M3 Nightmare Continues!
Discussion
Coming back from Bournemouth last night at 8pm. Just get on the M3 to see the dot matrix signs saying M3 closed J5-J4. No problem. Get to Junction 7 and get a bunch of 40Mph warning signs and two signs indicating lanes 2 and 3 are closed. Keep on driving and see nothing, no lane closures and no incidents. Sail past junction 5 and 4a no problem, between 4a and 4 the dot matrix sign says the M3 closed J5-J4.
I am beginning to think the signs are operated by a random output generator.
I am beginning to think the signs are operated by a random output generator.
Edited by ffc on Tuesday 12th September 19:59
Looks like another weekend of selective random closures..oh happy days 
http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/motori...
http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/motori...
Tried to get on at 4 yesterday assuming closures all weekend.
had a choice get to Heathrow via A3 or sit in the static traffic on the A331 and go up the A30.
chose the A3.
Same joirney today, got on at 4a, sailed past the sectio being resurfaced. Top layer been removed. Not a single worker visible.
Same 4 hours later.
had a choice get to Heathrow via A3 or sit in the static traffic on the A331 and go up the A30.
chose the A3.
Same joirney today, got on at 4a, sailed past the sectio being resurfaced. Top layer been removed. Not a single worker visible.
Same 4 hours later.
So they are doing "Emergency Barrier Repairs" next.
Location : The M3 westbound entry slip at junction J2 from M25 clockwise. Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed. Reason : Emergency barrier repairs are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 20:00 and 05:30 from 20 September 2017 to 23 September 2017. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Location : The M3 westbound entry slip at junction J2 from M25 clockwise. Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed. Reason : Emergency barrier repairs are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 20:00 and 05:30 from 20 September 2017 to 23 September 2017. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Other than venting frustration on here is there an official body complaints can be directed to that will have a meaningful effect.
There must be someone in charge of this shambles, and a mechanism to hold accountable the clowns causing the disruptions.
There must be someone in charge of this shambles, and a mechanism to hold accountable the clowns causing the disruptions.
Edited by e600 on Tuesday 19th September 09:47
e600 said:
Other than venting frustration on here is there an official body complaints can be directed to that will have a meaningful effect.
There must be someone in charge of this shambles, and a mechanism to hold accountable the clowns causing the disruptions.
I've just emailed my MP... that'll learn em... There must be someone in charge of this shambles, and a mechanism to hold accountable the clowns causing the disruptions.
Edited by e600 on Tuesday 19th September 09:47
e600 said:
Other than venting frustration on here is there an official body complaints can be directed to that will have a meaningful effect.
There must be someone in charge of this shambles, and a mechanism to hold accountable the clowns causing the disruptions.
Not really.There must be someone in charge of this shambles, and a mechanism to hold accountable the clowns causing the disruptions.
Edited by e600 on Tuesday 19th September 09:47
I've tried. Highways England point the finger at Balfour Beatty.....and their response is only a few short steps from something along the lines of "Look, f
k off. Just fk off. We're doing important work and plebs like you just wouldn't understand, breezing up and down the carriageway listening to Ken fking Bruce in your bloody Audis. Who the fk d'you think you are? fk off"They'll also hide behind a smoke screen of words like "essential upgrades" and "non-project works outside the scope of the original plan"
Crossflow Kid said:
e600 said:
Other than venting frustration on here is there an official body complaints can be directed to that will have a meaningful effect.
There must be someone in charge of this shambles, and a mechanism to hold accountable the clowns causing the disruptions.
Not really.There must be someone in charge of this shambles, and a mechanism to hold accountable the clowns causing the disruptions.
Edited by e600 on Tuesday 19th September 09:47
I've tried. Highways England point the finger at Balfour Beatty.....and their response is only a few short steps from something along the lines of "Look, f
k off. Just fk off. We're doing important work and plebs like you just wouldn't understand, breezing up and down the carriageway listening to Ken fking Bruce in your bloody Audis. Who the fk d'you think you are? fk off"They'll also hide behind a smoke screen of words like "essential upgrades" and "non-project works outside the scope of the original plan"
I'll post the response.......
If it ever comes.
"Emergency" Barrier repairs eh?
Location : The M3 westbound entry slip at junction J2 from M25 anti-clockwise. Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed. Reason : Emergency barrier repairs are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 20:00 and 05:30 from 2 October 2017 to 17 October 2017. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Location : The M3 westbound entry slip at junction J2 from M25 anti-clockwise. Lane Closures : Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed. Reason : Emergency barrier repairs are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 20:00 and 05:30 from 2 October 2017 to 17 October 2017. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
The irony of it being a "smart motorway" isn't lost on me when I listen to local traffic bulletins breaking into my chosen radio programmes.
