A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
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Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
For those of you who are upset about the destruction of the old road, I see the NT have been holding a little ceremony today to celebrate it
"BBC News - Heather seeds sown over old A3 at Hindhead"
"BBC News - Heather seeds sown over old A3 at Hindhead"
Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
cjchambers wrote:For those of you who are upset about the destruction of the old road, I see the NT have been holding a little ceremony today to celebrate it
"BBC News - Heather seeds sown over old A3 at Hindhead"
I suppose it is a bit much to ask that the National Trust be very concerned about the loss of an 180 year old artefact. Perhaps they might start demolishing some of those redundant and annoying old houses that they own and which spoil a good view. And if they don't like the noise of motor cars perhaps they could could consider just how many vehicle journeys they generate to their properties in a year. That stretch of road is a vital piece of history - but then that's not in the remit of the National Trust. Baby and bathwater come to mind but so does gross ignorance too.
When the pestilence strikes from the East, go far and breathe the cold air deeply. Ignore the sage, stay not indoors. Ho Ri Zon 12th Century Chinese philosopher
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Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
In answer to the original question, I think it is better. I'm not aware of any of the previous posters actually living in Hindhead, but to my knowledge those that do are actually rather pleased. Yes you could argue that's to do with the increase in property prices, but that aside if you lived in Hindhead with a hideously busy carriage way passing through the middle you'd probably feel it was a good thing to have a tunnel.
As for the complete distruction of the old A3, this will certainly appeal to the wildlife and nature in general. Ok, so you'll argue that the tunnel has two mouths, and many trees where axed in the build process, but the vegetation will come back. The tarmac of the now old A3 hadn't always been there, and lets face it, very few cyclists acutally used the section of the A3 around the punch bowl anyway. For those that have cycled to the Youth Hostel/Cafe and used the trails in the Punch Bowl itself, it's now become a far more pleasent place to be. For those not wishing to dip into the bowl, a perfectly adequote route's now in place taking you via the sailors memorial.
No doubt as time goes by the new tunnel will see higher and higher volumes of traffic, but given current trends that's almost inevitable. We could argue about this until we're long in the tooth etc, but really, it isn't that bad.
As for the complete distruction of the old A3, this will certainly appeal to the wildlife and nature in general. Ok, so you'll argue that the tunnel has two mouths, and many trees where axed in the build process, but the vegetation will come back. The tarmac of the now old A3 hadn't always been there, and lets face it, very few cyclists acutally used the section of the A3 around the punch bowl anyway. For those that have cycled to the Youth Hostel/Cafe and used the trails in the Punch Bowl itself, it's now become a far more pleasent place to be. For those not wishing to dip into the bowl, a perfectly adequote route's now in place taking you via the sailors memorial.
No doubt as time goes by the new tunnel will see higher and higher volumes of traffic, but given current trends that's almost inevitable. We could argue about this until we're long in the tooth etc, but really, it isn't that bad.
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Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
So far it's remained a very significant daily time-saver for me, and to my mind the removal of the old road isn't a problem. I never went on the A3 by bike - far too dangerous - and so I don't miss it. I've not gone for a walk round the Punchbowl since the opening of the tunnel but I expect it'll be more pleasant than when the road was there. I still don't see any real downsides to the changes that have been made.
Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
What are the alternatives for a cyclist? It sounds like the easy (i.e. small gradient) route has been scrapped in order to provide a hard (i.e. sharp gradient) route instead. That sounds completely bonkers to me...
A shortcut has to be a challenge, otherwise it would just be the way. No situation is so dire that panic cannot make it worse.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
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Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
I suppose Bob it would depend upon what's regarded as a 'steep' gradient, but I don't consider it steep considering I've recently pushed a friend of mine up it in a wheel chair, and it wasn't a struggle, and I'm not built like Mike Tyson. If it was steep then I'd be in complete agreement, but that's not the case.
The route via the Sailors Memorial in my mind is well formed, a hard compacted surface, not tarmac but perhaps something mixed with concrete. I'm no expert on aggregates but IMO it's a pretty good surface.
The route via the Sailors Memorial in my mind is well formed, a hard compacted surface, not tarmac but perhaps something mixed with concrete. I'm no expert on aggregates but IMO it's a pretty good surface.
Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
seventeezlad wrote:In answer to the original question, I think it is better. I'm not aware of any of the previous posters actually living in Hindhead, but to my knowledge those that do are actually rather pleased.
You are right, I don't actually live in Hindhead. I live about 4 miles away from Hindhead, and you're right, the place is much more accessible by bicycle now than it has been for all the time since motor traffic was allowed to itimidate everything else off the A3. And yes, even I am rather pleased - the same kind of pleased as when the school bully stopped hitting me!
