A631 road

The road starts at the M1/A6109 junction at Meadowhall. This is the northern half of Junction 34 on the M1. The road then passes under the M1 on the lower deck of the Tinsley Viaduct as a dual carriageway with the Meadowhall Shopping Centre visible to the southwest. At the southern half of junction 34 a roundabout links the road to the A6178 Sheffield Road and the A6102 Shepcote Lane (part of the Sheffield by-pass). This short section is classified as a trunk road.

File:Tinsley viaduct at sunset.jpg ]]

After the M1 the road is a single carriageway non-trunk road and heads east to Rotherham as Bawtry Road through Tinsley. It passes Tinsley Infants School and Tinsley Junior School, and on the left hand side on the corner oh Highgate is the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2662604 Pike & Heron]. The Jamia al Hudaa Sheffield, a girls' independent Muslim secondary school is on the right, and opposite Park House Lane is the Outokumpu sports and social club, with Sheffield Hallam University's Graham Solley Sports Development Centre on the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1832216 right] (where SHU play other universities at sport). The road enters the borough of Rotherham at a bend to the left, becomes the parish [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/799448 boundary] between Brinsworth and Rotherham, and there is a crossroads, with the left for Balk Lane and the BOC [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/121676 Brinsworth Operations Centre], opposite Firth Rixson Aurora Sports Club, and the right for Bonet Lane (B6067) near The Fairway. There is a left turn for [http://www.phoenixgolfclub.co.uk Phoenix Golf Club], a right turn for Brinsworth Lane near former The Atlas and the Esso Brinsworth Service Station, a right turn for Whitehill Lane (B6066, for Catcliffe, and is also the Trans Pennine Trail). It passes under a 15 ft 3 in [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/799181 railway bridge], and [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1420566 crosses] the River Rother.

File:Canklow Bridge looking east - geograph.org.uk - 799192.jpg

The road then serves as a bypass of Rotherham after it combines with the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/799179 dual-carriageway] Centenary Way (A630) at [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/799192 Canklow Roundabout]. A TOTAL garage is on the right, and a McDonald's and the Pace (former Q8) Canklow Service Station is opposite. It continues to the south-east as the non-trunk dual-carriageway [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/799160 West Bawtry Road], with [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/799172 Canklow Woods] to the east, on the side of the Rother Valley. Canklow Meadows Industrial Estate is on the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1323501 right] with Leger Holidays HQ, the large Crossroads Volvo [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/799162 truck garage], and Manheim Auctions. It is followed by the Canklow Meadows Retail Park, and it passes the Holiday Inn [http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/rotherham/emart/hoteldetail Rotherham-Sheffield] on the left (former Swallow Hotel), opposite Energy Alloys. The A630 (Rotherway) leaves to the right at the busy Rotherway Roundabout, over the River Rother, to junction 33 of the M1, with a large electrical substation to the right. The A631 used to continue to the east as a trunk single-carriageway, but was upgraded to dual carriage way to the A618, and is crosses by the Rotherham Roundwalk. The West Bawtry Road Improvement – Rotherway to Whiston Crossroads was built by Birse Civils of Barton-upon-Humber for £5 million.{{cite web |title=Crossroads work begins |url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/lifestyle/features/crossroads_work_begins_1_339381 |date=5 February 2007 |work=The Star |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024028/http://www.thestar.co.uk/lifestyle/features/crossroads_work_begins_1_339381 |archive-date=2016-03-04}}{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/5388230.stm |title=Road upgrade plan gets go-ahead |date=28 September 2006 |work=BBC News}} The A631 is now dual-carriageway between the M1 and M18 junctions.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

