M3 Nightmare Continues!
Discussion
Crossflow Kid said:
Please don't make the mistake of thinking the M3 exists as a usable traffic route. Oh no.
It's there so Balfour Beatty, Highways England, Colas Traffic Management and all the other passengers on the gravy train can piss about with testing, drawn out "upgrades", calibration, more testing, more calibration and some testing.
Your journey home isn't bottom of their list.
It isn't even on their list.
Not fit run a kiddies play area let alone a motorway scheme.It's there so Balfour Beatty, Highways England, Colas Traffic Management and all the other passengers on the gravy train can piss about with testing, drawn out "upgrades", calibration, more testing, more calibration and some testing.
Your journey home isn't bottom of their list.
It isn't even on their list.
bananaman1 said:
Seems I'm a lone voice......but love the improved m3......5 to 6 days a week user......always moving.......15 minutes a day extra lay in :-)
Wow.For the five years of the project my journey home was never less than double what it was before the "upgrade" began, sometimes three times longer when the Chief Clowns closed both the M3 and diversionary A30.
Shambles, and for negligible gain.
The concept isn't too bad, but the response to what is happening seems to happen in 30 minute or longer intervals - it should be done in seconds to work properly.
I don't know how many times there has been a reduced limit with the inside lane closed due to an obstruction that isn't actually there and then it all goes back to NSL.
Then you get the random limits of 50, 50, 40, 60 for "queue ahead" only to find the next gantry showing NSL and finding no queue - how often do they actually look at the f
g cameras FFS! 
I don't know how many times there has been a reduced limit with the inside lane closed due to an obstruction that isn't actually there and then it all goes back to NSL.
Then you get the random limits of 50, 50, 40, 60 for "queue ahead" only to find the next gantry showing NSL and finding no queue - how often do they actually look at the f
g cameras FFS! Crossflow Kid said:
It's all automated and relies on sensors in the road.
This is why they've had the extensive "testing and calibration" way beyond the end of the project being declared complete, yer know, so they can get it absolutely spot on and free of any errors at all.
Allegedly.
Looks like it might need some re-calibration then - it's totally useless at the moment! This is why they've had the extensive "testing and calibration" way beyond the end of the project being declared complete, yer know, so they can get it absolutely spot on and free of any errors at all.
Allegedly.
Crossflow Kid said:
Landshark said:
Some of the cameras have previously been calibrated and are working. They are working their way through the cameras.
Hang on....this project was declared "Complete" in June last year.Why are they still f
king about with this mysterious "calibration"?Edited by Crossflow Kid on Tuesday 27th February 09:23
Mr Tidy said:
The concept isn't too bad, but the response to what is happening seems to happen in 30 minute or longer intervals - it should be done in seconds to work properly.
I don't know how many times there has been a reduced limit with the inside lane closed due to an obstruction that isn't actually there and then it all goes back to NSL.
Then you get the random limits of 50, 50, 40, 60 for "queue ahead" only to find the next gantry showing NSL and finding no queue - how often do they actually look at the fg cameras FFS!
The apparent random limits and then no queues means it’s workingI don't know how many times there has been a reduced limit with the inside lane closed due to an obstruction that isn't actually there and then it all goes back to NSL.
Then you get the random limits of 50, 50, 40, 60 for "queue ahead" only to find the next gantry showing NSL and finding no queue - how often do they actually look at the f
g cameras FFS! JackReacher said:
Landshark said:
JackReacher said:
Coming home last night at around 11pm southbound on the M3, very little traffic and speed reduction to 60 for salt spreading, which was annoying enough, but then the next gantry had 40 indicated along with the message "camera flash test", on an empty motorway when I and everyone else was keen to get home.
I have no idea what that meant, did they want people to go through at normal speed to just "test" or was it to fine? Either way, I decided best to reduce speed down to 40ish.
The camera at that gantry was being calibrated. I have no idea what that meant, did they want people to go through at normal speed to just "test" or was it to fine? Either way, I decided best to reduce speed down to 40ish.
More seriously, they drop the speed to just 40mph on that empty motorway, would you get a fine in the post if you exceeded that during the calibration phase? Would seem very unfair but I guess cameras don't discriminate.To be fair I’m not sure, your told a speed you must be over for each of the limits, no idea how near these maybe to the ‘trigger speed’
Whilst the camera is on test they won’t be dishing out tickets
Landshark said:
Crossflow Kid said:
Landshark said:
Some of the cameras have previously been calibrated and are working. They are working their way through the cameras.
Hang on....this project was declared "Complete" in June last year.Why are they still f
king about with this mysterious "calibration"?Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 27th February 09:23
What's up next? Calibrating the cats eyes? Testing the white lines?
Glaciers formed quicker than the M3.
Landshark said:
Mr Tidy said:
The concept isn't too bad, but the response to what is happening seems to happen in 30 minute or longer intervals - it should be done in seconds to work properly.
I don't know how many times there has been a reduced limit with the inside lane closed due to an obstruction that isn't actually there and then it all goes back to NSL.
Then you get the random limits of 50, 50, 40, 60 for "queue ahead" only to find the next gantry showing NSL and finding no queue - how often do they actually look at the fg cameras FFS!
The apparent random limits and then no queues means it’s workingI don't know how many times there has been a reduced limit with the inside lane closed due to an obstruction that isn't actually there and then it all goes back to NSL.
