M3 Nightmare Continues!
Discussion
More sterling work tonight. Had to travel 4-2 around 8pm, back the other way 4am.
Phoned HA at 730.
No planned closures Northbound, closed Southbound 3-4.
Ok I think, Thats fine, I'll get off at 3, nip up the A322.
Except on the way home theres a problem.
Sign in the M25 says M3 closed, 2-4. Fine I think, I'll go up the A3. Except thats closed too.
Just started to get irate so decided to shout at the HA, as I often do, but then I get to the M3, the OPEN M3, by now I am talking to the HA who apologise profusely, I then point out that while we were talking, I have arrived at the M3, which is wide open all the way up to j4.
They decide to call the contractors to check.
Oh, and the confirmed closures till AT least 2nd December.
Phoned HA at 730.
No planned closures Northbound, closed Southbound 3-4.
Ok I think, Thats fine, I'll get off at 3, nip up the A322.
Except on the way home theres a problem.
Sign in the M25 says M3 closed, 2-4. Fine I think, I'll go up the A3. Except thats closed too.
Just started to get irate so decided to shout at the HA, as I often do, but then I get to the M3, the OPEN M3, by now I am talking to the HA who apologise profusely, I then point out that while we were talking, I have arrived at the M3, which is wide open all the way up to j4.
They decide to call the contractors to check.
Oh, and the confirmed closures till AT least 2nd December.
Trevatanus said:
Oh, and the confirmed closures till AT least 2nd December.
Oh that's just f
king grrrrrrreat.So in June, the closures would definitely be over by July.
In July, the closures would definitely be over by August.
In August, the closures would definitely be over by September,
In September the closures would definitely be over by October.
And here we are in October....
What an absolute f
king joke. And HE wonder why they don't get taken seriously and no one believes their bloody dot matrix signs.For info:
Notifications of Slip Road or Carriageway overnight closures
For information
Highways England declares the M3 smart motorway works completed as of June 2017. In addition to the smart motorway works we have also been carrying out the most extensive maintenance on the M3 since it was first built in 1971 restoring it to an ‘as new’ condition. This includes the demolition and reconstruction of Woodlands Lane Bridge, drainage repairs on the M3 interchange with the M25 which and low noise resurfacing on all lanes. Whilst we have delivered most of the additional work in parallel with the smart motorway works, the work to reconstruct Woodlands Lane Bridge and other minor works unconnected with the smart motorway upgrade are continuing during overnight closures.
Highways England and ourselves are working very hard to carry out the remaining work under lane closures and only use overnight full closures when it is absolutely necessary due to safety of the workforce and all members of the travelling public. We expect the full closures to continue to reduce each week and Highways England hope to open the new Woodlands Lane Bridge by winter 2017/18.
Tuesday 31 October – Wednesday 1 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 2 southbound slip road to the M25 clockwise
Timing: Tuesday 8pm – 5.30am
Wednesday 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 at Jct 12 anti-clockwise to M25 Jct 11 turn around enter M25 clockwise
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Where: M3 Jct 2 northbound slip road to the M25 clockwise
Timing: Monday – Tuesday 8pm – 5.30am
Wednesday 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M3 at junction 2 to the M25 anti-clockwise to M25 junction 11 turn around enter M25 clockwise
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Thursday 2 November – Friday 3 November 2017
Where: M25 clockwise link road to the M3 northbound
Timing: Thursday 10pm – 5.30am
Friday 11pm - 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 to junction 13 to the A30 to the A308 to the M3 junction 1 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Tuesday 31 October – Friday 3 November 2017
Where: M25 clockwise slip road to the M3 southbound
Timing: Tuesday 8pm – 5.30am
Wednesday - Thursday 10pm – 5.30am
Friday 11pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 to junction 13 to the A30 to the A322 to the M3 junction 3 southbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Where: M25 anti-clockwise slip road to the M3 southbound
Timing: Tuesday 8pm – 5.30am
Wednesday - Thursday 10pm – 5.30am
