A35 road

A35 road is a major trunk road in southern England, connecting the counties of Devon, Dorset, and Hampshire. Running for approximately 97 miles (156 km) from Honiton in the west to Southampton in the east, it serves as a vital link between the South West England region and the South Coast. The route traverses a diverse landscape, passing through the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, the market town of Dorchester, and the New Forest before reaching its terminus at the major port city.

Route

Beginning at its western terminus in Honiton, the road heads eastward, crossing the county border into Dorset near Axminster. It passes just south of the historic town of Bridport and runs parallel to the famed Jurassic Coast, offering access to locations like Lyme Regis and Charmouth. The route continues through the county town of Dorchester, intersecting with the A37 road and skirting the prehistoric earthworks of Maiden Castle. East of Dorchester, it meets the A354 road at the Puddletown bypass before proceeding through the Poole conurbation, where it merges briefly with the A31 road at Ferndown. Entering Hampshire, the road cuts across the northern fringes of the New Forest, passing near Lyndhurst and meeting the M27 motorway at Totton before culminating in the city centre of Southampton.

History

The modern alignment largely follows ancient trading paths and turnpike roads established in the 18th century, facilitating movement between the West Country and the English Channel ports. Significant improvements were made in the 20th century, including the construction of bypasses around Dorchester and Bridport to alleviate congestion in these historic centres. The road's status was elevated as part of the national trunk road network, with management responsibility transferred to the national government agency, National Highways. Historically, the route has been a crucial corridor for the movement of goods, including Purbeck Marble and Portland stone, from the quarries of Dorset to major construction projects across Southern England.

Junctions

Key junctions along its length include the intersection with the A30 road at Honiton, a critical link to the rest of the South West England peninsula. East of Bridport, it meets the A3066 road providing access to Beaminster. The major roundabout at Stinsford, near Dorchester, connects with the A37 road north towards Yeovil and Bristol. At Poole, it converges with the A350 road and the A3049 road, and further east, it interchanges with the A31 road at Ferndown. The eastern section features a pivotal junction with the M27 motorway (Junction 1) at Totton, providing connections to Bournemouth, Portsmouth, and the M3 motorway towards London.

Cultural references

The road features prominently in the works of author Thomas Hardy, whose fictional Wessex was based on the Dorset countryside it traverses; it is thought to be the model for the main highway in novels such as The Mayor of Casterbridge. The coastal sections near Lyme Regis are associated with the literary heritage of Jane Austen, who visited the area, and the fossil-hunting history of Mary Anning. Furthermore, the route passes near the Tank Museum at Bovington Camp, a site of significant military history. The landscapes through the New Forest have also been depicted in various films and television productions.

Future

Plans for the road have historically focused on addressing persistent bottlenecks, particularly through the Chideock to Morpeth section, where campaigns for a bypass have been ongoing for decades. Future improvements may involve further safety enhancements and junction modifications, especially around the Poole and Ferndown areas, to improve traffic flow. Any major upgrades would be subject to the development plans of National Highways and the Department for Transport, balancing transport needs with the environmental sensitivities of the adjacent Jurassic Coast and New Forest national park.

Category:Roads in England Category:Transport in Devon Category:Transport in Dorset Category:Transport in Hampshire