"The Magic Roundabout" in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, is the familiar name given to the Ploughroundabout. The familiar name comes from the children's television programme, and is also used for a similar junction in Swindon and the M40 junction in Denham. The official name relates to a former public house, called The Plough Inn, which was between the junction of what is now Selden Hill and St Albans Road. It has also been known as the Moor End Roundabout as it is adjacent to the part of Boxmoor nearest the town. Before Hemel Hempstead became a new town the roads met in a simple junction which was then replaced by a standard roundabout.
Magic Roundabout
Plough Roundabout
Sign approaching the Roundabout from the south on the A414 showing the official name
Magic Roundabout, looking south with mini roundabouts 1 (nearest), 2 and 3 in view. The grassy bank at the centre of the picture is part of the central hub roundabout. Taken from part of the 'Riverside' development
Constructed in 1973, the "Magic Roundabout" in Hemel Hempstead was voted the UK's second-worst roundabout in a 2005 poll held by an insurance company (the winner being its Swindon counterpart).[1]
In 2011 the roundabout was voted the best in Britain by motorists in a competition organised by a car leasing service.[2]
The roundabout is unusual in that traffic flows both clockwise (the standard flow direction of British roundabouts) and anticlockwise. Drivers approaching the roundabout from any junction can choose to turn left or right, and they are free to make U-turns using any of the mini roundabouts at the junction. Effectively, the junction should be treated as six individual roundabouts - right of way must be given on the approach of each new mini roundabout.
Line drawing of the roundabout in its first configuration. The road labelled '2' is the dual-carriageway St Albans Road and provides the main access to Hemel from the M1 motorway.
Early history
The original magic roundabout had six exits in total, with the BP building spanning "Marlowes", the road leading to the town centre, in the approximate position of the earlier railway viaduct. The BP building was found to be unstable due to defective reinforced concrete and the exit had to be closed. The building was demolished but the original route was not restored, although a newer side exit from the roundabout replaced the junction with Marlowes off a side road.[citation needed]
Hatton Cross, at the southeast corner of Heathrow Airport, just outside Hatton Cross Underground station. This is especially challenging due to the large number of delivery drivers under pressure to meet airport deadlines mixing with drivers dropping off passengers who are unfamiliar with the roads around Heathrow.
Sadler's Farm Roundabout, a Magic Roundabout near Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
References
^ abBrits vote on the best and worst roundabouts, 20 December 2005, retrieved on 18 January 2008
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Magic Roundabout (Hempstead).
BBC discussion forum on the Plough roundabout
Google Maps satellite image view
January 07, 2023
magic, roundabout, hemel, hempstead, magic, roundabout, hemel, hempstead, hertfordshire, england, familiar, name, given, plough, roundabout, familiar, name, comes, from, children, television, programme, also, used, similar, junction, swindon, junction, denham,. The Magic Roundabout in Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire England is the familiar name given to the Plough roundabout The familiar name comes from the children s television programme and is also used for a similar junction in Swindon and the M40 junction in Denham The official name relates to a former public house called The Plough Inn which was between the junction of what is now Selden Hill and St Albans Road It has also been known as the Moor End Roundabout as it is adjacent to the part of Boxmoor nearest the town Before Hemel Hempstead became a new town the roads met in a simple junction which was then replaced by a standard roundabout Magic RoundaboutPlough RoundaboutSign approaching the Roundabout from the south on the A414 showing the official nameLocationHemel Hempstead EnglandCoordinates51 44 46 N 00 28 23 W 51 74611 N 0 47306 W 51 74611 0 47306 Coordinates 51 44 46 N 00 28 23 W 51 74611 N 0 47306 W 51 74611 0 47306Roads atjunctionA414 Two Waters Road St Albans Road A4146 Station Road Leighton Buzzard Road Lawn Lane Selden HillConstructionTypeRoundaboutConstructed1973 1 Contents 1 Description 2 Early history 3 See also 3 1 Other similar roundabouts 4 References 5 External linksDescription EditMain article Roundabout Magic roundabout The Magic Roundabout as photographed in 1971 Magic Roundabout looking south with mini roundabouts 1 nearest 2 and 3 in view The grassy bank at the centre of the picture is part of the central hub roundabout Taken from part of the Riverside development Constructed in 1973 the Magic Roundabout in Hemel Hempstead was voted the UK s second worst roundabout in a 2005 poll held by an insurance company the winner being its Swindon counterpart 1 In 2011 the roundabout was voted the best in Britain by motorists in a competition organised by a car leasing service 2 The roundabout is unusual in that traffic flows both clockwise the standard flow direction of British roundabouts and anticlockwise Drivers approaching the roundabout from any junction can choose to turn left or right and they are free to make U turns using any of the mini roundabouts at the junction Effectively the junction should be treated as six individual roundabouts right of way must be given on the approach of each new mini roundabout Line drawing of the roundabout in its first configuration The road labelled 2 is the dual carriageway St Albans Road and provides the main access to Hemel from the M1 motorway Early history EditThe original magic roundabout had six exits in total with the BP building spanning Marlowes the road leading to the town centre in the approximate position of the earlier railway viaduct The BP building was found to be unstable due to defective reinforced concrete and the exit had to be closed The building was demolished but the original route was not restored although a newer side exit from the roundabout replaced the junction with Marlowes off a side road citation needed See also EditOther similar roundabouts Edit Magic Roundabout Colchester Magic Roundabout High Wycombe Magic Roundabout Swindon Denham Roundabout Denham Buckinghamshire at Junction 1 of the M40 and the meeting of the A40 A412 and A4020 roads Hatton Cross at the southeast corner of Heathrow Airport just outside Hatton Cross Underground station This is especially challenging due to the large number of delivery drivers under pressure to meet airport deadlines mixing with drivers dropping off passengers who are unfamiliar with the roads around Heathrow Sadler s Farm Roundabout a Magic Roundabout near Southend on Sea Essex References Edit a b Brits vote on the best and worst roundabouts 20 December 2005 retrieved on 18 January 2008 We re the top roundabout That s Magic Hemel Gazette 20 May 2011 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Magic Roundabout Hempstead History of the roundabout at the Hemeltoday website BBC discussion forum on the Plough roundabout Google Maps satellite image view Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Magic Roundabout Hemel Hempstead amp oldid 1126933080, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
