Overhead gantry signs on A1

[Archie_tect]

At Wetherby the overhead gantry signs read, "A1 closed north of A167".... so we carried on.
At Ripon, same message.
At Scotch Corner, same message. I thought , there are 3 places where the A167 has a connection onto the A1, I wonder which one they mean... it'll advise us before we get there....

At the A66[M] junction it said A1 closed north of A167, then immediately diverted us off the A1 on the A66 into Darlington centre, where we crawled through the town in a snake, rejoining at the A68 junction... going north... You couldn't make it up.

 

[Oxo]

You couldn't make it up.

You could, it is what is known as planning ahead.

 

[Archie_tect]

Planning ahead?

Had the A1 been closed north of the A167 junction I would agree with you but it wasn't.... the A167 junctions are at Newton Aycliffe [Junction 58] and at Birtley [Junction 63] further north....

It was closed northbound at the A66[M] [junction 57] with no advance warning at all, the only option forced everyone off the A1 onto the A66 with no intersections or other options, right through Darlington centre, directing everyone back onto the A1[M] at the A68 [Junction 58].... an entirely different and ridiculous arrangement. At Junction 59, there were no diversions or roadworks, the A1 was completely open both at and after the A167 junction.

Had the unfortunate who wrote the message said 'A1 closed for 3 miles north of A66{M] junction 57, leave the A1 at the 66[M] junction and re-join at A68 junction 58' it would have been accurate, understandable and sensible, and allowed every driver to make alternative arrangements to avoid the centre of Darlingtion but he/she didn't...

 

[Oxo]

I'm on your side here. There's planning ahead and there's ....er!