M3 Nightmare Continues!

[yellowjack]

Mr Tidy said:

Had a rare treat earlier tonight - at 20.30 the M3 Southbound was actually open!?!?!

Doubt this will happen again before Christmas! (Don't know which one though)!

The M3 might well have been open, but only open if you could get on the damned thing in the first place. An hour to get out of Bournemouth on the A338 last night, despite leaving it until after 8.30pm to try to leave. Traffic simply couldn't get onto the A31 to get past Ringwood. I gave up hope of getting onto the A31/M27/M3 so headed up to Verwood/Fordingbridge/Salisbury to come back via the A30/A303. I managed to get onto the M3 at the end of the A303, but it was still horribly busy all the way to 4a.

I don't know if my 'wiggly' route saved me any time, but at least I was moving, and the smaller roads are far more fun to drive on, and a lot less stressful than having to worry about getting bumped from behind in slow traffic by someone driving tired, or while distracted. Plus a five car overtake is a non-event on the motorway, but on the rural A30 it's a thing of beauty, and an achievement to be proud of, especially in this day and age...

[Planet Claire]

yellowjack said:

The M3 might well have been open, but only open if you could get on the damned thing in the first place. An hour to get out of Bournemouth on the A338 last night, despite leaving it until after 8.30pm to try to leave. Traffic simply couldn't get onto the A31 to get past Ringwood. I gave up hope of getting onto the A31/M27/M3 so headed up to Verwood/Fordingbridge/Salisbury to come back via the A30/A303. I managed to get onto the M3 at the end of the A303, but it was still horribly busy all the way to 4a.

I don't know if my 'wiggly' route saved me any time, but at least I was moving, and the smaller roads are far more fun to drive on, and a lot less stressful than having to worry about getting bumped from behind in slow traffic by someone driving tired, or while distracted. Plus a five car overtake is a non-event on the motorway, but on the rural A30 it's a thing of beauty, and an achievement to be proud of, especially in this day and age...

I was doing the same last night, too. I left Bournemouth at 9pm and didn't get back to Bracknell until 11:20pm. I could see the A338 and A31 were on 'red' and Google/Waze sent me through Christchurch and Lyndhurst - but that was still chocka. The M3 at the M27 was tailed back and I was directed to come off the next junction (for the airport), which ran parallel to the M3 until I joined at J4. Slow moving all the way up the M3 though.

[yellowjack]

Planet Claire said:

I was doing the same last night, too. I left Bournemouth at 9pm and didn't get back to Bracknell until 11:20pm. I could see the A338 and A31 were on 'red' and Google/Waze sent me through Christchurch and Lyndhurst - but that was still chocka. The M3 at the M27 was tailed back and I was directed to come off the next junction (for the airport), which ran parallel to the M3 until I joined at J4. Slow moving all the way up the M3 though.

Christchurch/Lyndhurst was the way we came down earlier in the day. It was our 'approved detour route' for the way home too, but we were heading for Hurn and saw that (at that point, anyway) the A338 was running OK. So we turned onto it, instead of taking Matchams Lane. I wish I'd gone for Matchams now, as I'd have been able to get over to the A338 to Salisbury far more directly from Ringworm Ringwood.

Still. Home safe and sound before midnight, and some decent driving to be had on the way there. My wife was good company, and her iPod has some great stuff on it which we had more time to listen to.

It also meant I could get some fuel at Verwood Morrison's too, instead of paying the extortionists on the main roads.

♫Always look on the bright side of life...♫

[Mr Tidy]

Trevatanus said:

Suspended due to the BH weekend.
Don't get used to it

I won't - that is why I mentioned Christmas (without saying which one) !

I'm a mere youngster at 58, but I can't help thinking I'll never see the M3 working properly in my lifetime - it's a total f*ck-up! (And we haven't got to the M4 misery yet). Happy days - not!

[Trevatanus]

I subscribe to the HA Rss feed, today's little updates

Location : The M3 eastbound entry slip at junction J4A . Lane Closures : The hard shoulder is closed. Reason : Roadworks. Status : Currently Active. Period : expect disruption until 05:30 on 1 October 2017.

Location : The M3 eastbound entry slip at junction J4A . Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed. Reason : Roadworks are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 20:00 and 05:30 from 4 September 2017 to 6 September 2017. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.

Location : The M3 eastbound entry slip at junction J4A . Reason : Roadworks scheme is planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : From 20:00 on 4 September 2017 to 05:30 on 6 September 2017.

