundabout] with the A1500, for Gainsborough. From here, it used to be straight, but with RAF Scampton becoming a base for V bombers in the 1950s, the runway had to be extended and the road now has a curved diversion. It passes the Scampton [http://www.pollyplatt.lincs.sch.uk primary school] and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/416347 continues] past a right turn to Normanby by Spital to the roundabout with the A631 at Caenby Corner, and the Total "Caenby Corner Garage" and a Little Chef just south of Spital-in-the-Street. Overtaking is difficult as the road, although straight, is undulating with unmarked dips and slow moving farm traffic. At the B1205 staggered [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/142584 crossroads] (for Waddingham), it enters North Lincolnshire. At the B1206 crossroads, the old route used to go through Hibaldstow and Brigg. It passes close to Kirton in Lindsey, home of RAF Kirton In Lindsey much used in World War II, now home to the Trent Valley Gliding Club. Hibaldstow was a [http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/airfields/hibaldstow.html wartime fighter airfield] as well, this is now used as a base for parachuting and parachuting competitions by Target Skysports. The five-mile (8 km) £7m Brigg and Redbourne [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/326757 bypass] was added in December 1989 which [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/583632 follows] the old Ermine Street in North Lincolnshire further than previously, with a much flatter, wider and safer road. This section was the upgraded route of an unclassified road. It crosses the Sheffield to Cleethorpes railway line near Gainsthorpe, [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/234368 passes] near to Scawby, and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/327474 joining] the M180 at junction 4, near Scunthorpe.

The route of the A15 now becomes part of the three-laned M180, which was opened on 2 September 1977. The A15 section along Ermine Street was planned to be opened at the same time, but it had to wait twelve years. This five mile (8 km) section of motorway never ever sees hold ups. The build up of traffic to Grimsby prompted calls for the Brigg bypass for many years, but the Flixborough explosion of 1974 made it more of an emergency. This section goes under the A18, over the River Ancholme, over the old route of the A15 (B1206) and over the South Trans-Pennine railway. At junction 5, the A15 reforms at the dual-grade "Barnetby Interchange", which is crossed by the Viking Way and has the JET "Barnetby [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/212119 Service Station] " with an exit to Elsham. It continues north as an excellent dual carriageway which carries about as little traffic as the M180. The M180 drops to two lanes under this roundabout and continues to Grimsby and Immingham as the A180, which has a logbook of many drivers falling asleep over its hypnotic concrete surface.

The A15 towards the Humber Bridge, goes directly across the runways of the former RAF Bomber Command airfield at RAF Elsham Wolds (where over 1000 of its aircrew were killed), which is now the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/211562 Elsham Wolds] Industrial Estate. The former route of the A15, pre-1978, is now called [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/61208 B1206] , and ends at New Holland, where the A15 formerly connected with the Humber Ferry. The £5.6m six-mile (10 km) Brigg Bypass to Barton-upon-Humber Bypass (up to where the B1218 [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/494323 crosses] ) section opened in June 1978. The £2m one-mile (1.6 km) Barton-upon-Humber Bypass to Humber Bridge (A1077 [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/39932 interchange] ) section opened in September 1978, although some maps show this being open before the southern section to the M180. When this whole [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/51501 section] opened to the GSJ with the A1077 (for South Ferriby) in 1978, there was no longer any access to the B1218. In the early 1990s, a new [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/51498 interchange] was added with the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/393180 B1206] (the former A15), which is [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/848959 crossed] by the Viking Way. The [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/24043 section] across the Humber was opened on 17 July 1981, by the Queen, and was the world's longest single-span bridge until 1997. The [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/452359 tolls] are north of the bridge. It [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/403031 crosses] the A63 and meets a roundabout with A164 (for Beverley) and A1105, then turns left along a short [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/541875 section] of dual-carriageway (former A63) to end at the A63.

External links

* [http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/roadlists/f99/15.shtml The Society for All British Road Enthusiasts' article on A15]
* [http://www.road-to-nowhere.co.uk/route-guides/A15.htm Road to Nowhere: A15]