Bad roads that just don't work.
Discussion
I was sitting in traffic today and was pondering how bad traffic is for certain roads regardless of the time of day.
My jam was yet again on the M25 between J12-J16 clockwise and anti clockwise. I drive at various times of the day rarely in rush hour but I cannot remember not being caught in trafic in the last 30 or so journeys I have made.
It always seem to be around Heathrow and I was pondering how bad it would become if the third runway does get built. Could it then be the worst in the country?..
My jam was yet again on the M25 between J12-J16 clockwise and anti clockwise. I drive at various times of the day rarely in rush hour but I cannot remember not being caught in trafic in the last 30 or so journeys I have made.
It always seem to be around Heathrow and I was pondering how bad it would become if the third runway does get built. Could it then be the worst in the country?..
A57 Glossop to M67.
These roads are the only major Penine crossings between the M62 (Leeds) and the A6 (Derby)
They meet in to a single lane with some village centre traffic lights at the top of a hill.
Coming the other way the M67 goes from three lanes in to one with the same lights about 1 mile after the reduction.
These roads are the only major Penine crossings between the M62 (Leeds) and the A6 (Derby)
They meet in to a single lane with some village centre traffic lights at the top of a hill.
Coming the other way the M67 goes from three lanes in to one with the same lights about 1 mile after the reduction.
MercScot said:
Try the A27 between Lewes and Polegate to which our ex transport minister blocked improvements for 20 years. He lost his seat at the last election.
Any time of day, its a virtual car park.
I went up to Firle Beacon recently in the middle of the afternoon mid week.Any time of day, its a virtual car park.
Took me nearly 10 minutes to find a big enough gap for a safe right turn towards Polegate.
https://goo.gl/maps/2eNKH
talksthetorque said:
A57 Glossop to M67.
These roads are the only major Penine crossings between the M62 (Leeds) and the A6 (Derby)
They meet in to a single lane with some village centre traffic lights at the top of a hill.
Coming the other way the M67 goes from three lanes in to one with the same lights about 1 mile after the reduction.
IIRC the M67 goes from 3 lanes to 2 about two thirds of a mile before its end at the A57/A560 roundabout.These roads are the only major Penine crossings between the M62 (Leeds) and the A6 (Derby)
They meet in to a single lane with some village centre traffic lights at the top of a hill.
Coming the other way the M67 goes from three lanes in to one with the same lights about 1 mile after the reduction.
Mottram and Hollingworth are a PITA. There are the lights at the A57/B6174 crossroads closely followed by those where the A57 and the A6018 from Stalybridge converge at the top of the hill. At the bottom the A628 and A57 diverge. The whole length is often completely choked.
https://goo.gl/maps/gDlZM
The A21 between the Tonbridge and Pembury bypasses has been a problem for over 25 years. This section is currently being upgraded to a 2 lane d/c but won't be finished until 2017.
A17 Newark to Kings Lynn. Very few stretches of dual carriageway, not many decent straights, infested with speed cameras, hordes of lorries thanks to the numerous food distribution centres along the route and tractors to contend with as well. Overtaking opportunities, as a result, are few and far between so you spend much of the journey the journey plodding along at 40mph.
A10 Kings Lynn to Cambridge. Much like the above, but even fewer places to overtake and even busier!
A10 Kings Lynn to Cambridge. Much like the above, but even fewer places to overtake and even busier!
At the other end of the scale, the A357 through mid Dorset.
Not a single improved section or bypass, just intermittent 30, 40, and 50 limits for mile upon mile, and virtually no overtaking opportunities.
Add the fact that it features lots of lorries and you have the hell that is 50% of my daily commute.
Generally I pull out onto it in the morning, catch a train of cars following a lorry, and know that I will follow them or the next 15 miles.
Not a single improved section or bypass, just intermittent 30, 40, and 50 limits for mile upon mile, and virtually no overtaking opportunities.
Add the fact that it features lots of lorries and you have the hell that is 50% of my daily commute.
Generally I pull out onto it in the morning, catch a train of cars following a lorry, and know that I will follow them or the next 15 miles.
M40/A43 junction - I can't believe they still haven't fixed it (although they did install lights 
)
http://www.cbrd.co.uk/badjunctions/40-43/
Forcing the northbound M40-A43 traffic to cross the southbound A43-M40 traffic on a roundabout is simple stupidity - especially when the original junction did not feature this idiocy. Someone sat down and re-designed the junction to break it.
ETA - seems they may have fixed it? http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/a43...
)http://www.cbrd.co.uk/badjunctions/40-43/
Forcing the northbound M40-A43 traffic to cross the southbound A43-M40 traffic on a roundabout is simple stupidity - especially when the original junction did not feature this idiocy. Someone sat down and re-designed the junction to break it.
ETA - seems they may have fixed it? http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/a43...
Edited by Puggit on Monday 13th July 09:26
W12GT said:
I was sitting in traffic today and was pondering how bad traffic is for certain roads regardless of the time of day.
