In message , at 13:58:39 on
Mon, 4 Oct 2010, John Salmon remarked:

"Roland Perry" wrote
John Salmon remarked:

There are some examples of poor signage where roads merge and then
separate. The A57 - the main route from Lincoln to Sheffield - merges
with the A1 between Markham Moor and Apleyhead, but drivers
approaching Markham Moor from the Lincoln direction are given no clue
whatsoever as to the correct route to take, and it is not at all
obvious. The A57 just disappears.

I don't think the brackets indicate a merged route. They simply say
that "if you take this route you'll eventually get to the bracketed
road".

I didn't mention brackets

I never claimed you did.

- that was the previous poster.

Hence the additional chevron.

This is consistent with your observation at Markham Moor... the A1 is
not intended to be a road "merged with" the A57, the latter road
simply stops there.

But it starts again a few miles along the A1. What is that if it isn't
a "merged route"? [1]

It's one road taking over the route of another, and the road being
renumbered. Remember where this started - one road having two numbers
simultaneously (as in some foreign countries). It isn't like that here.

Go north a junction, and there are signs pointing north saying "this
way to Doncaster on the A1, and incidentally this leads to...

Not "leads to"; it *is* the A57...

No, it's the A1.

... the A57 for Sheffield and W******"; [2]

I still think the situation at Markham Moor, as viewed by a driver
going from Lincoln (on the A57) to Sheffield (on the A57), is most
unsatisfactory.

Perhaps they should add Sheffield to the signs he
http://goo.gl/maps/ous2, although the only other choice is:
http://goo.gl/maps/OumL

[1] Incidentally, the A57 has been merged with the A1 between Markham
Moor and Apleyhead (formerly known as Five Lane(s) End(s)), (and the
A614 has been merged with the A1 between Apleyhead and Blyth) ever
since the combined Retford/Doncaster bypass opened around 50 years ago.
Prior to that, the stretch of road being discussed *was* the A57.

There's a bit of the M25 near South Mimms that "used to be" something
else (A6 probably), before the plonked the M25 on top of it. At least
they gave non-motorway drivers a new alignment alongside (albeit a
B-road): http://goo.gl/maps/PFIN
--
Roland Perry