A168 | |
---|---|
Route information | |
Length: | 34 mi (55 km) |
Major junctions | |
North end: |
Northallerton 54°20′11″N 1°26′02″W / 54.3364°N 1.4339°W |
A61 road A19 road A1(M) motorway A6055 road A59 road |
|
South end: |
Wetherby 53°56′42″N 1°23′16″W / 53.9450°N 1.3878°W |
Location | |
Primary destinations: |
Northallerton, Thirsk |
Road network | |
The A168 is a major road in North Yorkshire, England. It runs from Northallerton to Wetherby, acting as a local access road for the A1(M).
The majority of it was built during A1 upgrades as parts of it between Dishforth and Walshford are originally part of the old A1 southbound carriageway until it was upgraded to the A1(M) several feet to the west.
The original route ran from Topcliffe to Northallerton, the current southern section of the A167.
Heading northwards, it begins at the roundabout with the A659 (Wattlesyke for Collingham) near junction 45 of the A1(M). This section of road was built when the A1 was improved to A1(M) in the Bramham to Wetherby section of the A1 Darrington to Dishforth scheme which was completed in December 2009. At Sweep Farm it follows the route of the former A1. It meets the eastern terminus of the A58 at a roundabout, and follows the former A1 Wetherby bypass across the River Wharfe, built in 1959. It runs next to the motorway Wetherby bypass and there is a roundabout for the former B1224, for Wetherby Racecourse. There is a roundabout for an industrial estate and then one for the newly diverted B1224, and junction 46 of the A1(M), where it rejoins the former Great North Road. There is a junction for Kirk Deighton then one for Cowthorpe. At Walshford Bridge it crosses the River Nidd.
The former route of the A1 went through Walshford. The A1 Wetherby to Walshford section opened in August 2005, when the former A1 south of Walshford became the A168. At Great Ribston with Walshford there is a roundabout for Walshford west of the A1(M), and on the eastern side, there is a roundabout for Hunsingore. The A168 from 1995-2005 terminated at Walshford, where the A1(M) joined the A1. The former A1 north of Walshford became the A168 when the thirteen-mile Walshford to Dishforth section was built by Alfred McAlpine and AMEC, and opened by John Arthur Watts in November 1995. At Allerton Mauleverer with Hopperton it passes under the A59, accessed from a turn to the right which leads to Allerton Castle. Flaxby Golf Club is to the left, near Flaxby. There is a left turn for Arkendale, and right turns for Marton and Grafton. At junction 48 of the A1(M) it meets the A6055 for Knaresborough, to the south-west. The former course of the Great North Road carries straight on through Boroughbridge. The A168 follows the former course of the A1 bypass, next to the current A1(M), to the west of the town. It crosses the River Ure and at Kirby Hill there is a roundabout for the B6265 for Ripon to the west.