M3 Nightmare Continues!

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Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
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Total loss said:
Kinky said:
"Officially" open and only £50M over budget!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-404737...
And in a online news interview I read this evening, open on time, said the project manager.
I went from J2 to J4 around 21.30 tonight, and yes it was open (normally shut by around 20.30) but it's way off from being finished!

One lane of the off-slip from the M25 was still coned off, the 50 average b*llocks was still in operation as they presumably haven't quite worked out how to create a queue using stupid speed limits, etc. (they could get some tips from the morons operating the M25 stretch from J12 to J11 as that is usually travelling at 20 to 25 mph - makes the posted 50 limit a dream)!

I read the same comment about the quoted "project manager" - he must have got his job last week! It has over-run by over a year, just to put up some gantries, a concrete barrier up the middle and to widen a few slip roads!

Still it could be worse, but luckily I don't use the M4 anymore. I think that is the next planned disaster area!

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Wednesday 5th July 2017
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Melman Giraffe said:
My Mrs said all lanes open yesterday - 55 limit still in place
I use J2 to J4 every week and have never seen a 55 limit posted - presumably it is somewhere between J4 and J4A?

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Wednesday 5th July 2017
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Smithy99 said:
IF the speed limit is increased and LHR exit returns to 2 lanes, then it will be an improvement but jury is still out.

Edited by Smithy99 on Tuesday 4th July 13:10
I doubt we'll ever see a 70 limit again to be honest! I never do on the M25 J12 to J11 even in the middle of the day!

It would also be good if the J12 M25 to M3 junction got a decent slip road!

I really can't see any of it being an improvement, but having taken so long it's hard to remember what it was like before interference - maybe that is why it has taken/is taking so long! laugh

50 limits by the back door maybe?mad

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Thursday 6th July 2017
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I used it from J4 to J2 yesterday afternoon and it was quite a treat to have 4 lanes to choose from - even if people only seem to use 3 of them!

But when I came home around 21.00 the gantries on the A3 said the M3 was closed from J2 to J4a (just for a change) so it really isn't finished is it? furious

So I stayed on the A3 heading for the A31 only to discover that as a special treat someone thought it was a good idea to close one lane of the A3 from the Guildford turn-off up to just past the cathedral - WTF! I'm guessing the guy with more than half a brain cell is on holiday this week. banghead

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
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Who is this Richard Reid c*nt?

It isn't even vaguely finished - Monday night around 20.30 it was closed again from J2 to J4a!

Strange that the 2 links on his letter give a 404 error. laugh Just what I would expect - it's a total f*ck-up!

Get off your ar*e and try to use it - a dose of reality is what you need!

Finished before I die would be fantastic, but that probably won't happen - actually open would be a rare treat!

It's taken over 3 years to make some refuges, put in concrete barriers and stick up a few gantries and Mr Reid's wombles still haven't finished it yet!

Must surely be the same contractor that spent over a year making a roundabout on the A3095 for access to Broadmoor - contactor should be in Broadmoor. The inmates (sorry, "patients") are more in touch with reality!

It is pitiful, at best! banghead





Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Friday 14th July 2017
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benawhile said:
Does anyone else get the bulletins from Kathryn Boyce on behalf of Balfour Beattie? They used to be informative and are still accurate, the bad news is that today's one states that even though the main upgrade is finished, night time closures for Woodlands Bridge and other unspecified works will continue until next year now, moreover, in spite of earlier estimates, the night closures are at saturation level, 2 to 4a every night both directions for the next three weeks apart from junctions 2-3 southbound open sat and sun.
I get these bulletins 2 or three times a week now but if ever a section is listed as not being closed a week ahead or more, then by the next bulletin it will be changed to closed.
There is now little sign that saturation night time closures will end before next year.
I am beginning to wonder if we are working toward an eternally part time road system, open for getting to work, but if you want to go out at night, forget it!
No, but it doesn't look like I'm missing much!