Friday 11pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 to junction 13 to the A30 to the A322 to the M3 junction 3 southbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Monday 6 November – Tuesday 7 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 2 northbound slip road to the M25 clockwise
Timing: 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Continue on the M3 to Jct 1 to turn around to enter the M3 southbound to the M25 Jct 12 clockwise
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Where: M3 Jct 2 northbound link road to the M25 anti-clockwise
Timing: 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Continue on the M3 to Jct 1 to the A308 to the A30 to the M25 Jct 13 anti-clockwise
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Monday 6 November – Wednesday 8 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 2 southbound slip road to the M25 anti-clockwise
Timing: 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 at Jct 12 clockwise to M25 Jct 13 turn around enter M25 anti-clockwise
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Monday 13 November – Tuesday 14 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 4a southbound entry slip road
Timing: 9pm – 6am
Diversion: M3 Jct 4a to A327 to the A30 to the A287 to the M3 Jct 5 southbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Monday 13 November – Thursday 16 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 4a northbound entry slip road
Timing: 9pm – 6am
Diversion: M3 Jct 4a to A327 to the A30 to the A331 to the M3 Jct 4 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Thursday 16 November – Friday 17 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 4 northbound entry slip road
Timing: 9pm – 6am
Diversion: M3 Jct 4 to the A331 to the A30 to the A322 M3 Jct 3 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Monday 20 November – Tuesday 21 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 4 northbound entry slip road
Timing: 9pm – 6am
Diversion: M3 Jct 4 to the A331 to the A30 to the A322 M3 Jct 3 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Monday 20 November – Wednesday 22 November 2017
Where: M25 anti-clockwise slip road to the M3 northbound
Timing: 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 to junction 13 to the A30 to the A308 to the M3 junction 1 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Where: M25 clockwise link road to the M3 northbound
Timing: 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 to junction 13 to the A30 to the A308 to the M3 junction 1 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Tuesday 21 November - Wednesday 22 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 3 northbound entry slip road
Timing: 9pm – 6am
Diversion: M3 Jct 3 to A322 to A30 to M25 Jct 13 to M3 Jct 2 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Friday 24 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 3 northbound entry slip road
Timing: 9pm – 6am
Diversion: M3 Jct 3 to A322 to A30 to M25 Jct 13 to M3 Jct 2 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Monday 27 November – Tuesday 28 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 2 southbound link road to the M25 clockwise
Timing: 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 at Jct 12 anti-clockwise to M25 Jct 11 turn around enter M25 clockwise
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Please note these closures are weather dependant
Notifications of Slip Road or Carriageway overnight closures
For information
Highways England declares the M3 smart motorway works completed as of June 2017. In addition to the smart motorway works we have also been carrying out the most extensive maintenance on the M3 since it was first built in 1971 restoring it to an ‘as new’ condition. This includes the demolition and reconstruction of Woodlands Lane Bridge, drainage repairs on the M3 interchange with the M25 which and low noise resurfacing on all lanes. Whilst we have delivered most of the additional work in parallel with the smart motorway works, the work to reconstruct Woodlands Lane Bridge and other minor works unconnected with the smart motorway upgrade are continuing during overnight closures.
Highways England and ourselves are working very hard to carry out the remaining work under lane closures and only use overnight full closures when it is absolutely necessary due to safety of the workforce and all members of the travelling public. We expect the full closures to continue to reduce each week and Highways England hope to open the new Woodlands Lane Bridge by winter 2017/18.