File:Bawtry Road, Brecks - geograph.org.uk - 208728.jpg

The A631 then continues round Rotherham [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2582470 crossing] the A618, becoming the dual-carriageway East Bawtry Road. Moorgate is to the left and Whiston is to the right – the road is the Rotherham-Whiston parish boundary. Ember Inns [https://web.archive.org/web/20111106225810/http://www.emberinns.co.uk/thehindrotherham/ The Hind] is on the right. It meets the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2299005 B6410] and the A6123 (Herringthorpe Valley Road, the Rotherham ring road) at the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/605498 Worrygoose Roundabout]. The A631 becomes a non-trunk [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2299057 road] and meets the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2582997 A6021] at the Brecks Roundabout, also meeting Brecks Lane. After the roundabout is the [http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/ROTBRE/rotherham Rotherham] Premier Inn, and [http://www.pub-explorer.com/syorks/pub/brecksrotherham.htm The Brecks] Beefeater [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2299198 pub] on the left, opposite an Esso garage. Further on the left is a small Sainsbury's, some takeaways, and Texaco The Brecks garage. It becomes [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/208728 Bawtry Road], passing the Dalton Listerdale Junior and Infants [http://www.listerdale.org/site/ School], and [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2583019 passes] through Listerdale and Wickersley with a parade of shops either side and [http://www.threehorseshoeswickersley.co.uk The Three Horseshoes] on the left, being crossed by the Rotherham Roundwalk. The [http://www.pub-explorer.com/syorks/pub/masonsarmswickersley.htm Masons Arms] is on the left, next to the Wickersley Roundabout which meets Northfield Lane from the left and [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2573324 Morthen Road] (B6060) from the right, with the St Albans CE [https://web.archive.org/web/20160309055354/http://saintalbanschool.co.uk/ primary school] to the south. It [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2573331 passes] eastwards through Bramley with Wickersley [https://web.archive.org/web/20111115230755/http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/info/200161/local_libraries/228/wickersley_community_library/1 library] and the Wickersley School and Sports College on the right, next to the footbridge, meeting the B6093 from the left (for Sunnyside) near St Francis [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/208740 church]. Rotherham Morrisons is on the right hand [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/567164 side], with access for the [https://web.archive.org/web/20110901051341/http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-3163-ibis-rotherham-east/index.shtml Rotherham East] Ibis [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1242148 hotel]. There is also the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2573335 Sir Jack] Roast Inn [https://web.archive.org/web/20110921015138/http://www.realpubco.com/roastinn/pub-food/sir-jack-rotherham-bramley/pid-M6987 carvery] and a McDonald's.

File:Do we still mine coal^ - geograph.org.uk - 530874.jpg ]]

The road crosses the M18 at Junction 1 and continues as Bawtry Road, a trunk road, through Hellaby, with a left [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/801490 turn] for the Hellaby Industrial Estate, and the large [http://www.thestockyard.co.uk Stockyard] truck stop. There are speed cameras on this stretch. It enters Maltby as Rotherham Road with a left [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2508784 turn] for Addison Road, then passes Maltby Academy and leisure centre on the left, and Hooton Levitt and St Bartholomew parish [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/55435 church] on the right. The A634 leaves to the south east for Blyth and Retford, and [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2301691 Braithwell Road] (B6376) leaves to the left. It passes through the town centre as [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2573602 High Street], passing the fire station and library on the left. It then crosses the B6427 then heads east [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2573606 towards] Tickhill, passing the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/783197 Lumley Arms]. The main landmark on the left hand side is Maltby Main Colliery, for which there is an [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2573613 entrance] on the left, opposite Maltby Wood. It [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2573619 crosses] a [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2573617 railway] and [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2301723 Scotch Spring Lane] (the Doncaster-Rotherham boundary), for Stainton, is on the left, the point where the road becomes the Doncaster-Rotherham boundary for one mile, just before being [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2508563 crossed] by a 400 kV pylon line, the point where it also enters the Doncaster postcode.

File:The Market Cross Tickhill - geograph.org.uk - 586126.jpg built in 1777, looking north along the A60, in the middle of the A631 T-junction in Tickhill in 2007]]

[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2553515 Limekiln Lane] is on the left, and the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2553508 landscape] is now mostly rural from here to Bawtry. At the junction of [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/202202 Blyth Gate Lane] on the right, the borough boundary leaves to the south along Sandbeck lane and the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2553510 road] enters the Borough of Doncaster. It passes under a railway line and [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/388436 enters] Tickhill as Rotherham Road where it [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1687734 meets] the A60 from the right. It continues along West Gate, passing the police station on the left. There is a right turn for Tickhill Castle, and the road bends sharply to the left [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2553578 near] the [https://web.archive.org/web/20111201172346/http://www.themillstone.co.uk/ Millstone]. on the left is St Mary's Church, Tickhill. The road passes along [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2553607 Castle Gate] and a JET [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2553580 garage], and at the Market Place, the A60 continues straight ahead, and the A631 leaves sharply to the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1956651 right] at a T-junction for [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2301809 Sunderland Street].

File:Tickhill from the East - geograph.org.uk - 134096.jpg

After Tickhill the road passes [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/134096 under] the A1(M) (Doncaster bypass) near a [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/377494 radio mast] then over the beginnings of the River Torne, and [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/202232 crosses] the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2556864 B6463] (for Harworth to the south) as [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2556904 Bawtry Road] at Spital Hill. It meets the Nottinghamshire boundary from the south, which follows the road all the way to Bawtry for around three miles. Harworth is to the south, and it meets [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1041501 Bawtry Road] (for Harworth) from the right. There is a bend to the left, with [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2302548 Swinnow Wood] on the left, and Plumtree Farm Industrial Estate on the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/870932 right]. The road enters Bawtry as [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2302555 Tickhill Road], with the Nottinghamshire boundary passing along the southern edge of the town. In Bawtry, next to Bawtry Hall, it meets the north-south A638, also a trunk road, the former A1.

