Why ? Bryn effing Glas effing tunnel..
Discussion
Does anyone know as to why the westbound Brynglas tunnel is ALWAYS displaying a 50mph speed restriction....???
It doesn't matter when I go through there (I do it at least once or twice a week) it's ALWAYS 50mph, even on a weekend at 2am Sunday morning, when I've not seen another car driving along the M4 all the way from the Coldra roundabout...
Eastbound it's seldom restricted unless there is lots of traffic...
Is driving westbound through that tunnel really that difficult?
It really, really, really *%#"s me off....
It doesn't matter when I go through there (I do it at least once or twice a week) it's ALWAYS 50mph, even on a weekend at 2am Sunday morning, when I've not seen another car driving along the M4 all the way from the Coldra roundabout...
Eastbound it's seldom restricted unless there is lots of traffic...
Is driving westbound through that tunnel really that difficult?
It really, really, really *%#"s me off....
I feel your pain !! Grips my s
t !!
Someone needs to sort it out west bound always 50 east bound allows 70
And even though it's 50 if you can get to 50 with all the brain dead drivers leaving huge gapes and carrying on at 30 also causes chaos !!
Just make it 70 for a few weeks and see the difference !!
Anyone know who we can complain to about this ?
t !! Someone needs to sort it out west bound always 50 east bound allows 70
And even though it's 50 if you can get to 50 with all the brain dead drivers leaving huge gapes and carrying on at 30 also causes chaos !!
Just make it 70 for a few weeks and see the difference !!
Anyone know who we can complain to about this ?
CelticWebs said:
Wasn't it something to do with the tunnel having been weakened when that lorry caught fire in there?
Go to the top of the class !!!Just found this on another site:
Essentially the lighting is damaged because of the fire back in 2011... FFS how long would it take to replace the bloody lights ?? I truly despair of the UK at times...
http://keepgrinning.com/the-never-varying-variable...
The never varying variable speed limit of the M4 at Newport
It is said that “You never know unless you ask”. So I have pondered over the last few years “Why the hell is west bound section of the M4 past Newport always set to 50Mph?” It makes no sense. Over the last 10 years, the congestion along the M4 in South Wales has been horrific. But it was going to be OK, as it was going to make everything better in the long run.
So after years of work, the section of motorway near Cardiff got an extra lane. The metal centre barrier was replaced with a concrete wall. And Newport got a variable speed limit. I vaguely remember a time back in early 2011 when it was possible to drive past Newport at over 50Mph. But for years, now the west bound section between J25 to J26 has been set to 50Mph. Regardless to time of day or night, weather conditions or temperature, always 50Mph. Whats the point of a variable limit that never changes?
So I asked. I asked Traffic Wales. And I’m surprised I got an answer. So I’ll strip out the three paragraphs of rational and get to the actual answer.
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Q: Why is there a section of the west bound M4 variable speed limit section that never varies?
A: On the Westbound Carriageway, following the Brynglas Tunnel Fire in 2011, reduced lighting has been in operation which requires the permanent display of a 50MPH speed limit being applied on the approach and travel through the tunnel. Welsh Government are seeking to provide a more permanent solution through provision of new lighting in the westbound bore of the tunnel. Such a solution will have a significant impact on the road network during works to install these and must therefore be carefully scoped and planned prior to any works taking place.
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So what ever you do, please don’t tell the Welsh that when the sun goes down it gets dark. Otherwise they have a nation wide 50Mph maximum speed restriction in place.
Seesure said:
So what ever you do, please don’t tell the Welsh that when the sun goes down it gets dark. Otherwise they have a nation wide 50Mph maximum speed restriction in place.
That's exactly what I was thinking, we have darkness! Maybe the Welsh Government don't realise this. I hope they don't get even more power as we may get a blanket 50mph on all Welsh motorways, simply because they can.jmorgan said:
I think assembly are afraid of the chaos if there is another bump and quite frankly I don't blame them, driving standards what they are. That section can be a mare at times. 70 will do you no good when it is rush hour.
I agree at rush hour, it truly is mad, however it does appear that a large percent of drivers take the opportunity to call their mates/home/loved ones for a chat based on the amount I see with their phones glued to their ears.Perhaps having some mobile police patrolling may reduce the use of mobiles as well as improving driving standards.
However it would be nice to be able to do 70 when the road is clear....
That section had a major overhaul some years ago (before the last one for the concrete barrier) to try to stop rat runs clogging it up. It is just busy because it is what it is, a two lane with three lanes either side and a long downhill leading to it and the main arteries route into S Wales. People barge up the inside to get to the front, wagons are quite often scary down that slope and coaches quite often just put the blinkers on and gun it.
The exit at the end of the tunnel is also not helping matters. People slow down to get off the motorway. People can shout and jump and point all they want but that is what people will do. I have managed to get a nice resonance through them over the years but accept that this is probably here for the duration.
The quicker they get a relief section in and bury the greenies with it, the better. But it is less than a mile outside rush hour. The clag never really clears until past the Cardiff exit.
I think recent closures dues to accidents are a big worry.
The exit at the end of the tunnel is also not helping matters. People slow down to get off the motorway. People can shout and jump and point all they want but that is what people will do. I have managed to get a nice resonance through them over the years but accept that this is probably here for the duration.
The quicker they get a relief section in and bury the greenies with it, the better. But it is less than a mile outside rush hour. The clag never really clears until past the Cardiff exit.
I think recent closures dues to accidents are a big worry.
Timely - I was only thinking how patchy and oddly laid out the lights were there today.
Not much of an issue in reality but I guess sitting on hands and doing nothing is even simpler than coning off a lane at night and getting some sparks in?
Still - a few billion on the relief road will sort it!
Not much of an issue in reality but I guess sitting on hands and doing nothing is even simpler than coning off a lane at night and getting some sparks in?
Still - a few billion on the relief road will sort it!
I asked the very same question to Traffic Wales recently, as was getting cheesed off with being tailgated by HGVs through that seemingly pointless & short 50mph limit. Same response, but they admitted it was a permanent limit and also added that a contract to refurbish both tunnel bores will be commencing shortly and will address the issue of the lighting, so it might just be completed by the time the relief road opens.
It's making things worse that's for sure. Regulars know there are no cameras there so either tailgate or fly down the inside lane towards the tunnel & cut back in at the last minute as they know there'll be gaps.
The bottom line though is that it's just a shockingly designed bit of road with too many curves and elevation changes which when added to driver incompetence equals accidents.
The bottom line though is that it's just a shockingly designed bit of road with too many curves and elevation changes which when added to driver incompetence equals accidents.
Sargeant Orange said:
It's making things worse that's for sure. Regulars know there are no cameras there so either tailgate or fly down the inside lane towards the tunnel & cut back in at the last minute as they know there'll be gaps.
I never fly, I merely amble 
But yes its so stupid they CAUSE congestion. The opposite of what they are supposed to doing!the ironic thing is that the lights that were erected after the lorry fire in 2011, are nothing more than strip tubes from Screwfix held on with tie wraps. The light they give off is better than the original crap in the rest of the tunnels.
They are probably still waiting for the insurance pay out from the tanker that caught alight.
They are probably still waiting for the insurance pay out from the tanker that caught alight.
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