M3 Nightmare Continues!
Discussion
It's not just the M4, it's coming to the M23 Gatwick stretch from 2018-2020 as well:
http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/m23-junction...
It was reported on the news earlier that evidently the "success" of the M3 works has convinced the powers that be for the M23 scheme that Balfour should be the preferred contractor as and when the bidding for contracts is completed
http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/m23-junction...
It was reported on the news earlier that evidently the "success" of the M3 works has convinced the powers that be for the M23 scheme that Balfour should be the preferred contractor as and when the bidding for contracts is completed
Trevatanus said:
I am sure I read on here about an incident where it took a Police vehicle (on Blue Lights) 90 minutes to get to an accident at J3 after joining the motorway at J4
That was me, I joined at Jct 3, but in front of the collision, I went to Jct 4a and turned to come back, but an earlier collision on the North bound carriageway was causing chaos
Dr Interceptor said:
Closed last night as suspected, interestingly the A3 was also shut at Guildford according to the M25 matrix signs, so I bet the A331 was quiet 
A30 was busy at 10pm taking the M3 traffic, usual bottle necks at Virginia Water, Sunningdale and Bagshot took a while to get through.
A30 was closed last night somewhere near Longacres Garden Centre just outside of Bagshot. A "serious crash" around midnight according to the traffic news this morning.A30 was busy at 10pm taking the M3 traffic, usual bottle necks at Virginia Water, Sunningdale and Bagshot took a while to get through.
If the M3 and A3 are shut, then the A30 onto which you've been diverted gets shut by a crash, what the hell alternative is there for LGVs and people unfamiliar with local roads? This scheme was insane from conception, I said as much at the public consultation meetings. As did many people concerned about the impact the loss of the hard shoulder would have from a safety point of view.
I'm no NIMBY - although I've had to put up with the nightly noise for what seems like forever. I often use the A30 and A3/A331 as an alternative to the M3 anyway, as I prefer to stay away from MLMs and general idiots on the M-ways as much as possible, and both alternative routes get me off the M25 sooner which is always a good idea. But we've had enough of sirens in the night, and regular visits from the air ambulance. And all to get a load of people to work in London four minutes quicker of a morning? It would have been far cheaper to have a lane discipline campaign with some strong enforcement. That would have increased capacity by at least as much as an extra lane. By which, of course, I mean "might actually have reduced wasted capacity in the under-used nearside lanes". By all means add in the gantries and variable speed limits, if they could work out how to use them to more efficiently manage traffic flows of course. But losing the hard shoulder is a massive retrograde step as far as I can see.
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
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
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!
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
I went to the consultation exhibitions about the Glanty roundabout works because I live a stone's throw away and have never thought the congestion was all that bad.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
The Surrey CC rep explained the work and expenditure is largely a result of the handful of people who come round the doughnut and then find they are too inept/terrified to merge in turn and just stop dead. I was staggered by this to be honest.
The congestion at the glanty roundabout pales into insignificance next to that at the Staines Bridge roundabout at the other end of The Causeway.
Left Hounslow Friday night, 1020, heading home to Sandhurst.
Arrived home, 2350.
I knew the M3 was shut overnight so I expected to be diverted off at the M25, which I was.
What I didn't anticipate however was the two miles of stationary M3 I would have to encounter before I got to the 25.
As always, I called the HA, To see if I could get a date when the closures would end, bearing in mind it was officially finished, and was asked "where did you hear that the Motorway was finished", finally an admission that they are telling porkies!
Arrived home, 2350.
I knew the M3 was shut overnight so I expected to be diverted off at the M25, which I was.
What I didn't anticipate however was the two miles of stationary M3 I would have to encounter before I got to the 25.
As always, I called the HA, To see if I could get a date when the closures would end, bearing in mind it was officially finished, and was asked "where did you hear that the Motorway was finished", finally an admission that they are telling porkies!
Edited by Trevatanus on Monday 9th October 08:58
Trevatanus said:
As always, I called the HA, To see if I could get a date when the closures would end, bearing in mind it was officially finished, and was asked "where did you hear that the Motorway was finished", finally an admission that they are telling porkies!
I do hope you pointed out that their own website states the project was signed off as complete in early June?
I guarantee that ^ would've been some silly tit who can't or won't read the lane signage approaching J2 (from several miles out) and at the last moment has decided they want to go to Gatwick, not Heathrow, and has swerved across from lane 1 or 2 (for the M25 clockwise) to lane 3 (for the M25 anti-clock), forcing traffic from lane 3 to take avoiding action in to lanes 4 and 5 which has then forced traffic in to the central barrier.
Crossflow Kid said:
I guarantee that ^ would've been some silly tit who can't or won't read the lane signage approaching J2 (from several miles out) and at the last moment has decided they want to go to Gatwick, not Heathrow, and has swerved across from lane 1 or 2 (for the M25 clockwise) to lane 3 (for the M25 anti-clock), forcing traffic from lane 3 to take avoiding action in to lanes 4 and 5 which has then forced traffic in to the central barrier.
