View source for A38 road

{{Short description|Trunk road in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox road
| country = GBR
| type = A
| route = 38
| image = A38 passes under M50.jpg
| image_notes = A38 passing under M50 in Worcestershire
| length_mi = 292
| direction_a = South
| direction_b = North
| terminus_a = {{jct|country=GBR|A|30|name1= }} at [[Bodmin]]
| destinations = [[Bodmin]]<br />[[Liskeard]]<br />[[Plymouth]]<br />[[Exeter]]<br />[[Taunton]]<br />[[Bridgwater]]<br />[[Bristol]]<br />[[Gloucester]]<br />[[Worcester, England|Worcester]]<br />[[Bromsgrove]]<br />[[Birmingham]]<br />[[Lichfield]]<br />[[Burton upon Trent]]<br />[[Derby]]<br />[[Mansfield]]
| terminus_b = {{jct|country=GBR|A|6009|name1= }} at [[Mansfield]]
| map = A38 UK road map.svg
| map_alt = Route map of the A38
| junctions = <div>
{{jct|country=GBR|M|5|dab1=Great Britain}}<br />
{{jct|country=GBR|M|50|dab1=Great Britain}}<br />
{{jct|country=GBR|M|42|dab1=Great Britain}}<br />
{{jct|country=GBR|AM|38|name1= }}<br />
{{jct|country=GBR|M|6|dab1=Great Britain}}<br />
{{jct|country=GBR|M|6 Toll|dab1=Great Britain}}<br />
{{jct|country=GBR|M|1|dab1=Great Britain}}
</div>
| previous_type = A
| previous_route = 37
| next_type = A
| next_route = 39
}}
The '''A38''', parts of which are known as Devon Expressway, Bristol Road and [[Gloucester Road, Bristol|Gloucester Road]], is a major A-class [[trunk road]] in England.

The road runs from [[Bodmin]] in [[Cornwall]] to [[Mansfield]] in [[Nottinghamshire]]. It is {{convert|292|mi}} long, making it the longest two digit A road in England. It was formerly known as the ''Leeds–Exeter Trunk Road'', when this description also included the A61. Before the opening of the [[M5 motorway]] in the 1960s and 1970s, the A38 formed the main "holiday route" from the [[Midlands]] to [[Somerset]], [[Devon]] and Cornwall.

Considerable lengths of the road in the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]] closely follow [[Roman roads]],<ref name="Margary140">{{harvp|Margary|1973|pages=140–141}}</ref><ref name="Margary287288">{{harvp|Margary|1973|pages=287–288}}</ref><ref name="Margary305"/> including part of [[Icknield Street]].<ref name="taylor-190">{{harvp|Taylor|1979|page=190}}</ref> Between [[Worcester, England|Worcester]] and [[Birmingham]] the current A38 follows the line of a [[Saxon]] [[salt road]].<ref name="taylor-96">{{harvp|Taylor|1979|page=96}}</ref>

For most of the length of the M5 motorway, the A38 road runs alongside it as a single carriageway road.

==Route description==

===Bodmin to Birmingham===

The road starts on the eastern side of [[Bodmin]] at a junction with the [[A30 road|A30]] before traversing the edge of the town to meet the A30 again. It travels through the picturesque Glynn Valley to [[Dobwalls]] and [[Liskeard]], which are bypassed by a [[dual carriageway]]. The Dobwalls section contains a [[bat bridge]]. The A38 continues through the Cornish countryside, bypassing the centre of [[Saltash]] and continuing through the [[Saltash Tunnel]]. Immediately after the tunnel the [[River Tamar]] is crossed using the [[Tamar Bridge]] where the route resumes dual carriageway status. The section from Plymouth to Exeter is known locally as the Devon Expressway; it forms the southern border of [[Dartmoor|Dartmoor National Park]], and serves as a southward extension of the [[M5 motorway]] opening in 1977.<ref name="highways.gov.uk"/> It is {{convert|42|mi|km}} long and was completed in the early 1970s.{{cn|date=September 2024}} There are several [[Grade separation|grade separated junctions]] along its length mainly for local traffic; including a [[roundabout interchange#Three-level stacked roundabout|three-level stacked roundabout interchange]] for the [[A386 road (England)|A386]], which heads out towards Dartmoor National Park. The route was reserved for the Parkway as early as 1943, when it was included in the Plan for Plymouth.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/719176 | title= Plymouth Parkway&nbsp;— photo | access-date= 4 July 2009}}</ref>

In the early 1990s, the Marsh Mills junction was significantly remodelled, reducing the size of the roundabout and building a flyover over the top of it, allowing free flowing access from the Plympton bypass onto the Parkway. The viaducts carrying the A38 over the [[River Plym]], which after the construction of the Marsh Mills flyover became the Exeter bound sliproads, were built in 1969–70 as part of the Plympton bypass. They were replaced in the 1990s due to suffering from [[Alkali Silica Reaction]],<ref name=marchmillsproblem>{{cite journal|last=Bullard|first=T. P.|title=A38 Marsh Mills junction improvement|journal=Highways and Transportation|date=September 1993|volume=40|issue=9|pages=10–14|url=http://www.ciht.org.uk/download.cfm/docid/145E621B-4F7C-4455-9A754C268F6D9FC7}}</ref> and the project, completed in February 1996 at a cost of £12.25&nbsp;million, involved the world's largest sideways bridge slide at the time for the {{convert|410|m|ft}}, 5,500 tonne bridge.<ref name="Construction News">{{cite web | url= https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/archive/hochtief-completes-biggest-bridge-slide-12-10-1995/ | work= Construction News | title= Hochtief completes biggest bridge slide | date= 12 October 1995 | access-date= 4 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="Giant Bridge Slide Completed">{{cite web|title=Giant Bridge Slide Completed|url=http://www.costain.com/news/news-releases/2010/3/30/giant-bridge-slide-completed.aspx|publisher=Costain|access-date=27 April 2014|url-status=dead |date=2010-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427185211/http://www.costain.com/news/news-releases/2010/3/30/giant-bridge-slide-completed.aspx|archive-date=27 April 2014}}</ref><ref name="Dywidag Systems">{{cite web|title=Biggest sideways bridge slide in the world|url=http://www.dywidag.co.uk/references/miscellaneous/details-miscellaneous/article/marsh-mills-viaduct-united-kingdom.html|publisher=Dywidag Systems|access-date=27 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427205825/http://www.dywidag.co.uk/references/miscellaneous/details-miscellaneous/article/marsh-mills-viaduct-united-kingdom.html|archive-date=27 April 2014}}</ref> This required the road to be closed for only 48&nbsp;hours, which won it an [[The Automobile Association|AA]] National Motoring Award in 1996 for innovation and minimisation of traffic congestion.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.tgp.co.uk/services/projects/marshmills.html | work= Tony Gee and Partners LLP | title= A38 Marsh Mills Interchange | access-date= 4 July 2009}}</ref>

The road widens to a three-lane dual carriageway for the [[Plympton]] bypass. This opened in 1971<ref name="highways.gov.uk"/> and was the first section of the Devon Expressway to be built on a new alignment, as well as being the first sizeable dual carriageway section of the route. Before Ivybridge, the route roughly parallels the original route, bypassing the village of Lee Mill which is now home to a large trading estate. The [[Ivybridge]] bypass opened in 1973 and the [[South Brent]] bypass in 1974, both on new alignments. The A38 passes Endsleigh Garden Centre, which used to have direct access from the dual carriageway, although since the early 2000s this has been closed and the garden centre is accessed from the Westover junction for Ivybridge. The route originally ended at the Marsh Mills roundabout, which when opened was the largest in Europe.{{cn|date=September 2025}}