Location : The M3 westbound between junctions J3 and J4A . Lane Closures : Lanes 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be closed. Reason : Roadworks are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 20:00 and 05:30 from 4 September 2017 to 6 September 2017. Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 20:00 and 05:30 from 11 September 2017 to 13 September 2017. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.

Location : The M3 westbound between junctions J3 and J4A . Reason : Roadworks scheme is planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : From 20:00 on 4 September 2017 to 05:30 on 13 September 2017.

[Mr Tidy]

So it looked like I was getting a special treat last night - M25 to J12 and the Southbound slip-road was open at 20.30!

But then just after J3 there were gantry signs with a 50 then 40 limit telling us 3 lanes were closed - workforce in road! No Cones, no workforce and all 4 lanes open!

Then just past the top of the hill after J3 N/S/L again - WTF was that about?

I think managed properly these motorways could be useful, but managed as they are at present they just create chaos.

BTW does anyone know if the cameras on the gantries check speeds when (or if!) the M3 is running at the N/S/L?

[FurtiveFreddy]

Mr Tidy said:

BTW does anyone know if the cameras on the gantries check speeds when (or if!) the M3 is running at the N/S/L?

I've seen a post on another forum from someone who claims they received a NIP for 82mph on the M3 when it was at NSL. I'm a little sceptical about it, but can only take it on face value.

I've seen the cameras flashing myself when no VSL was in place, so it's better to be safe than sorry.

If they are set to the 10% + 2 number, I think it's going to lead to a lot of brake-stamping from drivers who spot the cameras at the last moment and that's not a good way to manage speed IMO.

[FurryExocet]

Mr Tidy said:

So it looked like I was getting a special treat last night - M25 to J12 and the Southbound slip-road was open at 20.30!

But then just after J3 there were gantry signs with a 50 then 40 limit telling us 3 lanes were closed - workforce in road! No Cones, no workforce and all 4 lanes open!

Then just past the top of the hill after J3 N/S/L again - WTF was that about?

I think managed properly these motorways could be useful, but managed as they are at present they just create chaos.

BTW does anyone know if the cameras on the gantries check speeds when (or if!) the M3 is running at the N/S/L?

I went through junction 3 the other morning, around 5:15am and the camera flashed the car over taking me, I'd estimate he was doing 80 to 90mph and the limit was national at the time.

[Nimby]

I assume Mr Tidy is referring to Pepipoo post #12 - and the claim to have received a NIP for 82mph in an NSL section. OP been asked to prove it ...

People were passing me much faster than that yesterday and I didn't see any flashes.

Edited by Nimby on Sunday 3rd September 16:08

[FurtiveFreddy]

There's no question the cameras are flashing. The question is whether they're dishing out the NIPs.

[FurryExocet]

FurtiveFreddy said:

There's no question the cameras are flashing. The question is whether they're dishing out the NIPs.

We tested and calibrated them a while back, so they are capable of working, whether or not they are sending out NIPs yet, I don't know.

[Mr Tidy]

FurryExocet said:

We tested and calibrated them a while back, so they are capable of working, whether or not they are sending out NIPs yet, I don't know.

Thanks everyone.

I'll take it from this it is only a matter of time! Will stick the cruise control on!

[xjay1337]

FurryExocet said:

We tested and calibrated them a while back, so they are capable of working, whether or not they are sending out NIPs yet, I don't know.

Could you maybe re calibrate them?

[Smithy99]

Ok, so 2 days on the M3 now schools have gone back and have to say it is a massive improvement at 8am.

Couple of reductions in speed, mainly for J3 being clogged up but thankfully M3 continued to run smoothly. M25 junction now sorted, and lane discipline improving rapidly for the regulars. Not seen anyone getting papped yet either.

Obviously a breakdown will happen at some and it will go to pot, but my journey time to M25 has nearly halved. So far so good.

[Mr Tidy]

Smithy99 said:

Ok, so 2 days on the M3 now schools have gone back and have to say it is a massive improvement at 8am.

Couple of reductions in speed, mainly for J3 being clogged up but thankfully M3 continued to run smoothly. M25 junction now sorted, and lane discipline improving rapidly for the regulars. Not seen anyone getting papped yet either.

Obviously a breakdown will happen at some and it will go to pot, but my journey time to M25 has nearly halved. So far so good.

