A43 road

The A43 is a primary road running from the M40 motorway near Ardley in Oxfordshire to Stamford in Lincolnshire. It bypasses the Northamptonshire towns of Northampton, Kettering and Corby, linking them to the M1 motorway. The section between the M40 and M1 is a trunk road managed by National Highways, while the rest is maintained by local authorities. The road passes through rural villages and bypasses historic towns like Towcester and Brackley. It also provides access to Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix. During race weekends, the A43 closes to through traffic between Brackley and Towcester. The A43’s upgrades reflect its importance as a transport corridor. The dual carriageway between the M1 and Towcester was completed in 1991, extended to the M40 in the early 2000s. A new bypass near Moulton is under construction, due for completion in 2018. The road bypasses Kettering on a new dual carriageway, while the old route still runs through the town centre. Near Corby, the Corby Link Road opened in 2014, improving connections to the A6003. The A43 also passes close to historic estates like Deene Park and rural villages such as Bulwick. The road offers long stretches of open countryside, especially north of Northampton. It passes through woodlands and near grand estates before reaching Stamford. The route bypasses Duddington and Collyweston, where it meets the A47 and A1. Near Stamford, the A43 crosses the River Welland on its way to the A1175. The road’s history dates back to 1923, when it originally ran from Kidlington to Stamford. Later changes followed the opening of the M40 and the Oxford Ring Road, altering its southern terminus.