Here's the only road sign that actually shows the A4053 number — a route confirmation on the clockwise entry slip at junction 4. Photo by Paul Cherry
A change of plan?
Ian Knight adds the following:
"The carriageway curves were designed using a Fortran program written by the city architects when the department purchased its first computer back in the 1960s. The curves were designed for the helter skelter speed of 40mph, not thought to be a routine speed at the time!
"The section from Parkside through to Coventry station [junctions 4-6, the part of the circle that is bent inward] was originally intended to be further out so that the station was within the ring road (I met someone who used to work in the City Surveyors and he had seen the original drawings). The Council at the time was Conservative run and the proposed route was changed to prevent councillors having the road in their back gardens and disturbing King Henry School! The route was changed but the calculations done above were not redone to compensate, hence this section always feels a bit more scary at speeds above 40mph!"
Does this also explain the unusual layout at J4 where the ring road turns an extremely sharp corner?
Colin brings the following awful news:
"I don't know whether you are aware, but plans are afoot to demolish at least part of the infamous Coventry Ring Road. It's all part of a regeneration scheme; if it does happen it will mean this part of the Ring Road stood for barely 40 years and in constructing it they demolished some lovely, characterful old buildings. Planners? As my dad would say, I wouldn't pay them in washers."
This is terrible! The Ring Road must be saved!