The section of the A38 between the A382 junction and [[Ashburton, Devon|Ashburton]] was built on a new alignment parallel to the old road, and was opened in 1974. [[Trago Mills]], a locally well known retailer, is passed by the road. The Ashburton bypass, much like the Kennford bypass, uses the alignment of a much older 1930s single carriageway bypass, which was subsequently upgraded to dual carriageway by 1974.<ref name="highways.gov.uk">{{cite web | url= http://www.highways.gov.uk/aboutus/documents/FOI_HA_Data_Response_Road_Bridges_Construction_Dates.pdf | archive-url= http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/aboutus/documents/FOI_HA_Data_Response_Road_Bridges_Construction_Dates.pdf | url-status= dead | archive-date= 10 August 2012 | work= Highways Agency | title= List of Road Bridge Construction Dates| access-date= 27 April 2014}}</ref> At the town of [[Buckfastleigh]], the route once again bypasses on a new alignment, although due to the challenging topography of the area, the road crosses part of the town on a viaduct. The road occupies part of the alignment of the former Totnes to Ashburton railway line. From Buckfastleigh to the [[A385 road|A385]] junction, the current road follows the route of original single carriageway, with the majority of this section being upgraded between 1973 and 1974, although a small section at Dean Prior was upgraded between 1966 and 1967.<ref name="highways.gov.uk"/> This section is of a poor quality when compared to the majority of the route between Exeter and Plymouth, containing several side turnings with short exit/entry slips, and properties which back onto the road.

The town of [[Chudleigh]] and the village of [[Chudleigh Knighton]] are bypassed on a new alignment, which opened in 1973, and the following section at Heathfield up to the [[A382 road|A382]] junction was upgraded from the original route between 1966 and 1968.<ref name="highways.gov.uk"/> Some of this section follows part of the old [[Teign Valley Line]] railway.

Before Kennford, the route splits, with the A38 heading for Plymouth and the [[A380 road|A380]] heading towards [[Torbay]]. At this point, the road becomes a dual two-lane road although a third-lane emerges immediately for uphill traffic as the route climbs [[Haldon|Haldon Hill]], which has an average gradient of 1 in 20 over a 4&nbsp;km distance, and a maximum gradient of around 1 in 10 (the adjacent A380 Telegraph Hill has about the same maximum gradient). The third lane is lost at the top of the hill, and the next section, the Harcombe bends is an original dual carriageway section, older than the rest of the route and this is evident with its sharp bends.

The Devon Expressway ends near the village of [[Kennford]], south of Exeter, at the terminus of the M5. This initial section was opened in 1977, along with the remaining section of the M5, and is a three-lane dual carriageway. The village of Kennford is bypassed, on an alignment of a 1930s bypass, which was upgraded to a dual-carriageway in the 1960s and then widened to a dual three-lane road in 1975.<ref name=Hansard1974>{{cite Hansard |house=House of Commons |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1974/jul/31/roads-south-west |title=Roads (South-West) |date=31 July 1974 |access-date=3 July 2009 |volume=878 |column_start=312W |column_end=313W}}</ref>

A junction to the south of [[Exeter]] represents a third meeting point of the A38 with the A30, from which point the A38 [[Concurrency (road)|multiplexes]] with the M5 before re-emerging from junction 27 near Waterloo Cross, {{convert|21|mi|km}} north of Exeter. From junction 27 the A38 heads north via [[Wellington, Somerset|Wellington]], [[Taunton]], [[Bridgwater]], [[Highbridge, Somerset|Highbridge]] and [[Bristol]]. From Waterloo Cross to Birmingham, the road is paralleled by the M5, where the A38 has reverted to taking local traffic only.

From Bristol, it continues north via [[Gloucester]], [[Tewkesbury]], [[Worcester, England|Worcester]] and [[Bromsgrove]] to [[Birmingham]]. Between Worcester and Birmingham the A38 followed the line of an identified [[Saxon]] [[Salt road]], one of six leading out of [[Droitwich]].<ref name=taylor-96/> At Bromsgrove, it meets the [[M42 motorway|M42]] and the B4096 at junction 1 at [[Lickey End]].

[[File:BristolRoad.JPG|thumb|left|A38 Bristol Road running through Bournbrook, Birmingham, before completion of the Selly Oak Bypass]]
It passes through [[Catshill|Upper Catshill]] and meets the M5 at junction 4 (along with the [[A491 road]]) near [[Lydiate Ash]]. From here to [[Edgbaston]], the road is mostly dual carriageway, single-lane sections having been replaced in the first decade of the 21st century (see history section, below). Following completion of the Selly Oak bypass, the A38 deviates from its original route and briefly multiplexes with the A4040 outer Ring Road before forming the new bypass which is controversially named New Fosse Way. (The old route is designated B384 having been briefly B38).
[[File:Spaghetti-Junction-Crop.jpg|thumb|right|[[Gravelly Hill Interchange]] looking westwards; the A38 runs from the top left of the image to the bottom right. Here, the A38 crosses the M6 motorway and the A38 becomes known as the A38(M) between here and Central Birmingham]] 
In the centre of Birmingham, a section of the road becomes the Aston Expressway [[A38(M) motorway]], running from the north-eastern side of the [[A4540 road|Inner Ring Road]] through [[Aston]] to the junction with the [[M6 motorway]] at [[Gravelly Hill Interchange]], better known as ''[[Spaghetti Junction]]''.
[[File:A38(M) Aston Expressway.jpg|thumb|right|The [[A38(M) motorway]] looking southwards towards [[Central Birmingham]]]]
The West Midlands section of the A38 is one of the areas chosen by the [[Highways Agency]] to monitor the effectiveness of [[driver location signs]] in assisting motorists to communicate their location to the emergency services.

===Birmingham to Mansfield===
From Birmingham the road bypasses [[Sutton Coldfield]] and [[Lichfield]], before taking up the route of the [[Roman roads|Roman road]], [[Icknield Street|Ryknild Street]],<ref name=taylor-190/> (also spelt ''Icknield'' or ''Rykneld''), as far as [[Derby]]. At [[Wychnor]], the road crosses the [[River Trent]] and enters the district of [[East Staffordshire]]. At Barton Turn, near the B5016 junction, the road runs right alongside the [[Cross Country Route]] for around {{convert|1|mi|km}}. This railway line follows the line of the A38 from Derby to Plymouth. From Alrewas to Burton, the path called The Way for the Millennium follows the northbound carriageway.

From Clay Mills, the road passes through the district of [[South Derbyshire]], passing the grade separated junction with the A5132 for [[Willington, Derbyshire|Willington]]. Near [[Burnaston]], there is a [[roundabout interchange#Three-level stacked roundabout|three-level stacked roundabout interchange]] with the [[A50 road|A50]]; this junction features [[Derby with Burton services]]. The road enters the City of Derby borough {{convert|0.5|mi|1}} north of the [[Littleover]] interchange. For nearly {{convert|4|mi}}, the A38 forms part of Derby's outer ring road, including three roundabouts: Kingsway (or ''Grand Canyon'') for the A5111; [[Markeaton]] for the [[A52 road|A52]]; and [[Little Eaton]] (or ''Abbey Hill'') for the A61 and B6179. The section of road between Kingsway roundabout to just north of Markeaton is urban in nature and thus subject to a {{convert|40|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} speed limit.

