M3 Nightmare Continues!
Discussion
I drove from J6 to J3 at 2 o'clock this afternoon. For no apparent reason the speed limit signs were 60, then 50 and then 40 before reverting to the NSL.
Not much traffic about but what there was seemed to be concentrated in the outer two lanes. Seems to me that most people stay out of the inside lane so perhaps run the smart motorway in 3 lanes with lane 1 for emergency only. When the traffic starts building up then switch lane 1 over to traffic before resorting to speed limit.
Not much traffic about but what there was seemed to be concentrated in the outer two lanes. Seems to me that most people stay out of the inside lane so perhaps run the smart motorway in 3 lanes with lane 1 for emergency only. When the traffic starts building up then switch lane 1 over to traffic before resorting to speed limit.
the pips said:
I drove from J6 to J3 at 2 o'clock this afternoon. For no apparent reason the speed limit signs were 60, then 50 and then 40 before reverting to the NSL.
Not much traffic about but what there was seemed to be concentrated in the outer two lanes. Seems to me that most people stay out of the inside lane so perhaps run the smart motorway in 3 lanes with lane 1 for emergency only. When the traffic starts building up then switch lane 1 over to traffic before resorting to speed limit.
The part in bold above, about the limits, sounds like it was related to what I saw about 1/2 hour earlier (see post on previous page) but the limits hadn't been reset after clearing the tailbacks.Not much traffic about but what there was seemed to be concentrated in the outer two lanes. Seems to me that most people stay out of the inside lane so perhaps run the smart motorway in 3 lanes with lane 1 for emergency only. When the traffic starts building up then switch lane 1 over to traffic before resorting to speed limit.
I was so annoyed last night I forgot to say that on my way up the M3 at about 14.30 just after I joined at J4 heading North the inside lane was showing as closed.
After about half a mile there was an AA van parked in Lane 1 and the AA guy was changing an offside rear wheel on a small truck - that has to be one of the most dangerous jobs around!
I wouldn't fancy doing an offside wheel change on the hard shoulder, never mined a live lane!
They really aren't Smart at all!
After about half a mile there was an AA van parked in Lane 1 and the AA guy was changing an offside rear wheel on a small truck - that has to be one of the most dangerous jobs around!
I wouldn't fancy doing an offside wheel change on the hard shoulder, never mined a live lane! They really aren't Smart at all!
AlexRS2782 said:
I drove over the M3 at the Ravenswood roundabout around 1.30 this afternoon and noticed it must have been closed / blocked London bound due to the fact no cars were on that stretch at all - the only traffic was heading coast bound, albeit much slower than normal.
From what I heard someone talking about at M&S about half an hour later, someone had initially broken down in lane 1 so there had been a lane closure only, but the closure / enforced block London bound was due to clearing up debris across all 4 lanes either after the broken down car was hit, or due to other cars crashing into each other due to not paying attention
wasn't me, am still drawing breath lolFrom what I heard someone talking about at M&S about half an hour later, someone had initially broken down in lane 1 so there had been a lane closure only, but the closure / enforced block London bound was due to clearing up debris across all 4 lanes either after the broken down car was hit, or due to other cars crashing into each other due to not paying attention
I came through there just before that and did see some muppet crawling along with his hazards on
but no lights.
Hammer was well down so I kept well clear
Some of the smartness of this superhighway is really starting to grate!.
Driving down to Sunbury cross after work last night..big 50 sign and incident!...
Not a single thing in the road all the way down...and everyone going from 70 to 50 and then back up, its like bloomin wacky races where some people think sticking to the signs is somehow optional..
And to add insult, driving back up to Farnborough later in the evening, same damn thing..incident in road and 50 all the way back up, not a thing in the road and we're sat there at 50....and breatheeeee!
Driving down to Sunbury cross after work last night..big 50 sign and incident!...
Not a single thing in the road all the way down...and everyone going from 70 to 50 and then back up, its like bloomin wacky races where some people think sticking to the signs is somehow optional..
And to add insult, driving back up to Farnborough later in the evening, same damn thing..incident in road and 50 all the way back up, not a thing in the road and we're sat there at 50....and breatheeeee!
aquarianone said:
Some of the smartness of this superhighway is really starting to grate!.
Driving down to Sunbury cross after work last night..big 50 sign and incident!...
Not a single thing in the road all the way down...and everyone going from 70 to 50 and then back up, its like bloomin wacky races where some people think sticking to the signs is somehow optional..
