M3 Nightmare Continues!
Discussion
I had something similar 2 weeks ago. Joined at Basingstoke (Junction 6) to head towards Camberley. It was after 10 so I expected it to be shut at J4 or 4a anyway, but what surprised me was that all signs from Fleet services onwards were still displaying the normal "daytime" 3 lanes move slightly left and narrow & 50MPH, but there was nothing indicating upcoming lane closures or a complete closure.
The first you saw of it was approaching the 4a slip road, with all 3 lanes still open / live, when a line of flashing cones started on the right and within 250 yards it had narrowed the 3 lanes down to barely a lane & a half width which ensured you exited at 4a. Thankfully it was quiet and there was nothing else around otherwise if anything had been in the outer 2 lanes they wouldn't have had a lot of time to merge left.
Of course the only diversion available once you exited was going back on yourself via Minley towards the Blackbushe / A30 r/bout. The motorway bridge itself was also shut (no advance signage except some barriers on that exit of the r/bout and a "Closed" sign) which resulted in some people accidently driving straight on into Guillemont Park trying to find their bearings - mainly due to the lack of a big "Diversion" sign telling people where to go. Eventually you then end up on the Blackbushe A30 r/bout, which is currently narrowed right down to one lane due to gas works, where it was barely passable for big lorries trying to turn right and follow the diversion back to The Meadows, Camberley, Bagshot, etc.
I pity anyone that night wanting to get to Cove/Farnborough/Fleet as rather than just being able to go over the bridge and being 5 minutes away they'd have had at least another 15/20 minutes worth of diversion round the back roads or the A30 & Frimley.
One thing I will say though - driving over the Maultway bridge or Ravenswood r/bout during the night - I don't think I've ever seen that many contractors working on this stretch since they started the works god knows how many years ago. Maybe they should have had that level of workman out from the start and it would have actually been finished in 2015 - you know, when it was originally promised to have been completed by
The first you saw of it was approaching the 4a slip road, with all 3 lanes still open / live, when a line of flashing cones started on the right and within 250 yards it had narrowed the 3 lanes down to barely a lane & a half width which ensured you exited at 4a. Thankfully it was quiet and there was nothing else around otherwise if anything had been in the outer 2 lanes they wouldn't have had a lot of time to merge left.
Of course the only diversion available once you exited was going back on yourself via Minley towards the Blackbushe / A30 r/bout. The motorway bridge itself was also shut (no advance signage except some barriers on that exit of the r/bout and a "Closed" sign) which resulted in some people accidently driving straight on into Guillemont Park trying to find their bearings - mainly due to the lack of a big "Diversion" sign telling people where to go. Eventually you then end up on the Blackbushe A30 r/bout, which is currently narrowed right down to one lane due to gas works, where it was barely passable for big lorries trying to turn right and follow the diversion back to The Meadows, Camberley, Bagshot, etc.
I pity anyone that night wanting to get to Cove/Farnborough/Fleet as rather than just being able to go over the bridge and being 5 minutes away they'd have had at least another 15/20 minutes worth of diversion round the back roads or the A30 & Frimley.
One thing I will say though - driving over the Maultway bridge or Ravenswood r/bout during the night - I don't think I've ever seen that many contractors working on this stretch since they started the works god knows how many years ago. Maybe they should have had that level of workman out from the start and it would have actually been finished in 2015 - you know, when it was originally promised to have been completed by
Edited by AlexRS2782 on Monday 19th June 15:22
AlexRS2782 said:
One thing I will say though - driving over the Maultway bridge or Ravenswood r/bout during the night - I don't think I've ever seen that many contractors working on this stretch since they started the works god knows how many years ago. Maybe they should have had that level of workman out from the start and it would have actually been finished in 2015 - you know, when it was originally promised to have been completed by
Well there will be loads of activity as it seems there is some desperation to meet the "Summer 2017" completion deadline (rather than the 2015 deadline that nobody took seriously anyway)! Edited by AlexRS2782 on Monday 19th June 15:22
Still I'm looking forward to the misery that completion will bring - assuming I'm not dead by then!! (Might be a better option to be fair)!
Enjoy the 40/50 mph "motorway" everyone - because that is the best you can hope for, and don't get confused about the changing limits, because they are the revenue generators!
HorneyMX5 said:
Indeed. Very odd if you ask me, don't think I've ever seen another 55mph limit in my 22 years of driving. I initially thought someone had doctored the signs for a laugh as everyone always does 55 anyway.
my ford only marks the speedo at 10mph increments, making 55mph harder to regulate to.FurtiveFreddy said:
Have they finished work completely there now and opened all 4 lanes? I came back that way yesterday and it looked like there wasn't much more to do.
it feels like there can't be much left - they've started removing the temporary barriers, and several sections have new surface and white lines. The "55" signage caught me by surprise when I joined at J4 (heading southbound) earlier today too and I did a double take at the next sign to ensure it was correct and I wasn't imagining things. Very strange - never seen that limit before through roadworks,
I noticed that there's still a few patches of tarmac around / shortly after 4A that could do with being repaired / resurfaced properly, but I can't see them doing it as they appear to be after where the "managed" section will end So straight off some decent smooth road and straight into a nice trough
I noticed that there's still a few patches of tarmac around / shortly after 4A that could do with being repaired / resurfaced properly, but I can't see them doing it as they appear to be after where the "managed" section will end So straight off some decent smooth road and straight into a nice trough
FurryExocet said:
They are rushing to get it all finished, as it's supposed to be all open on June 30th!
Then the fun begins, 8 cameras along the new stretch, but not all live, you just won't know which ones! They won't even tell us
Are these the cameras off to the left of the main gantry where the "managed" speed signs are? I've been travelling more lately and seen them a lot in the Midlands. is this a new thing or have I been stuck at home too long?Then the fun begins, 8 cameras along the new stretch, but not all live, you just won't know which ones! They won't even tell us
ffc said:
Are these the cameras off to the left of the main gantry where the "managed" speed signs are? I've been travelling more lately and seen them a lot in the Midlands. is this a new thing or have I been stuck at home too long?
They're just a different version of the HADECS3 cameras. Time will tell what trigger speeds they're going to be set to.Ranger 6 said:
So...... what's with the speed limit change?
Edit: I should've read further up. Appears it's been there for a while. Strange as the other way is still 50
Yeah, it appeared on Friday. Strange isn't it. Why bother with a new temporary limit when the works only have a short while left.Edit: I should've read further up. Appears it's been there for a while. Strange as the other way is still 50
Edited by Ranger 6 on Sunday 25th June 14:05
HorneyMX5 said:
Ej74 said:
limits up to 55 just prior to junction 4
Indeed. Very odd if you ask me, don't think I've ever seen another 55mph limit in my 22 years of driving. I initially thought someone had doctored the signs for a laugh as everyone always does 55 anyway. Gassing Station | Thames Valley & Surrey | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff