Toure de France road closures etc

[Gafferjim]

As some of you may be aware, I work in one of the Northern Motorway control rooms. Yesterday we received this briefing about the impact that the Toure de France will have during this weekend. If it's any help to you, also check out the internet for the route etc.

[mgtony]

I posted yesterday about it in the London section as it's coming in from the north east of the capital on Monday morning and closing major routes in nearly all day. Traveling from East to West across it is going to be near impossible. A Sunday would have been bad enough but a Monday is going to be even worse.
Lots of Hospitals and other businesses also either closing or limiting services due to road closures and staff not being able to get in.

[Tje]

For anyone further south, if your live/work around cambridge. the whole of the centre will be closed basically from the inner ring road. A few roads at the south of cambridge as well as it makes its way south.

http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/info/20020/cyclin...

[mp3manager]

The A1 at Worksop was closed at 8pm for roadworks last night, so all TdF vehicles such as those weird promo ones and course/team cars had to go a 10 mile detour around the Nottinghamshire countryside. The roads around and through Retford are not ideal at the best of times.

Great planning.

[eddy02]

Any idea if there is anywhere to park up at the side of the road to see the race go past.The more remote the better.

[Vaud]

eddy02 said:

Any idea if there is anywhere to park up at the side of the road to see the race go past.The more remote the better.

There are some places, plenty of farmers renting out fields for £5 parking.

But be aware the roads close very, very early.

And it will be (is) chaos on all approach roads.

[All that jazz]

eddy02 said:

Any idea if there is anywhere to park up at the side of the road to see the race go past.The more remote the better.

There's signs up on most of the race roads and side roads to them in W and N Yorks stating that no parking is allowed on the race days and any that do will be towed away, so you're unlikely to be able to get your car anywhere near the race on a public road.

[Vaud]

All that jazz said:

There's signs up on most of the race roads and side roads to them in W and N Yorks stating that no parking is allowed on the race days and any that do will be towed away, so you're unlikely to be able to get your car anywhere near the race on a public road.

And the route roads are closed from 5:30AM IIRC.

[FiF]

From the Gendarmerie Nationale, "Bonjour."
and from West Yorkshire Police. "Na then, sithee"

[mgtony]

Just been on the radio, Monday entering NE London, two major hospitals only performing emergency procedures and 80 schools closed. Parents might as well try and take the day off if they can. For the rest of us, looks like an early start to get in.

[hidetheelephants]

It's a bit of a farce; the frogs manage to get by with road closure ~2hrs before the peleton whizz by and fairly rapid reopening thereafter. Are we so crap the French can organise this stuff better than we can?

[valiant]

eddy02 said:

Any idea if there is anywhere to park up at the side of the road to see the race go past.The more remote the better.

I'm watching from the end of my road!

I'm in London and it's predicted to be chaos. Loads of roads closed, buses diverted or curtailed, tubes will be mentally busy.

My borough is effectively split down the middle and getting to work would have been a complete ballache so it's an annual leave day for me! Hope the weather holds...

[eddy02]

Vaud said:

There are some places, plenty of farmers renting out fields for £5 parking.

But be aware the roads close very, very early.

And it will be (is) chaos on all approach roads.

That sounds promising.Silly early it is then,once in a lifetime so what the heck. (only thing the wife is bothered about is somewhere for a wee).

[mgtony]

valiant said:

I'm watching from the end of my road!

I'm in London and it's predicted to be chaos. Loads of roads closed, buses diverted or curtailed, tubes will be mentally busy.

My borough is effectively split down the middle and getting to work would have been a complete ballache so it's an annual leave day for me! Hope the weather holds...

I'm near you and luckily this side of Lea Bridge Road and have to head towards Tottenham and Wood Green, so hoping I'll be okay heading that way early.
I don't have a problem with events like this as long as they are nowhere near me!

[can't remember]

The organisers must be expecting this to be popular beyond belief. I live about 6 miles from a road being used in the Yorkshire section and there are signs indicating Moss Holme Parking.

[cossy400]

We load out of a place in Cambridge, and the signs are sayin the roads shut from 7am right thru till 3pm.

We normally arrive at 515 and leave at 715/730. jobs fked.

[zeduffman]

It was pretty bad when it came past the end of our road a few years ago, and that was just a small route tucked away in the south east. Expect chaos and anything better is a bonus.

[sjj84]

hidetheelephants said:

It's a bit of a farce; the frogs manage to get by with road closure ~2hrs before the peleton whizz by and fairly rapid reopening thereafter. Are we so crap the French can organise this stuff better than we can?

I'm sure that's how they did it the last two times it came to Kent. Don't remember any excessive road closures or problems.

[eddy02]

Just looked at one place that said parking possibly available but expect a 45 min walk to see the race.Er no thanks.
I want to be like the people you see on the telly,parked up with a picnic and some cow bells.

[Qwert1e]

hidetheelephants said:

It's a bit of a farce; the frogs manage to get by with road closure ~2hrs before the peleton whizz by and fairly rapid reopening thereafter. Are we so crap the French can organise this stuff better than we can?

You might be onto something. It often seems British plod has "world leading" capabilities for closing roads at the slightest opportunity and for as long as possible.