MT 57/83

Kingston Bypass: Typical cross-section

Date range	1923
Location	National Archives (see all files stored here)
Catalogue	See entry
File base	Series MT, subseries MT 57

Context

This is one large plan sheet, rolled up and hermetically sealed in many layers of archival swaddling, that shows the cross section of the Kingston Bypass as originally designed. It's dated 11 April 1923.

It shows the cross-section of the road, including details of the drainage underneath, and indicates the road was designed with one 30-foot carriageway in the middle of broad verges, with footpaths at the very outside. It seems clear that, while only one carriageway was provided, the grading of the whole road width, and the location of drainage gullies, were designed to facilitate later conversion to dual carriageway.

Received wisdom says that the Kingston Bypass was, in reality, opened as a dual carriageway, but archive photographs prove it wasn't, so this plan seems to be an accurate indication of its physical layout on opening.

People with camera copies

Chris Marshall has a complete copy.