Key to Exit Lists
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Work out what all those coloured lines and funny symbols mean with this key.
NB: It is intentional that the motorway passes underneath the junction in all diagrams, regardless of whether it goes above or below in any given location. Since this makes no difference to the traffic flow, it makes more sense to show the junction on top for clarity.
Note that you can hover your mouse pointer over any junction to see what type of junction it is.
The motorway diagrams
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
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Motorway The main line of the motorway being listed. |
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Junction with motorway |
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Junction with primary A-road Dual-carriageway (left), single-carriageway (right). |
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Junction with non-primary A-road Dual-carriageway (left), single-carriageway (right). |
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Junction with B-road Dual-carriageway (left), single-carriageway (right). |
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Junction with unclassified road Dual-carriageway (left), single-carriageway (right). |
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Junction with various roads Often more than one type of road meets a junction. |
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Junction with road under construction Details of the road are included in the sign panel. |
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Services Sometimes appear within a junction. |
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Tunnel |
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Bridge Not all river crossings are shown. |
Non-motorway diagrams
Increasingly, motorway-style A-roads are being listed in the Database. They have a small number of additional junction symbols.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
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Primary A-road The main line of the A-road being listed. |
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Roundabout with non-primary A-road |
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Flat junctions These come in many forms, either as a single T-junction, a crossroads or a combination of these. This junction is a staggered crossroads with a B-road and an unclassified road. |
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Road narrows to single-carriageway A-roads are more changeable than motorways. Single-carriageway sections are not normally shown in the exit lists. |
The sign listings
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The NORTH Preston Lancaster M6  |
Sign text What the junction is signposted as in the direction shown. Road numbers appear in bold. You can move directly to the Database entry for any motorway by clicking the blue arrow beside its number. |
 3 miles, 2 lanes |
Between junctions The distance and number of carriageway lanes between junctions in the direction indicated. |
Lane and sign symbols
Lane symbols show the number of running lanes at any given point and the road layout at exits. They assume that any entry point involves a simple merge, and entry points are only shown where one or more lanes are gained.
The symbols are often combined to show complex lane layouts and the examples here are intended to explain the meaning of each arrow shape, not to show the full range of possible combinations.
Other signs are shown where information is available.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
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Normal exit Two running lanes continue through the junction, with a normal exit from the left lane. |
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Lane terminates Three running lanes approach the junction, and the left lane leaves the main carriageway to form the sliproad. Two lanes continue through. |
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Lane gain Two running lanes approach the junction. There is no exit. A new lane joins from the left to form three running lanes. |
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Normal exit and lane gain Two running lanes approach the junction and there is a normal exit from the left lane. After the exit, a new lane joins from the left to form three running lanes. |
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Lane drop Four running lanes approach the junction. The left lane leaves the main carriageway to form the exit sliproad, but is only missing for the length of the junction and is re-gained from the entry sliproad. There are three running lanes through the junction but four afterwards. |
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New lane A two-lane carriageway widens to form three running lanes. The new lane appears from the former left lane. |
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Lane stops There are three running lanes on the carriageway. At an arbitrary point the right-hand lane terminates and the carriageway continues with two lanes. |
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Tidal flow lanes The road is formed of one carriageway with tidal flow lanes in the centre. The lanes shown by hollow arrows may be opened or closed to traffic using overhead signals. The lane shown by a double-headed arrow may change direction of flow. |
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Motorway restrictions Motorway restrictions start or end at this junction. |
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Speed limit The road is subject to a change in speed limit at approximately the point shown. The speed limit continues until shown otherwise. |
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Toll plaza There is a toll collection facility across the main carriageway of the road at this point. It will also be marked on the exit list with a black bar across the carriageway. |
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Traffic signals The main carriageway of the road is controlled by traffic signals at this junction. |
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Variable Speed Limits (VSL) The speed limit on the road is controlled by electronic signs. The changeable speed limit is legally enforceable and backed by speed cameras covering each lane. |
Other symbols
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (N) (E) (W) (S) (Cen) |
Cardinal directions Used for north, south, central, etc. Various others may be used on the road ("North", "Cent", etc). |
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Services Used before the name of a service area. Does not reflect the exact services available at any one place. |
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Airport 'Airport' symbol as used on actual signage. |
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Car Ferry Used where 'car ferry' symbol is used on signs. |
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River Precedes the name of the river or canal being crossed where the bridge is shown on the motorway diagram. |