Originally terminating in Derby at the junction of ''Babington Lane'' with ''St Peter's Street'' (formerly the [[A6 road (Great Britain)|A6]]), the road enters the district of Amber Valley where it passes Drum Hill just north of Little Eaton and is crossed at this point by the [[Midshires Way]] and Centenary Way. There is a junction for the B6179 to Ripley and [[Belper]]. At Alfreton, there is a grade separated junction with the A61, A615 and B6179. The section from Alfreton to the M1, the Alfreton–[[South Normanton]] Bypass, opened as the A615 in the late 1960s. This section has a grade separated junction with the B600 for [[Somercotes]] and the [[Cotes Park]] industrial estate, and where it crosses the Nottingham spur of the [[Midland Main Line]] it enters the district of [[Bolsover (district)|Bolsover]].

As a 1970s upgrade to the route of the [[A61 road (Great Britain)|A61]] north of Derby (which became the B6179), the A38 bypasses [[Ripley, Derbyshire|Ripley]] passing through former opencast mining land, before joining end-on with the former A615 Alfreton bypass at [[Robert Watchorn|Watchorn]] Intersection. The road crosses the [[M1 motorway|M1]] at junction 28. Into [[Nottinghamshire]], the road bypasses [[Sutton-in-Ashfield]], dropping to a single carriageway configuration of 1980s construction, including multiple traffic light controlled junctions&nbsp;– such as the Mansfield, Ashfield Regeneration Route ("MARR"). The final section of the A38 from Sutton, past [[King's Mill Hospital]] into [[Mansfield]], is purely urban in nature and is single carriageway, joining the A6009 in Mansfield Town Centre at the end of the route from Cornwall to the northern Midlands.

==History==
When first designated in 1922, the A38 ran from the centre of Plymouth to Derby.{{cn|date=September 2025}} It was later extended west from Plymouth on the former route of the A389 over the [[Torpoint Ferry]] to a junction with the A30 at Bodmin. When the Tamar Bridge was opened in 1961, the A38 was rerouted on the former line of the [[A374 road|A374]], through Tideford, over the new bridge and through [[Crownhill]], joining the old route at Plympton. The old route of the A38, via Torpoint and the centre of Plymouth, was redesignated the A374.

The A38 was extended north from Derby to the M1 motorway and Mansfield in 1977, partly on the former line of the A615.

===Cornwall===
[[File:Batbridge.jpg|thumb|260px|Bat Bridge on the A38 Dobwalls Bypass, Cornwall, UK. (2009)]]
The [[Liskeard]] bypass, stretching for {{convert|6|mi|0}} from the west of Liskeard to [[Trerulefoot]], opened in June 1976.<ref name=Hansard1974/>
A public inquiry was held for the [[Dobwalls]] bypass in February 2005, which was expected to cost £32{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-18645511_ITM |title=Bypass plans a major draw. |publisher=Europe Intelligence Wire |date=7 February 2005 |access-date=23 March 2009}}</ref> The bottleneck was removed when the bypass, linking the existing Liskeard bypass to the current single carriageway section through the [[Glynn Valley]] opened in the Winter of 2008.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cornwall/7791387.stm | publisher= BBC News | title= Bottleneck Bypassed 40 Years On | access-date= 18 March 2009 | date=19 December 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090214062759/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7791387.stm| archive-date= 14 February 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> A campaign to open this road was started by villagers in Dobwalls in 1930, but planning for building the road was not granted until 2006, the work starting on 15 November that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/3454.aspx |work=Highways Agency |title=A38 Dobwalls Bypass |access-date=16 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018020620/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/3454.aspx |archive-date=18 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Two [[bat bridge]]s and one bat house were added as the road cut through existing bat flight lines.<ref name="Hansard">{{cite web|title=House of Lords Written Answers 10 November 2009: Bats |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/91110w0001.htm |publisher=United Kingdom Parliament|access-date=5 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://assets.highways.gov.uk/our-road-network/pope/major-schemes/A38-Dobwalls-Bypass/POPE%20_%20A38%20Dobwalls%20OYA%20_%20final%20website%20version.pdf|title=A38 Dobwalls Bypass One Year After Report|publisher=Highways Agency|date=June 2011|access-date=19 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113222711/http://assets.highways.gov.uk/our-road-network/pope/major-schemes/A38-Dobwalls-Bypass/POPE%20_%20A38%20Dobwalls%20OYA%20_%20final%20website%20version.pdf|archive-date=13 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> After opening the Dobwall bypass experienced problems with surface water. This led to lane closures in winter due to risk of ice. A major scheme to reconstruct a mile of the bypass started in September 2014 and is expected to last until May 2015. It is thought it will cost an extra £10.6{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Extra £10m for 'ice risk' bypass|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-29127107|publisher=BBC|date=9 September 2014 |access-date=19 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Scheme to resolve A38 Dobwalls bypass problems|publisher=Cornish Guardian|url=http://www.cornishguardian.co.uk/Scheme-resolve-A38-Dobwalls-bypass-problems/story-22893876-detail/story.html|date=8 September 2014|website=cornishguardian.co.uk|access-date=19 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219210515/http://www.cornishguardian.co.uk/Scheme-resolve-A38-Dobwalls-bypass-problems/story-22893876-detail/story.html|archive-date=19 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In a separate improvement within the Glynn Valley, the [[Highways Agency]] stabilised a {{convert|840|m|mi|adj=on}} section of the road near [[Bodmin Parkway railway station]]. The work, which commenced in October 2007, was carried out to shore up the verge, which had been built on an [[Embankment (transportation)|embankment]] supported by dry stone walling and the root systems of large trees. It was completed in May 2008 seeing the installation of kerbing, road drainage gulleys, safety barriers as well as increasing the verge width to allow for a new surface water drainage system.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/16561.aspx | archive-url= http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/16561.aspx | url-status= dead | archive-date= 10 August 2012 | work= Highways Agency | title= A38 Glynn Valley Stabilisation | access-date= 27 April 2014}}</ref>

===Devon===
[[File:Devon Expressway Route Confirmation.png|thumb|Devon Expressway signage]]
The A38 in Devon runs between [[Tamar Bridge]] outside [[Plymouth]] and junction 31 of the [[M5 motorway|M5]], where the motorway ends; this section is known as the '''Devon Expressway'''. It is mainly a two-lane dual carriageway which runs between [[Exeter]] and [[Plymouth]] serving as a continuation of the M5 motorway. It is a popular route for tourists travelling to [[Cornwall]], though those wanting to use a continuous dual carriageway route to Cornwall can use the A30 rather than using the Devon Expressway before joining the less major roads over the border in Cornwall. It then runs concurrently with the M5 until junction 27, where it splits and enters Somerset independent but parallel to the M5.

