A36 road
Encyclopedia
The A36 is a trunk road
and primary route in England
that links the port city of Southampton
to the city of Bath. At Bath, the A36 connects with the A4 road to Bristol
, thus enabling a road link between the major ports of Southampton and Bristol. Originally, the A36 continued onto Avonmouth, but this section was renumbered to the A4. On its way south from Bath the A36 passes a number of towns and a city, including Warminster
, Wilton
and Salisbury
in Wiltshire
, and Totton in Hampshire
, on the western outskirts of Southampton, where it joins the A35 road
.
standard. The A36 is dual carriageway for its 1 mile (1.6 km) bypass of the village of Beckington
, 3 miles (5 km) north of Frome
, and also dualled for approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) near to its grade separated
junction with the A303 road
, 8 miles (13 km) north-west of Wilton). The A36 in Salisbury acts as the city's ring road, bypassing
the city centre to dual carriageway standard. Additionally, just south-east of Salisbury the largest dualled section exists for about 4 miles (6 km), bypassing the village of Alderbury
. Then, the road is briefly dualled from its roundabout
with the A3090 road
to the M27 motorway
(junction 2) – this part of the road is erroneously thought by some to have been previously known as the A36(M); prior to the opening of the Totton Western Bypass on the other side of Junction 2, it was named as a spur of the M27, and hence is built to motorway standards (see link below). It again reverts to single carriageway standard through Totton until it terminates.
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...
and primary route in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
that links the port city of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
to the city of Bath. At Bath, the A36 connects with the A4 road to Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, thus enabling a road link between the major ports of Southampton and Bristol. Originally, the A36 continued onto Avonmouth, but this section was renumbered to the A4. On its way south from Bath the A36 passes a number of towns and a city, including Warminster
Warminster
Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
, Wilton
Wilton, Wiltshire
Wilton is a town in Wiltshire, , England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. Today it is dwarfed by its larger and more famous neighbour, Salisbury, but still has a range of notable shops and attractions, including Wilton House.The confluence of the rivers Wylye and Nadder is at...
and Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, and Totton in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, on the western outskirts of Southampton, where it joins the A35 road
A35 road
The A35 is a trunk road in southern England, running from Honiton in Devon, that then passes through Dorset and terminates in Southampton, Hampshire...
.
Standard of route
The majority of the A36 is built to single carriageway standard, but parts of it have been upgraded to dual carriagewayDual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
standard. The A36 is dual carriageway for its 1 mile (1.6 km) bypass of the village of Beckington
Beckington
Beckington is a village and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, across the River Frome from Lullington about three miles north of Frome...
, 3 miles (5 km) north of Frome
Frome
Frome is a town and civil parish in northeast Somerset, England. Located at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills, the town is built on uneven high ground, and centres around the River Frome. The town is approximately south of Bath, east of the county town, Taunton and west of London. In the 2001...
, and also dualled for approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) near to its grade separated
Grade separation
Grade separation is the method of aligning a junction of two or more transport axes at different heights so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other transit routes when they cross each other. The composition of such transport axes does not have to be uniform; it can consist of a...
junction with the A303 road
A303 road
The A303 is a 92-mile long trunk road in England. It is the main road between Basingstoke in Hampshire and Honiton in Devon. The M3, the A303 and the A30 together make up one of the main routes from London to South West England, running from London to Land's End in Cornwall...
, 8 miles (13 km) north-west of Wilton). The A36 in Salisbury acts as the city's ring road, bypassing
Bypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
the city centre to dual carriageway standard. Additionally, just south-east of Salisbury the largest dualled section exists for about 4 miles (6 km), bypassing the village of Alderbury
Alderbury
Alderbury & Whaddon are two small adjacent villages three miles south-east of Salisbury, Wiltshire, England with a population of about 2,000. They are bypassed by the A36 road, which links them to Southampton and Salisbury.-External links:****...
. Then, the road is briefly dualled from its 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...
with the A3090 road
A3090 road
The A3090 is an A-Class Road in Hampshire in Southern England. It forms a south-western by-pass for Winchester, from Junction 11 of the M3 to the Romsey Road. The rest of its route was formerly part of the A31, running through Hursley, Ampfield and Romsey , to the A36 Salisbury Road at Ower near...
to the M27 motorway
M27 motorway
The M27 is a motorway in Hampshire, England. It is long and runs west-east from Cadnam to Portsmouth. It was opened in stages between 1975 and 1983. It is however unfinished as an extension to the east was planned...
(junction 2) – this part of the road is erroneously thought by some to have been previously known as the A36(M); prior to the opening of the Totton Western Bypass on the other side of Junction 2, it was named as a spur of the M27, and hence is built to motorway standards (see link below). It again reverts to single carriageway standard through Totton until it terminates.