I don't doubt it for one second.
Just got this.
Note Paragraph 3.
Finally an admission that it's not actually finished yet.
Thank you for contacting Highways England Information Line your reference: 18536038. This has been forwarded to us as we are the contractor carrying out the M3 junctions 2 to 4a smart motorway works.
Thank you very much for your comments and feedback and we are sorry to hear about your experience during our overnight closures. We do appreciate the inconvenience caused when overnight closures are in place. We take into account the best possible time to close the motorway for works which cannot be carried out throughout the day; which is overnight when traffic flows are lower.
The main construction of the smart motorway was completed and we opened the M3 as a four-lane smart motorway, 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.
Whilst we have delivered most of this, in parallel with the smart motorway works, the work to reconstruct Woodlands Lane Bridge and other minor works unconnected with the smart motorway upgrade will continue such as full depth resurfacing, vegetation trimming and clearance, surveying, joint patch works, cabling works, grouting works, environmental barrier panel installation, sign installation, deep drainage works. This deep drainage includes the drainage works which needs to be carried out on the M3 southbound where the M25 and M3 lanes merge.
In order to work in safe coned area at this location the main construction of the M3 smarty motorway needed completing first so that the when the temporary traffic management was removed from the main line between junctions 2 and 4a, this allowed realignment of the temporary traffic management on the slip roads and sufficient room to make a safe working environment for the workforce whilst keeping all members of the traveling public safe. Works remain on-going overnight and we are working as hard as we can to complete the works in this area and hope to re-open the junction by the end of October.
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 trust this information goes some way in answering your query, however if you require any further information please contact Highways England by visiting their website at www.highways.gov.uk. If you have been dissatisfied on this occasion, we have handled your correspondence in accordance with the first stage of our complaints process. For further details, please see Highways England complaints policy.
Best Regards
Community Relations Team
Note Paragraph 3.
Finally an admission that it's not actually finished yet.
Thank you for contacting Highways England Information Line your reference: 18536038. This has been forwarded to us as we are the contractor carrying out the M3 junctions 2 to 4a smart motorway works.
Thank you very much for your comments and feedback and we are sorry to hear about your experience during our overnight closures. We do appreciate the inconvenience caused when overnight closures are in place. We take into account the best possible time to close the motorway for works which cannot be carried out throughout the day; which is overnight when traffic flows are lower.
The main construction of the smart motorway was completed and we opened the M3 as a four-lane smart motorway, 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.
Whilst we have delivered most of this, in parallel with the smart motorway works, the work to reconstruct Woodlands Lane Bridge and other minor works unconnected with the smart motorway upgrade will continue such as full depth resurfacing, vegetation trimming and clearance, surveying, joint patch works, cabling works, grouting works, environmental barrier panel installation, sign installation, deep drainage works. This deep drainage includes the drainage works which needs to be carried out on the M3 southbound where the M25 and M3 lanes merge.
In order to work in safe coned area at this location the main construction of the M3 smarty motorway needed completing first so that the when the temporary traffic management was removed from the main line between junctions 2 and 4a, this allowed realignment of the temporary traffic management on the slip roads and sufficient room to make a safe working environment for the workforce whilst keeping all members of the traveling public safe. Works remain on-going overnight and we are working as hard as we can to complete the works in this area and hope to re-open the junction by the end of October.
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 trust this information goes some way in answering your query, however if you require any further information please contact Highways England by visiting their website at www.highways.gov.uk. If you have been dissatisfied on this occasion, we have handled your correspondence in accordance with the first stage of our complaints process. For further details, please see Highways England complaints policy.
Best Regards
Community Relations Team
Trevatanus said:
Lots of hot air from Highways England
Yeah, I got the same back in July. Word for word.What they're trying to say is that the (not so) Smart motorway upgrade is finished, it's all the other "stuff" that's overrun.
See also: Frantic arse-covering.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 9th October 12:29
"Emergency Road Marking" 
Location : The M3 westbound between junctions J2 and J3 . Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed. Reason : Emergency road marking works are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 20:00 and 05:30 from 14 October 2017 to 16 October 2017. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Location : The M3 westbound between junctions J2 and J3 . Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed. Reason : Emergency road marking works are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : Expect disruption everyday between 20:00 and 05:30 from 14 October 2017 to 16 October 2017. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
Crossflow Kid said:
I guarantee that ^ would've been some silly tit who can't or won't read the lane signage approaching J2 (from several miles out) and at the last moment has decided they want to go to Gatwick, not Heathrow, and has swerved across from lane 1 or 2 (for the M25 clockwise) to lane 3 (for the M25 anti-clock), forcing traffic from lane 3 to take avoiding action in to lanes 4 and 5 which has then forced traffic in to the central barrier.
CrossflowIt says this happened AFTER J2 on the London bound carriageway, so all the numpties would have peeled off before this.
It might have been caused by 'Slip Road to L3 without looking in mirror movement'
Be interest to see if any German made cars beginning with A or B were involved !!
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