During the mid-1960s, small sections of the route between Plymouth and Exeter were upgraded to dual carriageway, such as those at Dean Prior and Heathfield. This was followed by the construction of Plympton bypass in 1970–71, with the majority of realignment, such as the Ivybridge and Buckfastleigh bypasses, being completed during 1973–74. The route, now known as the Devon Expressway, was largely complete by 1975, with the final section between Kennford and the M5 opening in 1977, coinciding with the completion of the final section of the M5 around Exeter during the same year. Whilst many of the sections were newly constructed realignments, some sections such as the Ashburton and Kennford bypasses were upgraded from the original 1930s single carriageway bypasses.<ref name="highways.gov.uk"/> The Parkway, the section of dual carriageway through the suburbs of Plymouth between the Tamar Bridge and Marsh Mills, was constructed in 1983–84, along a route which had been reserved for this road since 1943. This was followed by the construction of a flyover over Marsh Mills roundabout in 1992, providing a non-stop route between the Plympton bypass and the Parkway.<ref name="highways.gov.uk"/>

The Plympton bypass opened in 1971,<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 July 1971 |title='Sick' crowds blocked death bypass |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004973/19710715/008/0008}}</ref> and was used for a stage in the [[1974 Tour de France]], with a {{convert|3.5|mile|km}} stretch closed to traffic in order to allow the visit of [[Tour de France|the race]] to the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.bikebrothers.co.uk/tdf1974.htm| title= Tour de France 1974| access-date= 4 July 2009| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://archive.today/20120722202810/http://www.bikebrothers.co.uk/tdf1974.htm| archive-date= 22 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=26 June 1974 |title=By-pass shuts for Tour de Plymouth |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19740626/251/0027}}</ref>

The viaducts carrying the A38 over the River Plym, which after the construction of the Marsh Mills flyover became the Exeter bound sliproads, were built in 1969–1970 as part of the Plympton bypass. They were replaced in the 1990s due to suffering from [[Alkali Silica Reaction]],<ref name=marchmillsproblem/> and the project, completed in February 1996 at a cost of £12.25million, involved the world's largest sideways bridge slide at the time for the {{convert|410|m|ft}}, 5,500 tonne bridge.<ref name="Construction News"/><ref name="Giant Bridge Slide Completed"/><ref name="Dywidag Systems"/><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/archive/hochtief-completes-biggest-bridge-slide-12-10-1995/ | work= Construction News | title= Hochtief completes biggest bridge slide | date= 12 October 1995 | access-date= 18 April 2009}}</ref> This required the road to be closed for only 48&nbsp;hours, winning it an [[The Automobile Association|AA]] National Motoring Award in 1996 for innovation and minimisation of traffic congestion.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.tgp.co.uk/services/projects/marshmills.html | work= Tony Gee and Partners LLP | title= A38 Marsh Mills Interchange | access-date= 18 April 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090413160337/http://www.tgp.co.uk/services/projects/marshmills.html| archive-date= 13 April 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>

As with any major road, accidents are likely to occur; however due to the substandard design of some sections of the route between Exeter and Plymouth, the accident rate has been identified as being above the national average for the type of road.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/11388.aspx | archive-url= http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/11388.aspx | url-status= dead | archive-date= 10 August 2012 | work= Highways Agency | title= A38 Bodmin-Exeter Route Management Strategy | access-date= 27 April 2014}}</ref> A spate of accidents in April 2009<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/KILLED-HORROR-CRASH/story-11510207-detail/story.html | work= [[Western Morning News]] | title= Two killed in horror crash | access-date= 13 August 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> heightened local awareness of the issue, with local MP [[Gary Streeter]] calling for a review of the road. A number of improvements have been made along the route in recent years, mainly being the replacement of worn-out road surfaces, such as those at Buckfastleigh and Ivybridge.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/11388.aspx | archive-url= http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/11388.aspx | url-status= dead | archive-date= 10 August 2012 | work= Highways Agency | title= A38 Wrangaton&nbsp;— Ivybridge | access-date= 27 April 2014}}</ref> These projects have also included the replacement of signage, and the reconstruction of exit/entry slips for side turnings, in a bid to make the road safer.

Presently, the route between Plymouth and the end of M5 is all dual carriageway, and branded the Devon Expressway, being the primary route that links Plymouth to the rest of the country.

Beyond the end of the M5, the road runs concurrently with and as the M5 until junction 27. The original route between Exeter and junction 27 of the M5 (Waterloo Cross) was downgraded to become the [[B roads in Zone 3 of the Great Britain numbering scheme|B3181]] when the M5 was opened in 1977

===Somerset===
From junction 27 of the M5 to [[East Brent, Somerset|East Brent]], the A38 runs broadly parallel to the motorway: junctions 22 to 27 are mostly spurs connecting to the road and all no further than {{convert|1.5|mi}} from it. The A38 runs around Wellington, through the county seat of [[Taunton]], [[North Petherton]] and Highbridge. Beyond Highbridge and junction 22, the road departs the motorway and resumes primary status, going through [[Winscombe]], [[Churchill, Somerset|Churchill]] and [[Lower Langford]] where it crosses the [[A368 road|A368]] between [[Weston-super-Mare]] and [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]]. This route is the suggested route for accessing the south of Bristol and [[Bristol Airport]] from the South West.

The centre of Bridgwater was a notorious bottleneck on the "holiday route" as traffic from both the A38 and the [[A39 road|A39]] had to negotiate through the town centre in order to cross the [[River Parrett]]. The construction of a new reinforced concrete road bridge, the Blake Bridge, which opened in March 1958 as part of a southern bypass took much of the traffic away from the centre of Bridgwater.<ref name="Fitzhugh-93">{{cite book| last = Fitzhugh| first = Rod| title = Bridgwater and the River Parrett in Old Photographs| year = 1993| isbn = 978-0-7509-0518-3| page = 93 }}</ref> The opening of the M5 in 1974 further reduced the traffic pressure. This is complemented by a link road (Western Way) linking the A38 and the A39 north and west of the town respectively.

Much of the A38 through Somerset was built as single carriageway, with some three-lane passing points. However, the construction of the M5 through Somerset, in the early 1970s, led to the building of links between the A38 and the M5 in the form of new roundabouts on the A38 linking into adjacent junctions on the M5.

===Bristol===
The A38 serves [[Bristol Airport]] to the southwest of the city, and enters the city itself at Highridge, along [[Bishopsworth|Bedminster Down]] and into [[Bedminster, Bristol|Bedminster]]. It runs through central Bristol before leaving northwards along North Street, [[Stokes Croft]] and [[Gloucester Road, Bristol|Gloucester Road]]. It runs past the former [[Bristol Filton Airport|Filton Airport]] in [[South Gloucestershire]] to meet the [[M5 motorway|M5]] again at junction 16. Thereafter it runs through [[Almondsbury]] and by-passes [[Thornbury, South Gloucestershire|Thornbury]] to enter Gloucestershire.

====South of Bristol====
South of Bristol, the road was diverted in 2001 to cater for an extension of the runway and installation of a [[instrument landing system|category 3 landing system]] at [[Bristol Airport]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/~/media/files/brs/about-us/bristol-airport-master-plan.ashx |title=Bristol International Airport Master Plan 2006 to 2030 |page=12 |publisher=Bristol International |access-date=6 September 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317000558/http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/~/media/files/brs/about-us/bristol-airport-master-plan.ashx |archivedate=2021-03-17 |quote=3.8 at the same time the A38 was diverted away from the eastern end of the runway, allowing an all-weather category III landing system to be installed on runway 27.}}</ref> The route south of the city, despite serving the airport, is single-carriageway and suffers from heavy volume of traffic at peak times, and congestion along Bedminster Down. From Bedminster Down the A38 follows West Street and East Street through the centre of Bedminster, but drivers from the south were advised by road signs not to follow the A38 into the city, but to use the A3029 (Winterstoke Road) to enter from the west, as this route had a greater capacity. As part of the ''Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study'', a link road had been under consideration to the south of Bristol.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/planning-and-building-regulations/south-bristol-link-route-planning| title=South Bristol Link route&nbsp;– planning| publisher=Bristol City Council| access-date=27 April 2014| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427203812/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/planning-and-building-regulations/south-bristol-link-route-planning| archive-date=27 April 2014}}</ref> This is in part due to the congestion at Winterstoke Road and Barrow Gurney,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Village-calls-North-Somerset-clear-drains-avoid-road-disaster/article-469475-detail/article.html |title=Village drains may cause road tragedy |newspaper=Bristol Post |date=12 November 2008 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120917101857/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Village-calls-North-Somerset-clear-drains-avoid-road-disaster/article-469475-detail/article.html |archivedate=17 September 2012}}</ref> both of which are very busy, especially the latter where the road can only accommodate travelling at one direction at a given time; and the incomplete Bristol Ring Road ([[A4174 road|A4174]]). This road, named the South Bristol Link, was subsequently opened in 2017 and now surpasses the A3029 (Winterstoke Road) as the main route from Bristol Airport to the city centre and the motorway network north of Bristol.<ref>{{cite news|title=South Bristol Link Road opens to users |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-38628379 |publisher=BBC News |date=16 January 2017 |accessdate=31 July 2017}}</ref>

====Central Bristol====
In central Bristol, the original route from [[Bedminster Bridge]] ran up [[Redcliffe Hill]] and then along Redcliff Street to [[Bristol Bridge]].<ref>{{cite map |url=https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=51.4594&lon=-2.5935&layers=193&b=1 |title=Central Bristol |publisher=[[Ordnance Survey]] |scale=1:10,560 |date=1955}}</ref> In the 1950s Redcliff Street was declassified,<ref>{{cite map |url=https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14&lat=51.4495&lon=-2.6002&layers=11&b=1 |title=South Bristol |publisher=[[Ordnance Survey]] |scale=One Inch |series=7th series |date=1958}}</ref> following completion of the [[20th century road schemes in Bristol#Inner Circuit Road (A4044)|Inner Circuit Road]].  The route resumes at [[The Centre, Bristol|The Centre]].  It then follows Rupert Street to the St James Barton roundabout and Stokes Croft.

====North of Bristol====
The route to the north of the city is also very busy: it runs as a single carriageway up to the junction with the A4174 ring road at [[Filton]], and where it runs as Gloucester Road is a busy shopping parade. Beyond the ring road, it runs as dual-carriageway past the site of the now-closed [[Filton Airport]] which lies in South Gloucestershire, which contains bases for [[Royal Mail]], [[Airbus]], [[Rolls-Royce Holdings|Rolls-Royce]] and others. The Almondsbury Junction to Southmead Roundabout Improvement would cost £4,915,000 for {{convert|3|mi}} of dual cariageway in 1975.<ref>''Burton Daily Mail'' Friday 25 April 1975, page 15</ref> This improvement was first announced in April 1968, along with the M5 extension from Edithmead to Exeter, and the extension of the M32.<ref>''Western Daily Press'' Thursday 4 April 1968, page 3</ref> It opened in parts, with the last part on 31 August 1978<ref>''Bristol Evening Post'' Friday 15 September 1978, page 16</ref> It was built by [[Sir Lindsay Parkinson & Company]].<ref>''Western Daily Press'' Monday 21 February 1977, page 9</ref>

Beyond junction 16 of the M5 it runs as a broad single carriageway, again parallel to the M5 in route towards Gloucester.

The present road from Bristol through [[Horfield]] was one of the additional roads added to the [[Bristol turnpike roads]] in 1749. This passed through Thornbury to [[Stone, Gloucestershire|Stone]], just beyond the boundary of [[South Gloucestershire]], where it met one of the [[Gloucester turnpike roads]].<ref>Market Harborough and Brampton Road Act 1754 ([[27 Geo. 2]] c. 28)</ref> From Almondsbury, the road approximately follows the line of the Roman road from [[Sea Mills, Bristol|Sea Mills]] to Gloucester.<ref name="Margary140"/> The previous main route out of Bristol (one of twelve roads from the city, turnpiked in 1727) was [[Stapleton, Bristol|Stapleton]] and [[Hambrook]] to the upper end of [[Tytherington, Gloucestershire|Tytherington]] and thence to Stone.<ref>Chippenham Roads Act 1726 ([[13 Geo. 1]]. c. 12)</ref> This seems to be parts of B4058, B4424, and then unclassified roads. However, [[John Ogilby|Ogilby]]'s ''Britannia'' shows a route following the B4058 as far as [[Cromhall]], then through [[Stinchcombe|Stinchcombe Bottom]], [[Dursley]], and [[Cam, Gloucestershire|Cam]] before joining the present road.<ref>{{harvp|Ogilby|1675|page=117|loc=[http://www.fulltable.com/vts/m/map/ogilby/d/SH009.jpg Plate 59]}}</ref>

===Gloucestershire===
The Bristol turnpike roads were continued by a turnpike road established in 1727, described as "from the City of Gloucester to the village of Stone being the great road from the north to west of this kingdom".<ref>Gloucestershire Roads Act 1725 ([[12 Geo. 1]]. c. 24)</ref>{{failed verification|date=October 2021}} Much of the road, follows a Roman road, but deviates from it between [[Buckover]] and [[Whitfield, Gloucestershire|Whitfield]].<ref>{{harvp|Margary|1973|page=141}}</ref>

The A38 was rerouted along the Gloucester Bypass when it was built, and the old route through the city became the A430. In 2007 the Gloucester South Western Bypass opened to traffic,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/6518169.stm |title=Road relief as bypass opens soon |publisher=BBC News |date=2 April 2007 |access-date=23 March 2009}}</ref> costing £43{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/4455389.stm |title=New cash secured for city bypass |publisher=BBC News |date=18 April 2005 |access-date=23 March 2009}}</ref> Though it is numbered A430 and not technically part of the A38, traffic wishing to continue on the A38 on the other side of the city is signed to use the bypass, rather than the existing A38.

Beyond Gloucester, the A38 was probably only improved in 1756 under an Act ([[29 Geo. 2]]. c. 58) dealing with roads from that city towards [[Cheltenham]] and [[Tewkesbury]].<ref>{{harvp|Pawson|1977|page=348}}, citing Gloucester Roads Act 1756 ([[29 Geo. 2]]. c. 58); cf. Local Act, Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Roads Act 1798 ([[38 Geo. 3]]. c. xii)</ref> <!--"Cheltenham" is in a list of trusts in Pawson; that this 1756 Act included A38 is inferred from 1798 Act. --> The next section (from [[Coombe Hill, Tewkesbury|Coombe Hill]]) was improved as one of the Tewkesbury roads, again from 1727. The Act refers to this as the Upper Way to Gloucester in contrast to the Lower Way, which went via Wainsload Bridge.<ref>Tewkesbury Roads Act 1725 ([[12 Geo. 1]]. c. 18)</ref> When this Act was renewed in 1756, the road from Tewkesbury to a farmhouse called the Old Blue Ball (now Bluebell Farm) was also included. This was in [[Earls Croome]], Worcestershire, and was where one of the Worcester turnpikes ended.<ref>Gloucestershire Roads Act 1756 ([[29 Geo. 2]]. c. 51)</ref> Much of this stretch of the road originated as a Roman road, but the later road left the Roman line near Naunton in [[Ripple, Worcestershire|Ripple]]. The name Stratford Bridge on the county boundary confirms its Roman origin there.<ref name="Margary287288"/> The A38 into Tewkesbury has been diverted away from the now declassified Gloucester Road along a new link road to the A438 east of the town centre. The A38 resumes in Tewkesbury town centre where the A438 has always met the A38 near the Abbey.

===Worcestershire===
The current A38 road follows from the southern end of one of the Worcester turnpike trust's roads which was originally set in 1726, by the [[Worcester Roads Act 1725]] ([[12 Geo. 1]]. c. 14), at [[Severn Stoke]], but an act of Parliament of 1737, the [[Worcester Roads Act 1736]] ([[10 Geo. 2]]. c. 5), extended it to Upton Bridge (taking it past Bluebell Farm).

North of the city, the road was a particularly important one as it connected the [[salt]]making centre of [[Droitwich Spa|Droitwich]] with the [[River Severn]]. In 1706, this was described as heavily used for the 'carriage of salt, iron, coals and other wares'.<ref>{{harvp|Pawson|1977|page=81}}</ref><ref name="King06">{{harvp|King|2006|page=87}}</ref> The first Turnpike Act for this road was an extremely early one, being passed in 1713 and recites:

{{boxquote|The highway from the city of Worcester to the Borough of Droitwich ... by reason of the heavy and many loads and carriages of salt and other goods which daily pass through the said road is almost impassible for the space of nine months.|source=[[Henry Duke of Beaufort's Estate Act 1702]] ([[1 Ann. St. 2]] c. ''3'' {{small|Pr.}})}}

When it was renewed by the [[Worcester to Droitwich Road Act 1725]] ([[12 Geo. 1]]. c. 20), it was extended from the Tything of Whistons to the Lower Slip of the Quay of Worcester; from Droitwich to Dyers Bridge (M5 junction 5) near Bromsgrove; and through the town of Droitwich from "Netherwith" [Netherwich] Bridge to a place called "Chapel on the Bridge". In 1749, this was again extended, by the [[Worcestershire Roads Act 1748]] ([[22 Geo. 2]]. c. 43), through the town of Bromsgrove to Spadebourne Bridge, immediately north of the town. Where the road leaves Worcester, it again does not follow the line of the Roman road in the same direction until it picks up the Roman line, just south of [[Martin Hussingtree]]. The Roman road took a more direct line over Rainbow Hill and through Blackpole, now [[B4550 road|B4550]]. From Martin Hussingtree, the A38 closely follows the Roman line to beyond Bromsgrove.<ref name="Margary287">{{harvp|Margary|1973|page=287}}</ref> The present road deviates from its line when it was originally classified at Droitwich where the main road is a bypass, the old road now mostly being [[B4090 road|B4090]]. This happens again at Bromsgrove, where A38 is again a bypass, the old line mostly now being [[B4091 road|B4091]] and Bromsgrove High Street (now partly pedestrianised, then through the town centre. The Bromsgrove Eastern Bypass was constructed in 1980. <!-- Detail needed as to the dates of these two bypasses, with references -->

A short distance north of where the old A38 (now declassified) joins the Bromsgrove bypass, is Lickey End, where an old highway intersection has been replaced by junction 1 of [[M42 motorway]]. Here, the road is joined from the southeast by the [[B4096 road|B4096]], Alcester Road, which was from 1754 one of the roads of the [[Alcester]] turnpike trust.<ref>Local Act (1754), [[27 Geo. 2]] c. 54{{failed verification|date=October 2023}}</ref> The continuation northwards of B4096 is called Old Birmingham Road, because it was the original route of the turnpike to Birmingham, climbing to a pass in the [[Lickey Hills]]. The Roman road also went through the same pass, but its route to the pass was probably rather straighter.<ref name="Margary287"/> Beyond the motorway junction, the A38 was turnpiked, not as the turnpike to Birmingham, but to [[Halesowen]] and [[Dudley]], by the [[Bromsgrove and Birmingham Roads Act 1726]] ([[13 Geo. 1]]. c. 15) that also turnpiked Old Birmingham Road. The [[Worcester and Warwick Roads Act 1741]] ([[15 Geo. 2]]. c. 7) appointed separate trustees for the Dudley Road in 1742 and the [[Bromsgrove to Birmingham Roads Act 1747]] ([[21 Geo. 2]]. c. 22) appointed trustees for the Birmingham Road in 1748. The road continues from the M42 junction 1 towards Catshill and up a short incline at which there is a fork. Prior to the construction of the M5 motorway in the early 1960s, the Halesowen Road continued West whilst Birmingham Road continued North to meet the existing dual carriageway just South of Rubery. After the M5 was constructed, all traffic was diverted along Halesowen Road (then the A459) which was widened and lit to provide a direct route for the A38 to meet the M5 at junction 4 at Lydiate Ash, with the dual carriageway continuing North to Rubery. The original Birmingham Road survives to this day, but is noticeably lightly trafficked due to its cul-de-sac nature. Its considerable width makes it a very popular route for learner drivers and as such is affectionately named by local people as "Learners Mile".

The road from Lydiate Ash to [[Longbridge]] was laid out as a new road in the early 1960s to collaborate with the construction of the M5 motorway which opened in 1962.<ref>Worcestershire Record Office, Quarter Sessions papers, deposited plans.</ref> The road passed through the centre of [[Rubery]] until the £770,000 (£{{Format price|{{Inflation|UK|770000|1965|{{inflation-year|UK}}|r=-1}}}} in {{inflation-year|UK}}),{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} Rubery Bypass opened in December 1965.

Lydiate Ash was the northern end of the M5 for many years in the 1960s, with traffic transferring onto the A38, which was diverted at this point to link with the M5.

===Birmingham===
[[File:The A38 in Birmingham - geograph.org.uk - 6252145.jpg|thumb|The A38 in central Birmingham (Great Charles Street Queensway)]]
At Longbridge, new turnpike joined the Roman road and the original turnpike, and runs straight towards the city centre. Hutton, the Birmingham historian described the road:<ref>A. Cossons, 'Worcestershire turnpikes', ''Transactions of Birmingham Archaeological Society'' 64 (1946 for 1942-3), 65-66, quoting W. Hutton, ''History of Birmingham'' (2nd edition), 263–4.</ref>
<blockquote>[Birmingham] to Bromsgrove 13&nbsp;miles [is] made extremely commodious for the first four miles under the patronage of John Kettle esq in 1772 at an expense of £5000, but afterwards is so confined that two horses cannot pass without danger; the sun and winds are excluded, and the rivers lie open to the stranger and he travels through dirt at midsummer. </blockquote> The [[Northfield, Birmingham|Northfield]] bypass, taking traffic away from the congested town centre opened on 11 April 2007.<ref>{{cite web |author=Alison Dayani |url=http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2007/04/13/relief-for-drivers-as-city-by-pass-opens-97319-18899329/ |title=Relief for drivers as city by-pass opens |work=Birmingham Mail |date=13 April 2007 |access-date=23 March 2009 |archive-date=13 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313145944/http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2007/04/13/relief-for-drivers-as-city-by-pass-opens-97319-18899329/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Between Northfield and [[Selly Oak]], the road is likely to have been in use in the medieval period as the road approximately follows the boundary of the former Weoley Park, the great park belonging to [[Weoley Castle (house)|Weoley Castle]].<ref name="King06"/> A {{Convert|2.4|km|mi}} dual carriageway bypass ({{Coord|52.44696|-1.93923|region:GB-BIR}}) of the narrow section from Selly Oak to [[Bournbrook]] opened in August 2011.<ref name="SellyOakBypass">{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Transportation-Projects-and-Developments%2FPageLayout&cid=1223268050283&pagename=BCC%2FCommon%2FWrapper%2FWrapper|title=Selly Oak New Road and associated Highway Schemes|publisher=[[Birmingham City Council]]|access-date=4 October 2011|archive-date=30 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930061120/http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Transportation-Projects-and-Developments%2FPageLayout&cid=1223268050283&pagename=BCC%2FCommon%2FWrapper%2FWrapper|url-status=dead}} ''et seq''</ref> This required new bridges to carry the [[Worcester and Birmingham Canal]] and the [[Cross-City Line|Cross-City railway line]] over the road.<ref name="SellyOakBypass" /> The destination of the Roman road was clearly [[Metchley Fort]],<ref name="Margary287"/> but A38 turns away towards the city centre.

