A MALVERN based classic car manufacturer is backing a special celebration marking the 100th anniversary of England’s major A-road network numbering scheme.
Morgan Motor Company and National Highways is shedding light on the anniversary of the road numbering system which came into effect in Great Britain in April 1923.
The two organisations have came together as Morgan Motor Company believes ongoing investment by National Highways into the A-road network continues to benefit the manufacturers customers.
Toby Blythe, chief marketing officer, Morgan Motor Company said: “Many of our thousands of owners and visitors make use of the A-road network and as a company well into its second century, we are delighted to help National Highways with its centenary celebrations.”
Major A-roads managed by National Highways make up around 58 per cent of the strategic road network across the country which helps to connect people to places and helps businesses receive supplies and make deliveries.
For thousands of businesses, A-roads are essential to their ability to operate.
And continued National Highways investment in the Midlands has helped to maintain the historic road network.
National Highways regional director in the Midlands, Anita Prashar said: “It’s great to see a global icon like Morgan helping us celebrate 100 years of A-roads because we know the importance of them to businesses across the country.
“Our continued investment in the A-road network means we can continue to keep the roads safe and serviceable for the next 100 years because these roads are vital in supporting economic growth and helping to get goods to places for manufacturers like Morgan.”
To make sense of the road system 100 years ago, each region was given a single letter to represent its category, followed by one or more numbers.
Important roads between large towns and cities, and major connecting routes, became classified as A-roads.
Perhaps the most famous road to be renamed was the Great North Road from London to Inverness, which became the A1.
In 1936, the Trunk Roads Act created a national strategic road network, and would later come to include the new Motorways, which began to open in the late 1950s.
The Great North Road, linking London and Edinburgh, became the A1 in 1921.
Visit: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/history-of-modern-a-roads/ to find out more.