My jam was yet again on the M25 between J12-J16 clockwise and anti clockwise. I drive at various times of the day rarely in rush hour but I cannot remember not being caught in trafic in the last 30 or so journeys I have made.
It always seem to be around Heathrow and I was pondering how bad it would become if the third runway does get built. Could it then be the worst in the country?..
Can't count the number of times the speed cameras have flashed me when NSL is in force going north towards the M4 on that stretch! Southbound coming up to the M3 is always a PITA thoughlMy jam was yet again on the M25 between J12-J16 clockwise and anti clockwise. I drive at various times of the day rarely in rush hour but I cannot remember not being caught in trafic in the last 30 or so journeys I have made.
It always seem to be around Heathrow and I was pondering how bad it would become if the third runway does get built. Could it then be the worst in the country?..
The A470 South from Abercynon to Cardiff, both on the main dual carriageway and Manor way coming into Cardiff. On my 7:30 commute there is rarely a day where the whole stretch from Pontypridd to Gabalfa isn't bumper to bumper. More often than not it's because some wing nut has smashed someones back doors in. I often see people enjoying their breakfast, shaving, brushing teeth or texting while driving.
Could use a third lane in both directions but it's much more likely that they'll just put temp speed limits in place with gantry cameras which will catch people speeding when it's quieter but the morons will get away with driving as mentioned above.
Could use a third lane in both directions but it's much more likely that they'll just put temp speed limits in place with gantry cameras which will catch people speeding when it's quieter but the morons will get away with driving as mentioned above.
Edited by dci on Tuesday 14th July 01:14
A453 from the M1 into Nottingham has been a joke for years - to be honest not always jammed, but also bloody unpredictable - massive jams at what should be quiet times (and were last time I tried) and unexpectedly empty (v infrequently). Currently being dualled but with tram works, has been about 3 years of hell and I am dubious about the prospects when it's done.
Special mention to the continuing balls-up that is the M1 Junction. For ages it's been apparent that there's a lot of flow from A42 to A453 and from A50 to A453, all of which has been (and even after the recent mucking about, still is) channelled onto the roundabout. Anyone could see in 1990 that a couple of flyovers would be a great idea - and no doubt in about another 20 years, they will be there.
Special mention to the continuing balls-up that is the M1 Junction. For ages it's been apparent that there's a lot of flow from A42 to A453 and from A50 to A453, all of which has been (and even after the recent mucking about, still is) channelled onto the roundabout. Anyone could see in 1990 that a couple of flyovers would be a great idea - and no doubt in about another 20 years, they will be there.
W12GT said:
I was sitting in traffic today and was pondering how bad traffic is for certain roads regardless of the time of day.
My jam was yet again on the M25 between J12-J16 clockwise and anti clockwise. I drive at various times of the day rarely in rush hour but I cannot remember not being caught in trafic in the last 30 or so journeys I have made.
It always seem to be around Heathrow and I was pondering how bad it would become if the third runway does get built. Could it then be the worst in the country?..
So what exactly makes you think it isn't already???!! Try it any Monday between 7 and 9 am or any Friday between 2 and 7 pm.My jam was yet again on the M25 between J12-J16 clockwise and anti clockwise. I drive at various times of the day rarely in rush hour but I cannot remember not being caught in trafic in the last 30 or so journeys I have made.
It always seem to be around Heathrow and I was pondering how bad it would become if the third runway does get built. Could it then be the worst in the country?..
We have more than 25% of the population in the South East but less than 10 motorways, and 1 of those gets closed every time dock workers in Calais want a day or two off - no wonder it doesn't work!
Edited by Mr Tidy on Monday 20th July 22:10
The A14 from Brampton Hut to Cambridge. A dangerous, overcrowded death trap littered with average speed cameras, awful junctions, tailgating knobbers, tractors, badly driven foreign lorries and other sundry s
t that I've probably forgotten about.
The A1 from Huntingdon to Biggleswade. It is quite frankly a massive piss take that in 2015, one of the major trunk routes leading to our capital city has not been completed to motorway standard. Roundabouts, particularly traffic controlled ones, have no place on major routes.
The M1 from Junction 14 south has quite simply become a massive shambles since the managed motorway was put in place. There are almost daily accidents, jams and delays. And just to cheer everyone up, I heard on the news today that there are plans to extend the Smart motorway north of MK.
t that I've probably forgotten about.The A1 from Huntingdon to Biggleswade. It is quite frankly a massive piss take that in 2015, one of the major trunk routes leading to our capital city has not been completed to motorway standard. Roundabouts, particularly traffic controlled ones, have no place on major routes.
The M1 from Junction 14 south has quite simply become a massive shambles since the managed motorway was put in place. There are almost daily accidents, jams and delays. And just to cheer everyone up, I heard on the news today that there are plans to extend the Smart motorway north of MK.
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