Well at least that is positive - I think that's what it was intended to achieve!

One thing I have found is that since it has been running at N/S/L when I use it in the early afternoon to get to the M25 the chaos on the slip-road onto the M25 anti-clockwise has got much worse.

And now the M3 has 2 lanes of numpties that will not move over then they aren't overtaking instead of 1!

Still I actually managed to get on it last night at around 21.00 (Even if the signs said it was closed from J4 to J4a - but they hadn't even started putting the cones out when I got off at J4)!

[SVTRick]

Shut this morning at 04:25 ( wkers) so took the truck on a nice little jolly via Chobham and Byfleet to the A3.
On site at Battersea Power Station 05:18

[yellowjack]

Smithy99 said:

Ok, so 2 days on the M3 now schools have gone back and have to say it is a massive improvement at 8am.

Couple of reductions in speed, mainly for J3 being clogged up but thankfully M3 continued to run smoothly. M25 junction now sorted, and lane discipline improving rapidly for the regulars. Not seen anyone getting papped yet either.

Obviously a breakdown will happen at some and it will go to pot, but my journey time to M25 has nearly halved. So far so good.

..."has returned to about what it was taking me before the stupid 'Smart motorway' works began"...

...surely?

[Trevatanus]

for info

Dear ....

Thank you for your email.

We opened the M3 as a four-lane smart motorway, between junction 4a for Farnborough and junction 2 for the M25, on Friday 30 June. The speed limit was initially manually controlled at 50mph while testing of the smart motorway technology was finalised. This process was successfully completed enabling the smart motorway to operate at the national speed limit from 1 August.

Alongside upgrading the M3 to a smart motorway, Highways England made the decision to undertake additional maintenance and renewal work of a large amount of existing infrastructure, some of which included Woodlands Lane Bridge, drainage repairs and full low noise resurfacing. Carrying these works in conjunction is more efficient and cost effective and will minimise future disruption to residents and the travelling public in the area. As a result this added six months to the original programme. This does not mean the M3 smart motorway upgrade was late or overrun, but the project took longer due to this extra work.

We have delivered most of this additional work in parallel with the smart motorway works, however the works to reconstruct Woodlands Lane Bridge and other minor works on the M3 will continue after the opening the motorway at 70mph. We will be using overnight lane and carriageway closures to complete the works and expect to open the new Woodlands Lane Bridge by winter 2017/18.

We are working very hard to reduce the overnight carriageway closures to lane closures. We utilise the overnight closures and carry out several activities in between junctions 2 and 4a which cannot be done safely during lane closures. Once we can restrict these closures to lanes only, this should reduce the impact on yourself and other members of the travelling public.

We hope this assists with your query and please accept our apologies for the inconvenience our overnight closures cause. Should you have any further queries with regards to the M3 junctions 2 to 4a project please do email us at: [e-mail].

Best Regards

Community Relations Team

[SVTRick]

Trevatanus said:

for info

Dear ....

Thank you for your email.

We have overrun with this work and therefore put a load of spin on it and extracted more of your hard earned taxes to pay for it.
Found a massive carpet under which to brush all the dross with this project.
Issued a load of bullst statements to that effect.
But rest assured we will be collecting loads of fines along the way to pay for it.
As for junction improvements at the A322 junction you can see we have done nothing to ease traffic issues with the poor approach layout from both sides so you will still sit in pointless traffic queues at peak times.
Also with regard to repairing the road infrastructure that has been give a good pounding like a $20 dollar hooker owing to diversions - well life's a st so keep filing your claims for pot hole damage.

Please fell free to join us ready for the M4 Smart Motorway upgrade
Only issue we have is many of the bridges don't even support a current hard shoulder lane.
Still we have first class PR team and once we get Max Clifford out of the pokey it will all be glossed over ......

Best Regards

Community Relations Team

Corrected for your viewing pleasure.
(bored during tea break while working at Battersea Power Station )

[Smithy99]

yellowjack said:

..."has returned to about what it was taking me before the stupid 'Smart motorway' works began"...

...surely?

Indeed, what I can remember from the dim and distant past before the works started.

My house 3 miles from 4a to M25, Mon to Thu @8am.

Pre roadworks 30 mins

Roadworks 40 mins

Post ( 3 day sample) 20 mins.

So it is better for me, most notably around J3, where significant time saving has occurred and to a lesser degree getting onto the M25.

Journey home no different to pre roadworks.