Finished means finished - routinely closed surely means it isn't finished? mad

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Saturday 15th July 2017
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ote=ffc]
benawhile said:
ffc I couldn't say whether this is normal, all I can say is that the scheduled closures don't start until 8 pm.
The motorway wasn't closed nor were there any signs saying it would be, it's just that J3 was very congested.
What is the difference?

Closure is pretty much routine after 20.00, it isn't close to being finished despite what the two incompetents watching a bloke with a shovel say, and any closure is surely an admission of non-completion?furious

It's been a total f*ck-up for more than 3 years - why not just admit defeat when you have already missed 2 posted dead-lines?

Shambolic would be higher praise than it deserves. laugh


Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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I didn't spot any workpersons(!) when I went from J4 to J2 yesterday around 14.15, but maybe it was tea-break time. laugh

Mind you the gantries were working which they weren't a week ago.

Didn't spot anything when I came home at 23.30 because it was shut just for a change, so I had to use the A3, A31 and A331 as usual!

I'll only regard it as finished when they stop closing it! furious


Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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Planet Claire said:
I was thinking the same thing the other week - are there any other motorways that go into a single lane? I tend to be driving towards London at rush-hour and the M3 queues southbound are sometimes horrendous. Surely the M3 is the main carriageway and should continue as 2-lane from just after the partition with M25 sliproad, and the sliproads joining in from the M25 should merge in to the new lane(s)? Like you, I feel this will be a permanent feature.
Yes, M4 eastbound onto M25 was built with 2 lanes but now only has 1, as does M25 anti-clockwise onto M4 westbound - and that's before they start the work to F*ck the M4 up as a "Smart" motorway! laugh

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Wednesday 26th July 2017
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JackReacher said:
FurtiveFreddy said:
It seems to work like this for most people:

1. Join motorway. Signal is optional.
2. Choose a lane between 2 and 4. Do not use 1 as that's the one for lorries/slow drivers/caravans.
3. Stay in your chosen lane whatever happens. It's safer and avoids the need to look in mirrors/use signal/use brain (if present).
4. If limit is 50, try and drive at 49-51 unless there's a slight incline in which case the car seems to slow down, which is weird.
5. When approx. 50 yards from your exit, find a gap smaller than your vehicle and try and move into it avoiding use of signals whenever possible.
6. Go home and complain to anyone who listens about all the bad driving you saw on your way home.
I would add:-

If the car in front pulls over into a slower lane, accelerate quickly until you are along side that car, and slow back to 50mph. You then don't have to worry about the other driver getting in front you again as they will have to slow down before they can pull in behind you when they need to pass a slower car.
I would add 1a. Don't worry about traffic on the motorway, just arrive at whatever speed you feel like and move to your right - they'll usually swerve to avoid you!

I think I'll regard it as properly finished when:-

A) It isn't closed at 20.00
B) There is a speed limit other than 50 displayed!

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Thursday 27th July 2017
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AlexRS2782 said:
Thanks for that smile - Wasn't even aware of that so it would appear to be another area to avoid, at certain times, for the foreseeable if I'm going in that direction smile
And there are plans to waste millions of pounds and man-hours on messing about with the A30 roundabout at the Meadows - so when it starts avoid the area at all costs!

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Saturday 29th July 2017
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AlexRS2782 said:
This work is evidently essential as once complete it will drive more people to go to Camberley town centre rather than visit out of town shopping outlets. At least that's the sales pitch blurb from "Halogen" who are the property marketing specialists that are being paid a nice 7 figure sum by SHBC to manage the "rebranding" of Camberley town centre.

Oh joy.
But it won't will it?

I already avoid Camberley if I possibly can, and during/after those "essential works" I'll avoid it at all costs by using out of town shopping outlets! It isn't like going there is an uplifting experience FFS. laugh

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Sunday 30th July 2017
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jimmybell said:
Carnage last night - i couldn't even figure out WHAT was going on .. we were heading southbound, all actively diverted off at a junction, back UP the M3 (had no choice), at the next junction diverted back SOUTH again down another lane past the one we were diverted out of.

huge queue at the latter junction under the M3 round a roundabout full of people who'd all been made to do a 10 mile loop for absolutely no reason.
I've had that misery at least 3 times - why the F*ck can't they just say the slip-road to the M3 Southbound is shut. mad

Then I could get off the M25 at J12 and cut through Chertsey, or go to J13 and use the A30. banghead

It's miserable enough without bellends making it worse!

But at least we can take some comfort for it being finished - my a*se!

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Sunday 30th July 2017
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Trevatanus said:
In the M25 at Terminal 4, coming home to Sandhurst. Passed the A30, in heavy traffic, signs at M3 showing M3 closed 2-3, by which time I was committed to the slip road for the M3, had no choice but to head north and turn around at Sunbury. Back down the M3, expecting to leave at the M25 and come home via Weybridge, but no need. It was open. Phoned the HA, apparently, I was "unlucky" as they put the closure signs up between me to passing the A30 and reaching the M3.
One piece of good news though. I'm told that tonight's closure is to remove the roadworks!
Oh how I hope it is!

I've lived in Sandhurst 6 years and 8 days, and the M3 has been a mess for more than half that time!

Anyway I'll find out tomorrow as I'll be heading towards Reigate in the afternoon and coming back on the A3 from New Malden in the evening - what are the odds on it being open, I wonder?

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
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Coming home on the A3 last night about 10 p.m. - Shocker! Gantries said M3 closed J2 to J5. But at least that was before I got on the M25, so it was A3, A31 and A331 as usual!

Don't think it is finished just yet!

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2017
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Oh well, test run tomorrow then!

Mind you even if the M3 has a 70 limit, I doubt the M25 from J12 to J11 will. mad Got to create a queue somewhere after all! furious

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Thursday 3rd August 2017
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e600 said:
Does any one know if there is a plan for improvement where the M3 goes under the M25 westbound. Currently 2 lanes closed off with cones which has been the case for more years than I can remember, or is that it finished?
I nearly found out today!

Went Eastbound at around 15.30 and had an N/S/L limit for the first time in over 3 years! Then I got to the M25 and did 20ish despite the 40 limits posted. mad

Coming home on the A3 around 21.30 all was going well so I joined the M25 at J10, only to be told by gantries after joining the M25 that at J12 the M3 Westbound slip-road was closed - I thought it was supposed to be finished? furious

Got off the M25 at J11 and used the back roads towards Windlesham to join the M3 at J3 - went well until there was a reduced speed limit and lane closed sign. All because there was a car in the new "car f*cked lay-by" and a tilt 'n' slide recovery truck partly in the inside lane when it could easily have got into the disaster area, but maybe due to his ineptitude the "Traffic Officers" were stationary in the 1st lane!clap

Accidents waiting to happen IMHO! WTF is Smart about that?

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Tuesday 8th August 2017
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SVTRick said:
Would be interesting to see before and after accident stats for a similar time date period.
Wait till the wet dark mornings and nights arrive.

Will be a foo kin nightmare.

Hard shoulder - puncture or other minor issue = No Problem

No Hard shoulder - puncture or other minor issue = big problem.

Cant even stop for quick piss now.
You'll have plenty of time for that once the accident has happened, or on the M25 slip-road from J12 towards J11 - they always post a pedestrian limit to f*ck that bit up! laugh

You'll even have time to spare for a slow piss!

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Friday 11th August 2017
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Came home from London Borough of Sutton on Wednesday night and the M3 was actually open from J2 to J4 (albeit with a reduced limit, but given the weather that was probably justified).

Is the misery maybe finished at last? laugh

Mr Tidy

Original Poster:

22,462 posts

128 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
ffc said:
It was shut Northbound at 4a this evening.
And the Westbound slip road off the M25 at J12 was closed tonight - so not finished at all! banghead