And to add insult, driving back up to Farnborough later in the evening, same damn thing..incident in road and 50 all the way back up, not a thing in the road and we're sat there at 50....and breatheeeee!
So it was actually open - you lucky b*gger! Driving down to Sunbury cross after work last night..big 50 sign and incident!...
Not a single thing in the road all the way down...and everyone going from 70 to 50 and then back up, its like bloomin wacky races where some people think sticking to the signs is somehow optional..
And to add insult, driving back up to Farnborough later in the evening, same damn thing..incident in road and 50 all the way back up, not a thing in the road and we're sat there at 50....and breatheeeee!
I was on the M25 clockwise last night from J10 and this time they told me the West-bound M3 slip-road was shut before I got to it (unlike Monday night). So I had a blast around the back roads.
It now has to be called the lucky-dip motorway! Might be open, might not, but usually F*cked-up anyway!
Trevatanus said:
So, had to travel to Staines on Friday night, M3 closed, I make a point of calling HA whenever this happens, partially out of frustration, partially in the hope that soneone will finally admit that the works didnt finish on time, partially out of boredom.
I am expecting a communication from them "within 15 working days", to confirm when the overnight closures will actually end, but it won't be this year.
I've done the same and have been assured the night closures end in early September.I am expecting a communication from them "within 15 working days", to confirm when the overnight closures will actually end, but it won't be this year.
The year wasn't specified.
And they won't admit the works weren't finished on time for two reasons.
1) The creation of a massive fifteen mile worksite offered the opportunity to carry out additional (non-upgrade) works outside the scope of the project. The Balfour Beatty spin doctor will tell you it is these additional works which aren't complete so the upgrade itself is finished allegedly. In other industries I believe this is known as "smoke and mirrors"
2) The night closures are to allow "testing and calibration". Again, not part of the physical engineering or works, hence not deemed neccesary for declaration of "completion"
I also heard Mickey Mouse wears a Balfour Beatty wristwatch.
xjay1337 said:
Today from 7-4 .
No traffic really. Doing an easy 90 on cruise.
Get to the new smart section and it bunches right up.
Be careful ding 90 in the new section, camera flashed the other morning whilst I was cruising to work, almost empty motorway and a taxi passed me near junction 3 and there was a huge flash, I was on cruise control at 70 and be whizzed by meNo traffic really. Doing an easy 90 on cruise.
Get to the new smart section and it bunches right up.
FurryExocet said:
xjay1337 said:
Today from 7-4 .
No traffic really. Doing an easy 90 on cruise.
Get to the new smart section and it bunches right up.
Be careful ding 90 in the new section, camera flashed the other morning whilst I was cruising to work, almost empty motorway and a taxi passed me near junction 3 and there was a huge flash, I was on cruise control at 70 and be whizzed by meNo traffic really. Doing an easy 90 on cruise.
Get to the new smart section and it bunches right up.
Just made me chuckle how it wss smooth sailing up until that point and it seemed like the volume of traffic had doubled!
Yay!
roadworks suspended for the weekend, so I was able to come home from work trouble free!
One source of amusement, was the White BMW 5 series that went belting past me at about 90, but carefully slowed down (I suspect, judging by his brake lights under each the gantries to avoid a ticket)
You my friend have a dissapointment coming in the post
roadworks suspended for the weekend, so I was able to come home from work trouble free!
One source of amusement, was the White BMW 5 series that went belting past me at about 90, but carefully slowed down (I suspect, judging by his brake lights under each the gantries to avoid a ticket)
You my friend have a dissapointment coming in the post
Trevatanus said:
Yay!
carefully slowed down (I suspect, judging by his brake lights under each the gantries to avoid a ticket)
You my friend have a dissapointment coming in the post
Why would that be then ?carefully slowed down (I suspect, judging by his brake lights under each the gantries to avoid a ticket)
You my friend have a dissapointment coming in the post
Also I think that crazy single lane M3 south at M25 junction will revert back to two lanes.
SVTRick said:
Trevatanus said:
Yay!
carefully slowed down (I suspect, judging by his brake lights under each the gantries to avoid a ticket)
You my friend have a dissapointment coming in the post
Why would that be then ?carefully slowed down (I suspect, judging by his brake lights under each the gantries to avoid a ticket)
You my friend have a dissapointment coming in the post
Also I think that crazy single lane M3 south at M25 junction will revert back to two lanes.
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