After Selly Oak, the A38 takes the Bristol Road into the city as far as the Belgrave Interchange with the [[A4540 Middleway]] ring road. The city centre section takes a novel line, laid out as part of extensive reconstruction works in the 1960s, and is one of the few remaining pieces of the original "concrete collar" inner ring road. Thanks to being mostly underground, travelling through an underpass at Holloway Head and the two Queensway tunnels at Paradise Circus and Snow Hill, plus a flyover at Lancaster Circus, the A38 is able to travel straight through the city centre uninterrupted, eventually meeting, at a final underpass beneath [[Dartmouth Circus]], the [[A38(M) Aston Expressway]]. The old road took a largely similar line as far as what is now Paradise Circus, before zig-zagging in a less direct and much slower route through the city centre, taking in the north side of New Street Station and then travelling along Corporation street to briefly rejoin its modern alignment.

Between exiting the city centre and the M6 junction 6 ("[[Gravelly Hill Interchange|Spaghetti Junction]]") at Salford (on the border between Aston and Erdington), the modern route follows the [[A38(M)]] Aston Expressway, an unusual seven-lane, single carriageway (and speed limited to {{Convert | 50 | mi/h | km/h | abbr = on}}) urban motorway which uses an electronic signage-controlled tidal flow system to provide three lanes each way off-peak, and a 4/2 lane split at peak times (prioritising citybound traffic in the morning, and outbound traffic at night). This merges directly onto the M6 in both directions, as well as the [[A5127 road|A5127]] and A38 surface streets, via an intertwined series of flyovers, meaning there is an uninterrupted run from the motorway and these suburban feeder roads all the way to the southern ring road junction. The original route is now taken by the A5127, starting and terminating at the same points but providing a somewhat slower ride through mixed industrial and residential areas with several roundabout and traffic light controlled at-grade crossings, and since signed and re-engineered with a focus on local access, public transport and non-motorway traffic.

Beyond Salford Circus, the A38 used to pass through [[Erdington]], [[Wylde Green]] and particularly [[Sutton Coldfield]] town centres (and then Four Oaks, Mere Green and Shenstone) on its way towards Lichfield, before the extensive Sutton Coldfield Bypass was built. This passes far to the east of its namesake town, as well as many other north Birmingham suburbs from Erdington through to Four Oaks, requiring an extensive diversion and use of redesignated link roads to access. The old route between Salford and Lichfield is now the [[A5127 road|A5127]], with the A38 designation being transferred to the Kingsbury/Tyburn Roads (former A4097)<ref>{{cite web|title=M6 Junction 6|url=http://www.route6.co.uk/m6junction6.html|website=Route 6|access-date=15 July 2014|archive-date=21 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621232412/http://route6.co.uk/m6junction6.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> at the south end between Aston and the bypass origin at Minworth, and the London Road (former A446){{cn|date=September 2025}} at the north end between its terminus at Bassett's Pole and the Lichfield turn, where it (and, via the A5148 link road, the A5127, A5, and now M6 Toll) joins the A38 Lichfield bypass, with the old London road continuing into Lichfield as the A5206. Along the way, it has large roundabout interchanges with the [[A453]] (Sutton-Tamworth, locally) and [[A5 road (Great Britain)|A5]] roads, the latter having been upgraded with a free-flow underpass for the A38 to ease congestion, in concert with the former A5 through Hints being superseded by a dual carriageway bypass starting at the A38.

The bypass is two-lane dual carriageway throughout, offers a {{Convert | 40 | mi/h | km/h | abbr = on}} speed limit from Salford to Minworth, and is national speed limit ({{Convert | 70 | mi/h | km/h | abbr = on}} for light vehicles) for most of the rest of its run. It is not, however, well-grade separated; all junctions as far as Minworth are at-grade, and although most minor local roads pass over or under the rural section without interacting with it at all (or at least are limited to left-in/left-out access only), a new underpass has been built at Weeford, and many gaps have been stopped up, there still remains some flat junctions with major crossroads and right-turn gaps in the central reservation even as far as the Lichfield junction itself (beyond which, the road is of a somewhat higher standard).

In Erdington and Sutton Coldfield, the original A5127 has been bypassed a second time by more minor urban relief roads, easing congestion in and allowing partial pedestrianisation of their respective town centre shopping areas. A further bypass between Sutton centre and the northern junction with the A453 Tamworth Road has long been under consideration to remove pressure from the narrow, mediaeval "high street" section (that features a pair of historic coaching inns and was, originally, part of the A38), but no actual plans have yet been confirmed even after many decades of discussion.

The bypass itself has been partly superseded, initially by the M42 further to the east, and in more recent years by the [[M6 Toll]], which intersects it at junction T3, runs directly alongside part of the former A446 section between Bassett's Pole and Weeford Island, where it veers off (and has a further junction, T4) to shadow the [[A5 road (Great Britain)|A5]] instead, also crossing the A5127 (at the limited-access junction T5) a few miles later on. The bypass has been effectively slightly downgraded as a result, first with the at-grade, signalised roundabouts of junction T3 interrupting traffic flow, and soon after by the imposition of a {{Convert | 60 | mi/h | km/h | abbr = on}}, SPECS-enforced average speed limit (ostensibly because of a substandard alignment – parts of the southbound carriageway were formed directly from the old A446 – and in order to discourage illegal car and motorcycle racing){{citation needed|date=October 2021}} on the A453-to-A5 section, making the toll road a slightly faster option even during off-peak hours.

Historically, it is not clear which turnpike trust was responsible for the section of road from Birmingham to Lichfield, or even whether it ''was'' a turnpike. Also, the A5127 out of Sutton picks up the Roman road route a little north of Mere Green (having itself diverted via Metchley Fort, the modern suburbs of Perry Barr and Kingstanding, then Sutton Park and Four Oaks/Little Aston), and follows it to Lichfield. The point south of Lichfield where it interchanges with the A5 (once a staggered junction, altered to a simpler crossroads roundabout by the Wall Bypass, then complicated once more by the coming of the A38/A5148 and M6 Toll) marks the crossing of two Roman streets, with the old A5 continuing to the historic fort of Wall, a mile or so after branching off to the west.

===Staffordshire===
The road (now [[A5127 road|A5127]]) from the county boundary at Shenstone Woodend, through [[Shenstone, Staffordshire|Shenstone]] to Lichfield was one of the roads of the [[Lichfield Turnpike Trust]], established in 1729.<ref name="LichAct">Lichfield Roads Act 1728 ([[2 Geo. 2]]. c. 5)</ref> However, this section of the old A38 has been replaced by new dual carriageways.

Beyond Lichfield, the old A38 (now A5127) joins the Roman [[Ryknild Street]] at [[Streethay]]<ref name="Margary305">{{harvp|Margary|1973|pages=305–306}}</ref> and immediately after that A5127 joins the present A38. Ryknild Street had to that point run roughly parallel to A38, but following a different line from [[Metchley Fort|Metchley]] through [[Wall, Staffordshire|Wall]], its line sometimes being used by modern roads (including [[B4138 road|B4138]]).<ref name="Margary305"/>

The section from Lichfield to [[Alrewas]] was dualled in 1958. The £500,000 (£{{Format price|{{Inflation|UK|500000|1962|{{inflation-year|UK}}|r=-1}}}} in {{inflation-year|UK}}),{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} section from Alrewas to Wychnor Farm near [[Wychnor Hall]], and the £150,000 (£{{Format price|{{Inflation|UK|150000|1962|{{inflation-year|UK}}|r=-1}}}} in {{inflation-year|UK}}),{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}section from Wychnor Farm to Barton Turn both opened in 1962. The further section of the route was improved to dual carriageway standard, including the £350,000, {{convert|2.5|mi|km}} section from [[Barton Turn]] (near [[Barton-under-Needwood]]) to [[Branston, Staffordshire|Branston]] in February 1964, bypassing [[Burton upon Trent]] in June 1967 (costing £2.6&nbsp;million (£{{Format price|{{Inflation|UK|2600000|1967|{{inflation-year|UK}}|r=-1}}}} in {{inflation-year|UK}}),{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}), which stretched from Branston to Clay Mills and actually shortened the route&nbsp;– now the A5121 – by {{convert|1|mi}}), and in recent years many of the [[At-grade intersection|at-grade junctions]] have been upgraded or stopped-up.

This long stretch of road closely follows Ryknild Street (whose destination was the Roman fort at [[Little Chester]]) until just short of Branston where A38 swings west, perhaps to avoid low ground. The Roman road is used by minor roads through the suburbs of Burton upon Trent and then [[A5121 road|A5121]] to rejoin the present A38 beyond the [[River Dove, Central England|river Dove]] near Clay Mills.<ref name="Margary305"/> The road from Lichfield to Burton upon Trent was another of the roads maintained by the Lichfield Turnpike Trust from 1729. This diverged from the present line at Branston, taking the road through the town centre, and is now classified as A5121.<ref name="LichAct"/> The road from Burton to [[Derby]] was turnpiked in 1753.<ref>Buxton and Manchester Road Act 1753 ([[26 Geo. 2]]. c. 59)</ref> Beyond the start of the Derby bypass, the old A38 has been reclassified as [[A5250 road|A5250]]. This follows Ryknild Street as far as Littleover.<ref name="Margary305"/>

===Derbyshire===
In March 1969, the 'Allestree Link Road', from the A6 at [[Allestree]] to the former A61 was opened, crossing the [[River Derwent, Derbyshire|River Derwent]] and Midland Main Line.

Further improvements in the late 1960s and 1970s saw construction of the £5.2{{nbsp}}million (£{{Format price|{{Inflation|UK|5200000|1975|{{inflation-year|UK}}|r=-1}}}} in {{inflation-year|UK}}){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} [[Mickleover]] bypass to the south-west of Derby opened on 19 February 1975. Although the government had approved the section through Allestree as early as 1974, before the Mickleover bypass had been completed, this section had many objections from nearby residents, delaying its construction (from the A52 to the A6). It was opposed directly by Derby Borough Council and the former [[University of Derby|Derby Higher Education College]]. The £17{{nbsp}}million (£{{Format price|{{Inflation|UK|17000000|1983|{{inflation-year|UK}}|r=-1}}}} in {{inflation-year|UK}}){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} road was eventually opened on 7 September 1983, known as ''Queensway''. An extension of the A38 northwards, crossing the [[M1 motorway|M1]] at junction 28, and ending in Mansfield was built. The £3{{nbsp}}million (£{{Format price|{{Inflation|UK|3000000|1977|{{inflation-year|UK}}|r=-1}}}} in {{inflation-year|UK}}){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} Little Eaton-[[Holbrook, Derbyshire|Holbrook]] Improvement opened on 3 October 1977.

The £12{{nbsp}}million (£{{Format price|{{Inflation|UK|12000000|1977|{{inflation-year|UK}}|r=-1}}}} in {{inflation-year|UK}}){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} {{convert|10|mi|adj=on}} [[Ripley, Derbyshire|Ripley]]-[[Swanwick, Derbyshire|Swanwick]] Bypass was opened by [[Eric Varley]] (MP for Chesterfield) on 21 October 1977, although the section from Alfreton to the Hartshay Hill roundabout with the [[A610 road|A610]] had been open to traffic since 5 September 1977.

===Nottinghamshire===
To the east of junction 28 of the M1, the road used to be the A615 until October 1977. The alignment of this road is relatively modern as the dangerous junction with Berristow Lane was improved to grade-separated in the late 1990s, incorporating access to a busy shopping centre.

==Notable locations==
{{GeoGroup}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Image
!Name
!Location
!Coordinates
|-
|
|Southern end of A38
|[[Bodmin]], [[Cornwall]]
|{{Coord|50.4815|N|4.6984|W|region:GB-CON_type:landmark|format=dms|name=Southern end of A38}}
|-
|
|Dobwalls Bypass
|[[Cornwall]]
|{{Coord|50.460263|N|4.518428|W|region:GB-CON_type:landmark|format=dms|name=Dobwalls Bypass}}
|-
|[[File:Tamar Bridge Cornwall Devon.jpg|175px]]
|[[Tamar Bridge]]
|[[Cornwall]] & [[Devon]] border, city of [[Plymouth]]
|{{Coord|50.408107|N|4.203944|W|region:GB-CON_type:landmark|format=dms|name=Tamar Bridge}}
|-
|
|Former southern end of the Cullompton bypass
|[[Somerset]]
|{{Coord|50.819713|N|3.408288|W|region:GB-SOM_type:landmark|format=dms|name=Cullompton bypass}}
|-
|[[File:Spaghetti-Junction-Crop.jpg|175px]]
|[[Gravelly Hill Interchange|Spaghetti Junction]]
|[[Birmingham]], [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]
|{{Coord|52.511|N|1.866|W|region:GB-BIR_type:landmark|format=dms|name=Spaghetti Junction}}
|-
|
|Northern end of A38
|[[Mansfield]], [[Nottinghamshire]]
|{{Coord|53.1436|N|1.2011|W|region:GB-NTT_type:landmark|format=dms|name=Northern end of A38}}
|}

==See also==
* [[Great Britain road numbering scheme]]

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite journal |last=King |first=Peter W. |title=Some Roads out of North Worcestershire |journal=Transactions of Worcestershire Archaeological Society |series=3rd |volume=20 |date=2006 |pages=87–102}}
* {{cite book |last=Margary |first=Ivan |authorlink=Ivan Margary |date=1973 |title=Roman Roads in Britain |publisher=John Baker Publishers |url={{GBurl|CH0DAAAAMAAJ}}}}
* {{cite book |last=Ogilby |first=John |authorlink=John Ogilby |date=1675 |title=Britannia or an illustration of the Kingdom of England by a geographical and historical description of the principal roads thereof |url={{GBurl|YueJnQEACAAJ}}}}
* {{cite book |last=Pawson |first=Eric |date=1977 |title=Transport and Economy: The Turnpike Roads of Eighteenth Century Britain |publisher=Academic Press |url={{GBurl|aEUpAQAAMAAJ}} |isbn=978-0-12-546950-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Taylor |first=Christopher |authorlink=Christopher Taylor (archaeologist) |title=Roads and Tracks of Britain |year=1979 |publisher=J. M. Dent & Sons |url={{GBurl|X654AAAACAAJ}} |isbn=978-0-460-04329-8}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
* [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/a38 A38 corridor developments in Birmingham] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905185205/http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/a38 |date=5 September 2008 }}

{{GB A road zone 3}}
{{Motorways and Trunk Roads in England|state=collapsed}}
{{Streets in Birmingham}}
{{Transport in Worcestershire}}
{{Transport in Gloucestershire}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:3-0038}}
[[Category:Roads in England]]
[[Category:Transport in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Roads in Cornwall]]
[[Category:Transport in Derby]]
[[Category:Roads in Derbyshire]]
[[Category:Transport in Devon]]
[[Category:Roads in Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:Roads in Somerset]]
[[Category:Transport in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Roads in Worcestershire]]
[[Category:Streets in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Roads in Bristol]]
[[Category:Roads in Devon]]
[[Category:Roads with a reversible lane]]
[[Category:Roads in Nottinghamshire]]