Tuesday 31 October – Wednesday 1 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 2 southbound slip road to the M25 clockwise
Timing: Tuesday 8pm – 5.30am
Wednesday 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 at Jct 12 anti-clockwise to M25 Jct 11 turn around enter M25 clockwise
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Where: M3 Jct 2 northbound slip road to the M25 clockwise
Timing: Monday – Tuesday 8pm – 5.30am
Wednesday 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M3 at junction 2 to the M25 anti-clockwise to M25 junction 11 turn around enter M25 clockwise
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Thursday 2 November – Friday 3 November 2017
Where: M25 clockwise link road to the M3 northbound
Timing: Thursday 10pm – 5.30am
Friday 11pm - 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 to junction 13 to the A30 to the A308 to the M3 junction 1 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Tuesday 31 October – Friday 3 November 2017
Where: M25 clockwise slip road to the M3 southbound
Timing: Tuesday 8pm – 5.30am
Wednesday - Thursday 10pm – 5.30am
Friday 11pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 to junction 13 to the A30 to the A322 to the M3 junction 3 southbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Where: M25 anti-clockwise slip road to the M3 southbound
Timing: Tuesday 8pm – 5.30am
Wednesday - Thursday 10pm – 5.30am
Friday 11pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 to junction 13 to the A30 to the A322 to the M3 junction 3 southbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Monday 6 November – Tuesday 7 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 2 northbound slip road to the M25 clockwise
Timing: 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Continue on the M3 to Jct 1 to turn around to enter the M3 southbound to the M25 Jct 12 clockwise
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Where: M3 Jct 2 northbound link road to the M25 anti-clockwise
Timing: 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Continue on the M3 to Jct 1 to the A308 to the A30 to the M25 Jct 13 anti-clockwise
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Monday 6 November – Wednesday 8 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 2 southbound slip road to the M25 anti-clockwise
Timing: 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 at Jct 12 clockwise to M25 Jct 13 turn around enter M25 anti-clockwise
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Monday 13 November – Tuesday 14 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 4a southbound entry slip road
Timing: 9pm – 6am
Diversion: M3 Jct 4a to A327 to the A30 to the A287 to the M3 Jct 5 southbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Monday 13 November – Thursday 16 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 4a northbound entry slip road
Timing: 9pm – 6am
Diversion: M3 Jct 4a to A327 to the A30 to the A331 to the M3 Jct 4 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Thursday 16 November – Friday 17 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 4 northbound entry slip road
Timing: 9pm – 6am
Diversion: M3 Jct 4 to the A331 to the A30 to the A322 M3 Jct 3 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Monday 20 November – Tuesday 21 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 4 northbound entry slip road
Timing: 9pm – 6am
Diversion: M3 Jct 4 to the A331 to the A30 to the A322 M3 Jct 3 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Monday 20 November – Wednesday 22 November 2017
Where: M25 anti-clockwise slip road to the M3 northbound
Timing: 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 to junction 13 to the A30 to the A308 to the M3 junction 1 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Where: M25 clockwise link road to the M3 northbound
Timing: 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 to junction 13 to the A30 to the A308 to the M3 junction 1 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Tuesday 21 November - Wednesday 22 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 3 northbound entry slip road
Timing: 9pm – 6am
Diversion: M3 Jct 3 to A322 to A30 to M25 Jct 13 to M3 Jct 2 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Friday 24 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 3 northbound entry slip road
Timing: 9pm – 6am
Diversion: M3 Jct 3 to A322 to A30 to M25 Jct 13 to M3 Jct 2 northbound
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Monday 27 November – Tuesday 28 November 2017
Where: M3 Jct 2 southbound link road to the M25 clockwise
Timing: 10pm – 5.30am
Diversion: Exit the M25 at Jct 12 anti-clockwise to M25 Jct 11 turn around enter M25 clockwise
Required for: Additional and Remedial Works
Please note these closures are weather dependant
Anyone know what the cameras on high poles on the 2 x roundabouts at J4 are about? Seem to have appeared over the weekend as I noticed them today.
There appear to a number of them directed at the motorway bound / exiting motorway traffic on both the Frimley Business Park roundabout and the second smaller one heading towards Sainsbury's.
Other set also pointing at the traffic coming / going from the direction of Sainsbury's and another set monitoring the stretch alongside the railway track.
There appear to a number of them directed at the motorway bound / exiting motorway traffic on both the Frimley Business Park roundabout and the second smaller one heading towards Sainsbury's.
Other set also pointing at the traffic coming / going from the direction of Sainsbury's and another set monitoring the stretch alongside the railway track.
AlexRS2782 said:
Anyone know what the cameras on high poles on the 2 x roundabouts at J4 are about? Seem to have appeared over the weekend as I noticed them today.
There appear to a number of them directed at the motorway bound / exiting motorway traffic on both the Frimley Business Park roundabout and the second smaller one heading towards Sainsbury's.