The road starts again slightly further south off the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2208056 A638] and A614, and heads east of Bawtry passing [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2208017 under] the East Coast Main Line railway as Gainsborough Road. It then [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2350796 crosses] the River Idle at [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/650276 Bawtry Bridge] and [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1956680 enters] Nottinghamshire and Bassetlaw. The road bends to the right and becomes [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2508549 dual carriageway] as it bypasses the village of Scaftworth, which has two exits to the right; the Scaftworth bypass was built in 1936.Retford Times Friday 13 August 1982, page 6 It bends to the left and continues as the single carriageway [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2208010 Bawtry Road] (passing SPECS average speed cameras) [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2508542 through] Everton, with Harwell on the left. There is a right [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1214961 turn] for Mattersey at the [https://web.archive.org/web/20120425125544/http://www.suneverton.co.uk/ Sun Inn]. Further on the B6045 joins from Blyth at Drakeholes, where the road has been diverted to the north, over the Chesterfield Canal and Cuckoo Way. The section was improved in 1960, west of Gringley, and later in 1965 as the 'East of Drakeholes' improvement; dual carriageway was proposed on the section in the 1960s.Retford Times Friday 22 April 1966, page 14 The £215,000 Drakeholes diversion started in August 1972, to finish in early 1973, being built by A.F. Budge.Retford Times Friday 28 July 1972, page 1Retford Times Friday 29 September 1972, page 5

File:Gringley-on-the-hill - geograph.org.uk - 606395.jpg

As Gainsborough Road it passes along the top of an escarpment (Cuckoo Hill to the south) near Prospect Hill Farm, and there is a right turn for Wiseton. It passes Park House Farm and climbs Mill Hill then becomes dual carriageway at Gringley on the Hill, which it bypasses to the south on the edge of the escarpment; the bypass was built in the late 1930s.Grimsby Daily Telegraph Saturday 18 April 1936, page 2 On the bypass, [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1340131 Clayworth Road] exits to the right and [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/711485 Beacon Hill Road] (and the Trent Valley Way) to the left, both part of the B1403 (from Misterton). It climbs [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/606449 Beacon Hill], resuming the former route. To the south West Burton power stations and Cottam power stations can be [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/780067 seen]. It gently descends the hill and at Beckingham meets the A161 (from the north) at a [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1322607 roundabout] near Mill Farm. Previously it met the A161 in the village.

{{Seealso|List of rail accidents in the United Kingdom}}

There had been a terrible crash at 11.15am on Tuesday 16 April 1968 at the A631 level crossing, which made national news, where five occupants were killed, including three children. It was the 10am York to Great Yarmouth train, and the level crossing was a new automatic half-barrier, which had been installed 18 months earlier. The driver of the car was John Hilton, aged 50, manager of the New Charnwood Restaurant at Blyth, Nottinghamshire, with his two sons Stuart, 8, and Irvine, 9, and his daughter Sheena, 13, and with his mother-in-law Maria Moody.Nottingham Evening Post Tuesday 16 April 1968, page 1 His wife, May, was elsewhere.Retford Times Friday 19 April 1968, page 1 A.F. Budge were given the £725,301 contract for the Beckingham bypass in March 1973, to take 18 months from April 1973; the bypass was finished in January 1974, with soil from the Gainsborough relief road, eight months early.Nottingham Evening Post Tuesday 13 March 1973, page 24Retford Times Friday 23 March 1973, page 4Retford Times Friday 25 January 1974, page 1