Twice in recent days there have been reports concerning "traffic delays after traffic on the Southbound M3 was held back earlier to allow for the recovery of a broken down vehicle".
WTF? In the good old days of the "dumb" M3 with a separate hard shoulder, recovery could usually be done without closures at all, or with the closure of just lane 1. Now though, we see rolling roadblocks, or complete closures, in order to allow recovery crews to work safely. Then we have the attendant risk that idiots not paying attention will plough into the back of queues, causing even more delays, disruption, and complete closures.
How is this even remotely to be considered as "progress"? Even if it were finished, and I mean completely finished and the Navvy Camps cleared away, then it would still be a continuing nightmare. I'll repeat my forecast here, that at some point in the not-too-distant future there will be a major accident, and the immediate effect of traffic at a standstill over the entire width of the carriageway will prevent the timely arrival of emergency crews, and someone will die as a result. Perhaps THEN, the chimps who came up with this genius idea will be forced to reinstate the hard shoulder and to abandon their vainglorious folly...
Twice in recent days there have been reports concerning "traffic delays after traffic on the Southbound M3 was held back earlier to allow for the recovery of a broken down vehicle".
WTF? In the good old days of the "dumb" M3 with a separate hard shoulder, recovery could usually be done without closures at all, or with the closure of just lane 1. Now though, we see rolling roadblocks, or complete closures, in order to allow recovery crews to work safely. Then we have the attendant risk that idiots not paying attention will plough into the back of queues, causing even more delays, disruption, and complete closures.
How is this even remotely to be considered as "progress"? Even if it were finished, and I mean completely finished and the Navvy Camps cleared away, then it would still be a continuing nightmare. I'll repeat my forecast here, that at some point in the not-too-distant future there will be a major accident, and the immediate effect of traffic at a standstill over the entire width of the carriageway will prevent the timely arrival of emergency crews, and someone will die as a result. Perhaps THEN, the chimps who came up with this genius idea will be forced to reinstate the hard shoulder and to abandon their vainglorious folly...
yellowjack said:
I'll repeat my forecast here, that at some point in the not-too-distant future there will be a major accident, and the immediate effect of traffic at a standstill over the entire width of the carriageway will prevent the timely arrival of emergency crews, and someone will die as a result. Perhaps THEN, the chimps who came up with this genius idea will be forced to reinstate the hard shoulder and to abandon their vainglorious folly...
It will happen one day, just a matter of time. It'll just be a load of factors all combining to make one serious shunt, and subsequent tailback with a load of smaller prangs behind that hinder the emergency access.Something like a Monday morning in February, 7.30 am, peak traffic, icy/slippery road, and a low sun heading London bound.
Dr Interceptor said:
yellowjack said:
I'll repeat my forecast here, that at some point in the not-too-distant future there will be a major accident, and the immediate effect of traffic at a standstill over the entire width of the carriageway will prevent the timely arrival of emergency crews, and someone will die as a result. Perhaps THEN, the chimps who came up with this genius idea will be forced to reinstate the hard shoulder and to abandon their vainglorious folly...
It will happen one day, just a matter of time. It'll just be a load of factors all combining to make one serious shunt, and subsequent tailback with a load of smaller prangs behind that hinder the emergency access.Something like a Monday morning in February, 7.30 am, peak traffic, icy/slippery road, and a low sun heading London bound.
M4 J3-J12 smartening main work is due to start very soon - anyone care to predict when we'll see the "M4 Nightmare Continues" thread?
They won't have simultaneous closures with the M3 surely ...
http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/m4-junctions...
They won't have simultaneous closures with the M3 surely ...
http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/m4-junctions...
Maybe new year before the nightmare proper sets in. Just some cold sweats before then.
For completion I'd estimate early 2024. That is 5 year planned plus 1 year unplanned, based on M3 experience. I could be wrong. They may have done a post mortem on the M3 project and identified some best practice improvements. No wait.....ROFL.
PS can still hear M3 work overnight near J4a on 3rd anniversary since cones first went out. M4 users have my sympathies in advance. M3 journey times are now improved but there absolutely were better ways of running the project
For completion I'd estimate early 2024. That is 5 year planned plus 1 year unplanned, based on M3 experience. I could be wrong. They may have done a post mortem on the M3 project and identified some best practice improvements. No wait.....ROFL.
PS can still hear M3 work overnight near J4a on 3rd anniversary since cones first went out. M4 users have my sympathies in advance. M3 journey times are now improved but there absolutely were better ways of running the project
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