Other set also pointing at the traffic coming / going from the direction of Sainsbury's and another set monitoring the stretch alongside the railway track.
Traffic monitoring.There appear to a number of them directed at the motorway bound / exiting motorway traffic on both the Frimley Business Park roundabout and the second smaller one heading towards Sainsbury's.
Other set also pointing at the traffic coming / going from the direction of Sainsbury's and another set monitoring the stretch alongside the railway track.
They are cameras/sensors plugged into a box of tricks. They’re over the Mytchett turn off on the A331 too.
Now that the M3 is in a more regular mode (road works generally finished and no school holidays) it is apparent that the evening southbound has a much higher capacity than before. This is generally a good thing, but seems to create considerable queues in lane 1 approaching J3 and J4. Obviously the risk is near stationary traffic in one lane with 40mph lanes running adjacent, with the usual numpties diving in at the last moment causing waves of panic of braking. I assume the roundabouts are at capacity and the light timings optimal, so maybe this is what we have to live with. Would be nice if it could be avoided as the rest of the Smart Motorway concept works well on a normal day (breakdown etc excluded).
DJT said:
Now that the M3 is in a more regular mode (road works generally finished and no school holidays) it is apparent that the evening southbound has a much higher capacity than before. This is generally a good thing, but seems to create considerable queues in lane 1 approaching J3 and J4. Obviously the risk is near stationary traffic in one lane with 40mph lanes running adjacent, with the usual numpties diving in at the last moment causing waves of panic of braking. I assume the roundabouts are at capacity and the light timings optimal, so maybe this is what we have to live with. Would be nice if it could be avoided as the rest of the Smart Motorway concept works well on a normal day (breakdown etc excluded).
It would have been a good idea to improve some of the junctions and on/off slip roads like the A322Junction 3.
No forward planning and a missed the chance to create dedicated lanes for left turns without the need for lights on all exits and off slips.
And carry out much needed re-surfacing no only on the roundabout / bridge but approach roads.
Part time Lights at end of Lightwater Bypass would help to minimise queuing at peak times.
You will never stop the last minite chancers, only dedicated lane camera system to issue FPN would stop that, but fat chance of seeing those brought in.
And woodlands bridge which is near me how much f
king longer GrrrrrDriving home last night after midnight, and it's apparent how poor the "smart" gantry warnings are.
Driving along, the gantries had a lane one closure, and a 40 mph limit in the three open lanes, due to an "incident".
Just as I approached one gantry, the closure and 40 mph limit signs cleared, replaced by 'NSL' signs in all four lanes. So I relaxed, and gradually accelerated back up to around 60 to 65 mph in lane 1.
I'm so pleased that I didn't "boot it" though, because there, in lane 1 ahead of me, stranded part on the grass and part in the carriageway, was what looked like a BMW coupe, with the driver out on the grass. This would not be a problem with a hard shoulder, and wasn't a problem with me "driving at sensible speeds" in the darkness. But a moment's inattention could have had catastrophic consequences for me, my family, and the BMW driver. Not their fault, but it felt like "a close one" and it could have been a lot closer if I wasn't fully aware of what was going on ahead.
Ironically, AFTER we'd passed this "incident" the gantry signs flickered back from 'NSL' to the previous display of a lane 1 closure with 40 mph limits in the remaining lanes.
One of these days something terrible will happen on that stretch, a "fresh" incident will be hit by cars or lorries still running at 70+ mph before the control room operators can react.
Keep your wits about you, folks,and DO NOT rely on those gantry signs for accurate, up-to-date information. Eyes front and pay full attention to the road ahead...
Driving along, the gantries had a lane one closure, and a 40 mph limit in the three open lanes, due to an "incident".
Just as I approached one gantry, the closure and 40 mph limit signs cleared, replaced by 'NSL' signs in all four lanes. So I relaxed, and gradually accelerated back up to around 60 to 65 mph in lane 1.