Of course it's better. It's hard to imagine anything worse than cycling uphill on a very busy single-carriageway main road. An even steeper path, though it be crowded with so many buggy-pushers and extending dog leads, is not so bad as that.
But wait until the frosts of a few winters have broken up the surface, which Surrey Highways have declared no intention of maintaining at all. Or until pedestrian visitors' complaints about the scary cyclists build up...
Chris Juden
One lady owner, never raced or jumped.
One lady owner, never raced or jumped.
Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
seventeezlad wrote:In answer to the original question, I think it is better. I'm not aware of any of the previous posters actually living in Hindhead, but to my knowledge those that do are actually rather pleased. Yes you could argue that's to do with the increase in property prices, but that aside if you lived in Hindhead with a hideously busy carriage way passing through the middle you'd probably feel it was a good thing to have a tunnel.
As for the complete distruction of the old A3, this will certainly appeal to the wildlife and nature in general. Ok, so you'll argue that the tunnel has two mouths, and many trees where axed in the build process, but the vegetation will come back. The tarmac of the now old A3 hadn't always been there, and lets face it, very few cyclists acutally used the section of the A3 around the punch bowl anyway. For those that have cycled to the Youth Hostel/Cafe and used the trails in the Punch Bowl itself, it's now become a far more pleasent place to be. For those not wishing to dip into the bowl, a perfectly adequote route's now in place taking you via the sailors memorial.
No doubt as time goes by the new tunnel will see higher and higher volumes of traffic, but given current trends that's almost inevitable. We could argue about this until we're long in the tooth etc, but really, it isn't that bad.
I found this quote after a bit of Googling. It's by somone called Brian Block but I've no idea who he is or even if that is his real name (I presume he is American):
Education is a paradox: knowledge is power and can provide freedom on one hand, and on the other, I feel no greater bondage and burden than from that which I have learned in my schooling. Ignorance just may be bliss. Great psychological disturbances result from the knowledge of exactly how screwed up things are. History tells us that the wise typically suffer the most. I don't know any truly happy environmentalists, animal rights activists, or college-educated hippies. We complain to drown out our misery that is the result of what we've been exposed to. I think we would be happier if we never knew. But, after all, I do not regret the load which I am burdened with, only the fact that I do not possess coping skills sufficient enough to let me be at peace with the world.
When the pestilence strikes from the East, go far and breathe the cold air deeply. Ignore the sage, stay not indoors. Ho Ri Zon 12th Century Chinese philosopher
Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
CJ wrote:But wait until the frosts of a few winters have broken up the surface, which Surrey Highways have declared no intention of maintaining at all. Or until pedestrian visitors' complaints about the scary cyclists build up...
That and the copious amounts of vegetation and mud that will be dumped onto the surface and remain there if (as threatened) it will remain unswept.
Presently, however, the byway is a useful addition to the cycle network. I don't think the added 25 metres ascent is all that important because:
* They've regraded the path to make it easier than the BOAT that was there previously.
* It comes after 150m climbing, often at steeper gradients than the final section.
* Given the latter, I would have thought that any serious cyclists who are choosing to use that alignment would have no problem with the extra height. Most of the users seem to be people riding over from Hindhead, not coming up from Thursley - for the former the upper route is preferable because it takes you to interesting things, such as the Sailor's Stone and closer to the Gibbet Hill viewpoint.
Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
Went through the tunnel twice this week, it is hugely better than the old route, and it knocks about 20 minutes off the journey time.
Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
Oh dear. Oh dear. Oh dear.
When the pestilence strikes from the East, go far and breathe the cold air deeply. Ignore the sage, stay not indoors. Ho Ri Zon 12th Century Chinese philosopher
Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
Last edited by horizon on 9 Aug 2013, 12:48pm, edited 1 time in total.
When the pestilence strikes from the East, go far and breathe the cold air deeply. Ignore the sage, stay not indoors. Ho Ri Zon 12th Century Chinese philosopher
Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
lovely self illuminated cats, great as dusk to turn your lights off.. also thing the tunnel approach from the north going south has quite a continental free to it.
Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
rootes wrote:lovely self illuminated cats, great as dusk to turn your lights off.. also thing the tunnel approach from the north going south has quite a continental free to it.
rootes: any chance of some clarification?
When the pestilence strikes from the East, go far and breathe the cold air deeply. Ignore the sage, stay not indoors. Ho Ri Zon 12th Century Chinese philosopher
Re: A3 Hindhead Tunnel - Is it better ??
rootes wrote:lovely self illuminated cats eyes, great as dusk to turn your lights off.. also think the tunnel approach from the north going south has quite a continental feel to it.
typo's/ omissions! sorry - corrected in bold
rootes: any chance of some clarification?
? clarify what? ?
Si