File:Trent Port Inn - geograph.org.uk - 1484676.jpg

The road becomes [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1322665 dual carriageway] again as the road follows the Beckingham Bypass, then reaches another roundabout with the A620, from the south (and for Retford). The road continues as dual carriageway, crossing the Doncaster to Lincoln Line, with the former road being [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1719669 Ramper Road] to the south, and becomes the single carriageway [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1322652 The Flood Road], on the former route, being the Beckingham-Saundby parish boundary. Approaching Gainsborough it [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1956686 passes] the Stonehouse [https://www.stonehouserestaurants.co.uk/nationalsearch/eastandwestmidlands/thetrentportgainsborough#/ Trent Port]. Crossing Trent Bridge, Gainsborough it enters West Lindsey and Lincolnshire. It then goes through Gainsborough, meeting two spurs of [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1484693 Lea Road] (A156) and Trinity Street (A159) at a [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2219290 roundabout]. There is an [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/699534 exit] for Thorndike Way, the A631 Gainsborough Relief Road, started by Tarmac in late 1972, and opened on Friday 10 May 1974.Nottingham Evening Post Saturday 11 May 1974, page 11 Lindsey County Council intended to continue the dual carriageway all the way to the A15 at Caenby Corner. On the southern relief road, it passes The Gainsborough Academy (former Trent Valley Academy) to the south, and there is a [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2350222 right turn] at [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2459853 traffic lights] for Heapham Road. [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2350229 Corringham Road] (B1433), the former route, is to the left, and nearby is the Road Safety Markings Association.

File:RAF Hemswell aerial view IWM HU 53994.jpg and 144, both flying Hampdens with 5 Group ]]

At [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/326705 Woodhouse Farm] it resumes its [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2545209 former route]. As [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2495398 Corringham Road] it enters Corringham, [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2534440 passing] the Beckett Arms. There is a left turn for Hemswell Lane, and it continues as [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/263134 Harpswell Lane], becoming the parish boundary for two miles between Hemswell and Harpswell. It [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2508534 climbs] the Lincoln Cliff to meet [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2350086 Middle Street] (B1398) at a [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2291202 roundabout] at Harpswell. It becomes the parish boundary between Hemswell Cliff and Harpswell, with the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/123529 former] RAF Hemswell (where The Dam Busters was filmed in 1954) adjacent on the left, and the [http://www.hemswellcourt.com/ Hemswell Court] conference centre on the right. There is a right turn for Dog Kennel Road (for Glentworth). The road becomes the parish boundary of Hemswell Cliff and Glentworth. At Caenby Corner it meets the A15 at a roundabout near the TOTAL [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1316496 Caenby Corner Garage], and passes through the parish of Glentham. Near Highfield Farm it becomes the parish boundary of Glentham and Caenby, then [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/68025 passes] through Glentham and the [http://www.pub-explorer.com/olpg/crowninn/glentham/index.htm Crown Inn], and in the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/194079 distance] are the Lincolnshire Wolds. At Bishopbridge it crosses the River Ancholme, which is its must southern navigable point. It passes [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/783620 The Bell] and becomes the parish boundary between Osgodby (to the north) and West Rasen (to the south).

At [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1896684 Kingerby Wood], the A1103 continues for four miles to the left as a trunk road to the A46, and the A631 leaves to the right as a non-trunk road. Most traffic will follow the A1103 for Grimsby. The road becomes more twisty and meets a [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2508526 roundabout] at West Rasen, where it crosses the River Rase. As Gainsborough Road it [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/194649 meets] the trunk road A46, from the right, at Middle Rasen where the A46 does not have priority. It follows the A46 for a half-mile, and the A46 continues to the left, with the A631 leaving at a right turn. It enters Market Rasen as Gainsborough Road then becomes [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1316522 King Street]. It meets the B1202 (former A46) from the left, and as Queen Street passes [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1322483 under] the Newark to Grimsby Line then is crosses by the B1203 at [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2670588 traffic lights]. As [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1108268 Willingham Road] it passes the De Aston School and Market Rasen Racecourse on the right. In Tealby parish it [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2508342 passes] through [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/466850 Willingham Woods].

It [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2457769 passes] through North Willingham, with a right turn for Sixhills. It then [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2457770 ascends] the western [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/205799 edge] of the Lincolnshire Wolds as Willingham Road to 142 metres height, crossing [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2579205 Caistor High Street] (B1225) at Boucherette Farm, where it enters East Lindsey. It [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/305319 passes] through Ludford where it is briefly followed by the Viking Way, passing the [https://web.archive.org/web/20120425132905/http://www.blackhorseludford.co.uk/ Black Horse] on the right and the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1960194 White Hart]. At a crossroads the Viking Way leaves to the right. It [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/346481 passes] through the parish of Calcethorpe with Kelstern, with a left turn for Kelstern. It passes Cotes Grange Farm with a [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/346453 crossroads] for Welton le Wold, to the right. It passes through South Elkington, where in the parish of Elikington it [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2669430 terminates] at the A157 just outside Louth {{nowrap|({{coord|53.3652|-0.0339|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=A631 road (eastern end)}}).}}

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Category:Bassetlaw District

Category:East Lindsey District

Category:Roads in England

Category:Roads in Lincolnshire

Category:Roads in Yorkshire

Category:Rotherham

Category:Transport in South Yorkshire

Category:Roads in Nottinghamshire

Category:West Lindsey District