A32 road explained

Country:GBR
Type:Non primary
Route:32
Map Custom:yes
Length Mi:29.1
Length Ref:[1]
Direction A:South
Direction B:North
Terminus A:South Street (B3333) in Gosport
50.7942°N -1.1187°W
Terminus B: in Chawton
51.1318°N -0.9944°W
Junction: in Fareham
in Fareham
in Wickham
in West Meon
Previous Type:A
Previous Route:31
Next Type:A
Next Route:33

The A32 is a road in Hampshire, southern England, that links Gosport and Alton. Starting at Gosport, facing Portsmouth, it travels north via Fareham, Wickham, Droxford, before joining the A31 road near Alton. The road is long from the seafront at Gosport to the roundabout with the A31 near Alton, and has entirely non-primary status.[2]

Route description

Despite its non-primary status, the road forms the main access to the town of Gosport. At rush-hour times, the road is often extremely congested (northbound in the morning rush, southbound in the evenings) as commuters head through central Fareham from the Gosport peninsula to the M27.

The main pinch-point is the 1miles long section of road between the Newgate Lane Flyover (junction B3334) and the Quay Street Roundabout in central Fareham where traffic delays often cause northbound tailbacks of at peak times. During the evening rush, traffic can at times back up to the M27 at Junction 11 and along the inside lane of the motorway.[3]

There have for many years been plans to provide a light rail solution to the traffic problem by utilising the former Gosport to Fareham railway line but this was scrapped in 2005. Part of the former railway line has since been converted for "Eclipse" bus rapid transit routes.[4]

The A32 is a popular route for motorcyclists, particularly at weekends; the cafe (now Loomies, formerly a "Little Chef") where the A272 crosses the A32 at West Meon has become central meeting place for many groups of riders. The historic site of Fort to the south is easily accessed from Wickham and is a popular route for motorcyclists.[5]

In popular culture

The A32 is referenced in a children's song.[6]

External links

References

50.9714°N -1.1316°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Positive Rebel, Address, Gosport PO13 1TR, United Kingdom to Chawton, Alton, UK. Google Maps. Alphabet Inc.. 30 July 2023.
  2. Web site: Ordnance Survey 1:250,000 map. Ordnance Survey. 2011-12-20.
  3. Web site: North of Fareham Strategic Development Area . Fareham Borough Council . 2011-12-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111127185542/http://www.fareham.gov.uk/council/departments/planning/ldf/sdafaqs.aspx . 27 November 2011 .
  4. Web site: Eclipse | Portsmouth, Fareham & Gosport | First Bus.
  5. Web site: Bike Social's Top Routes!. Bennetts UK. 27 February 2017. en.
  6. Web site: Trouble for Hugh the Hedgehog (song by Nick Cope). . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ntbFLhWmbIs . 2021-12-21 . live. en.