M3 Nightmare Continues!
Discussion
Trevatanus said:
When I finish work at 3am and want to get home to bed, only to find the M3 closed AGAIN, I am not sure I would use the word "entertaining"
I couldn't agree more - it's over a year late and still not really finished despite what we are being told! I hope the contract has some massive penalty clauses in it (but probably not). I think "farcical" describes it better!
Biggest local F*ckup springs to mind!
I got to J2 tonight on the M25 at 20.55 only to find the M3 Southbound slip-road was shut - why couldn't there have been a sign before that so I could use the A30 instead of having to go up to J1 of the M3 at Ashford (and praying I'd get back before that got shut too).
Signs said "upgrading to Smart motorway" - reality is "downgrading to daytime motorway" - finished my a*se!
It's a total f*ckfest.
I got to J2 tonight on the M25 at 20.55 only to find the M3 Southbound slip-road was shut - why couldn't there have been a sign before that so I could use the A30 instead of having to go up to J1 of the M3 at Ashford (and praying I'd get back before that got shut too).
Signs said "upgrading to Smart motorway" - reality is "downgrading to daytime motorway" - finished my a*se!
It's a total f*ckfest.
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!
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:
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) ! Don't get used to it
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!
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?
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?
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! 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.
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)!
Dr Interceptor said:
Had the same Monday night coming back from Wembley....
10.15pm, M25 matrix signs indicated M3 shut between 4 and 4A. Not a problem for me, I come off at 4, but I was dropping home my mate who lives in cove, so 4A is better.
Got to the M3 preparing to come off at Jct 4, but no cones in the road, so I just sailed down an empty motorway while 99% of cars filtered off
That seems to sum it up - we've all had nearly 4 years to work out alternative routes. 10.15pm, M25 matrix signs indicated M3 shut between 4 and 4A. Not a problem for me, I come off at 4, but I was dropping home my mate who lives in cove, so 4A is better.
Got to the M3 preparing to come off at Jct 4, but no cones in the road, so I just sailed down an empty motorway while 99% of cars filtered off
If only the signage was vaguely accurate - which does give me some concerns as I'm assuming the same button-pushers will be running it when it is finally finished (which it clearly isn't yet)!
I came home on the M3 last night (at about 20.30, so a rare treat) and it seemed to be open, but just after J3 South-bound there were signs saying the inside 3 lanes were closed in 600 yards, except they were still open when I left it at J4?
Someone pressing the buttons needs to do it based on what is really happening, or the whole concept is a waste of time and my tax revenue.
Someone pressing the buttons needs to do it based on what is really happening, or the whole concept is a waste of time and my tax revenue.
Cats said:
Agree totally and also about getting off the M3 / M25 asap!
How many signs does an idiot need to know that to go from The M3 north to Gatwick you need lane 3!!! Not lane 4, 2 or 1 - Jeez
We also have the Glanty roundabout totally shagged now for what I can see the only reason is so the workman can park their frigging vans in the left hand filter lane.
And up until this week Callow Hill / Bakeham Lane shut as well as Woodlands Lane bridge still being built.
We need helicopters around here not cars
In terms of signs for M3 North to M25 Gatwick we need a concrete barrier on the slip road between lanes 2 and 3! That should deal with most of the retards! How many signs does an idiot need to know that to go from The M3 north to Gatwick you need lane 3!!! Not lane 4, 2 or 1 - Jeez
We also have the Glanty roundabout totally shagged now for what I can see the only reason is so the workman can park their frigging vans in the left hand filter lane.
And up until this week Callow Hill / Bakeham Lane shut as well as Woodlands Lane bridge still being built.
We need helicopters around here not cars
I haven't tried using the M3 South from the M25 for the last few weeks as I believe they are still messing about with the slip road off the M25 so it's usually closed by 20.00 (I tend to get there at 20.30 or later, and I don't want another pointless detour via Sunbury)!
So now I stay on the A3 to Guildford, get on the A31 then the A331 to get home. When I used to get some warning of M3 closures I would leave the M25 at J12 and use the quiet back roads out to Windlesham instead of the A30, as everyone else was on that!
I'm looking forward to it actually being finished!
I came home on Wednesday night on the M25 clockwise assuming the slip-road onto the M3 Southbound would be shut.
I usually use the A3, A31, A331 but decided to get off the M25 at J12 and go around the back of Chertsey towards Virginia Water and Windlesham then back onto the M3 at J3. Those back roads are great fun when they are quiet! (No cameras either)!
I usually use the A3, A31, A331 but decided to get off the M25 at J12 and go around the back of Chertsey towards Virginia Water and Windlesham then back onto the M3 at J3. Those back roads are great fun when they are quiet!
(No cameras either)! Great - why do we allow these f*ckwits on the roads?
I was heading onto the M3 Northbound at J4 today at 12.20 - first gantry said 60, next one 50, next one said motorway closed from J3 to J2. So I sat stationary in a queue for 10 minutes or so, then suddenly it was all open again! But a sign before I got onto the poxy f*cked-up mess would have allowed me to find another route - it isn't that hard surely?
Then when I came home around 22.30 all was looking good, at least until I got past J12 on the M25. No access to M3 Southbound - why couldn't they have told me that before I got to J12. I could have got off there (or stayed on the A3)!
Still at least the posted diversion was M25 to J13 and back, rather than onto the M3 Northbound up to J1 and back!
But I left the M25 at J13 and used back roads through Windlesham to get to the M3 Southbound at J3. Then noticed that M3 Northbound from J3 was shut.
Glad it is finished - just can't wait for it to actually be open!
I was heading onto the M3 Northbound at J4 today at 12.20 - first gantry said 60, next one 50, next one said motorway closed from J3 to J2. So I sat stationary in a queue for 10 minutes or so, then suddenly it was all open again! But a sign before I got onto the poxy f*cked-up mess would have allowed me to find another route - it isn't that hard surely?
Then when I came home around 22.30 all was looking good, at least until I got past J12 on the M25. No access to M3 Southbound - why couldn't they have told me that before I got to J12. I could have got off there (or stayed on the A3)!
Still at least the posted diversion was M25 to J13 and back, rather than onto the M3 Northbound up to J1 and back!
But I left the M25 at J13 and used back roads through Windlesham to get to the M3 Southbound at J3. Then noticed that M3 Northbound from J3 was shut.
Glad it is finished - just can't wait for it to actually be open!
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