I'm so pleased that I didn't "boot it" though, because there, in lane 1 ahead of me, stranded part on the grass and part in the carriageway, was what looked like a BMW coupe, with the driver out on the grass. This would not be a problem with a hard shoulder, and wasn't a problem with me "driving at sensible speeds" in the darkness. But a moment's inattention could have had catastrophic consequences for me, my family, and the BMW driver. Not their fault, but it felt like "a close one" and it could have been a lot closer if I wasn't fully aware of what was going on ahead.
Ironically, AFTER we'd passed this "incident" the gantry signs flickered back from 'NSL' to the previous display of a lane 1 closure with 40 mph limits in the remaining lanes.
One of these days something terrible will happen on that stretch, a "fresh" incident will be hit by cars or lorries still running at 70+ mph before the control room operators can react.
Keep your wits about you, folks,and DO NOT rely on those gantry signs for accurate, up-to-date information. Eyes front and pay full attention to the road ahead...
That makes me think of an episode of "Shot in the Dark" currently showing on Netflix which follows 'stringers' (not 'swingers'!) in LA as they go around at night filming newsworthy incidents to sell to local TV stations.
An SUV is stopped in the outside lane of the freeway with the driver sat inside and as the guy is filming it's rammed by another vehicle and catches fire. The cameraman runs across and drags out the driver, saving his life.
For us, the outside lane of the freeway is the inside lane of the M3, but a stranded vehicle possibly broken down with no lights on is so vulnerable it's scary. Thankfully, I'd say most people in this country have enough intelligence to get out and climb over the barrier. In the U.S. they just don't seem to realise how it can go wrong in an instant.
An SUV is stopped in the outside lane of the freeway with the driver sat inside and as the guy is filming it's rammed by another vehicle and catches fire. The cameraman runs across and drags out the driver, saving his life.
For us, the outside lane of the freeway is the inside lane of the M3, but a stranded vehicle possibly broken down with no lights on is so vulnerable it's scary. Thankfully, I'd say most people in this country have enough intelligence to get out and climb over the barrier. In the U.S. they just don't seem to realise how it can go wrong in an instant.
FurtiveFreddy said:
That makes me think of an episode of "Shot in the Dark" currently showing on Netflix which follows 'stringers' (not 'swingers'!) in LA as they go around at night filming newsworthy incidents to sell to local TV stations.
An SUV is stopped in the outside lane of the freeway with the driver sat inside and as the guy is filming it's rammed by another vehicle and catches fire. The cameraman runs across and drags out the driver, saving his life.
For us, the outside lane of the freeway is the inside lane of the M3, but a stranded vehicle possibly broken down with no lights on is so vulnerable it's scary. Thankfully, I'd say most people in this country have enough intelligence to get out and climb over the barrier. In the U.S. they just don't seem to realise how it can go wrong in an instant.
I do find it bizarre that they have spent all this time and money and not chucked in a few streetlightsAn SUV is stopped in the outside lane of the freeway with the driver sat inside and as the guy is filming it's rammed by another vehicle and catches fire. The cameraman runs across and drags out the driver, saving his life.
For us, the outside lane of the freeway is the inside lane of the M3, but a stranded vehicle possibly broken down with no lights on is so vulnerable it's scary. Thankfully, I'd say most people in this country have enough intelligence to get out and climb over the barrier. In the U.S. they just don't seem to realise how it can go wrong in an instant.
FurtiveFreddy said:
For us, the outside lane of the freeway is the inside lane of the M3, but a stranded vehicle possibly broken down with no lights on is so vulnerable it's scary. Thankfully, I'd say most people in this country have enough intelligence to get out and climb over the barrier. In the U.S. they just don't seem to realise how it can go wrong in an instant.
Sorry, but after 6+ years using the M3 I'd have to say that I've seen plenty of people with less than the amount of intelligence required to get out of the car and climb over the barrier (always assuming they knew what it was, could actually locate it and then get over it)! It's just a matter of time before it all goes horribly wrong - I just hope I'm not on it when it does.
krisdelta said:
DJT said:
Does anybody know where the M3 is monitored from? I did have a worrying thought it might be offshore, as that would be very easy with the technology.
I have a vision of this - could be wrong though....
Fortunately though it's not overseas, it's in Godstone.
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