Then you get the random limits of 50, 50, 40, 60 for "queue ahead" only to find the next gantry showing NSL and finding no queue - how often do they actually look at the f
g cameras FFS! The entire project has to be the biggest white elephant in decades.
Crossflow Kid said:
Landshark said:
Mr Tidy said:
The concept isn't too bad, but the response to what is happening seems to happen in 30 minute or longer intervals - it should be done in seconds to work properly.
I don't know how many times there has been a reduced limit with the inside lane closed due to an obstruction that isn't actually there and then it all goes back to NSL.
Then you get the random limits of 50, 50, 40, 60 for "queue ahead" only to find the next gantry showing NSL and finding no queue - how often do they actually look at the fg cameras FFS!
The apparent random limits and then no queues means it’s workingI don't know how many times there has been a reduced limit with the inside lane closed due to an obstruction that isn't actually there and then it all goes back to NSL.
Then you get the random limits of 50, 50, 40, 60 for "queue ahead" only to find the next gantry showing NSL and finding no queue - how often do they actually look at the f
g cameras FFS! The entire project has to be the biggest white elephant in decades.
Crossflow Kid said:
Landshark said:
Crossflow Kid said:
Landshark said:
Some of the cameras have previously been calibrated and are working. They are working their way through the cameras.
Hang on....this project was declared "Complete" in June last year.Why are they still f
king about with this mysterious "calibration"?Edited by Crossflow Kid on Tuesday 27th February 09:23
What's up next? Calibrating the cats eyes? Testing the white lines?
Glaciers formed quicker than the M3.
Crossflow Kid said:
Roll your eyes all you like.
The entire project has been a drawn-out badly managed shambles from the moment the first cone went out.
Couldn’t agree more, I actually agree with you. Just trying to answer your points as best I can.The entire project has been a drawn-out badly managed shambles from the moment the first cone went out.
I also can’t work out how a completed motorway isn’t completed!
Landshark said:
Couldn’t agree more, I actually agree with you. Just trying to answer your points as best I can.
I also can’t work out how a completed motorway isn’t completed!
Wait till this gets underway M4 Jn1 to Jn12I also can’t work out how a completed motorway isn’t completed!
In many places there is no hard shoulder lane owing to bridges being only wide enough to span the 6 lanes plus small centre
reserve.
Going to be major headache and massive expense replacing overhead structures, new foundations and bridge abutments.
Widening bridge spans over rivers and roads which pass under.
That's before the M4/M25 chaos that will be caused IF the Heathrow third runway goes ahead.
That project will screw up the road networks for a 20 mile radius.
SVTRick said:
Wait till this gets underway M4 Jn1 to Jn12
In many places there is no hard shoulder lane owing to bridges being only wide enough to span the 6 lanes plus small centre
reserve.
Going to be major headache and massive expense replacing overhead structures, new foundations and bridge abutments.
Widening bridge spans over rivers and roads which pass under.
That's before the M4/M25 chaos that will be caused IF the Heathrow third runway goes ahead.
That project will screw up the road networks for a 20 mile radius.
In many places there is no hard shoulder lane owing to bridges being only wide enough to span the 6 lanes plus small centre
reserve.
Going to be major headache and massive expense replacing overhead structures, new foundations and bridge abutments.
Widening bridge spans over rivers and roads which pass under.
That's before the M4/M25 chaos that will be caused IF the Heathrow third runway goes ahead.
That project will screw up the road networks for a 20 mile radius.
An optimist in our midst? Burn him!yellowjack said:
SVTRick said:
Wait till this gets underway M4 Jn1 to Jn12
In many places there is no hard shoulder lane owing to bridges being only wide enough to span the 6 lanes plus small centre
reserve.
Going to be major headache and massive expense replacing overhead structures, new foundations and bridge abutments.
Widening bridge spans over rivers and roads which pass under.
That's before the M4/M25 chaos that will be caused IF the Heathrow third runway goes ahead.
That project will screw up the road networks for a 20 mile radius.
In many places there is no hard shoulder lane owing to bridges being only wide enough to span the 6 lanes plus small centre
reserve.
Going to be major headache and massive expense replacing overhead structures, new foundations and bridge abutments.
Widening bridge spans over rivers and roads which pass under.
That's before the M4/M25 chaos that will be caused IF the Heathrow third runway goes ahead.
That project will screw up the road networks for a 20 mile radius.
An optimist in our midst? Burn him!
Heading back to Camberley from Heathrow at midnight on Monday I saw the Usual "M3 exit west closed" ,so I took the slip road to the A30. At the bottom of the slip road there were roadworks on the roundabout with no entry to the A 30 only a left turn towards Staines.
After a circuit of Staines town centre I got back on the A 30 at Egham congratulating myself on the absence of traffic and looking forward to a clear run to Camberley.
At Sunningdale the level crossing was closed for maintenance so I took to the back lanes through Windlesham.
That must have taken some planning by Highways Agency.
Close the M3 and then close the diversion route in two places as well !!!
After a circuit of Staines town centre I got back on the A 30 at Egham congratulating myself on the absence of traffic and looking forward to a clear run to Camberley.
At Sunningdale the level crossing was closed for maintenance so I took to the back lanes through Windlesham.
That must have taken some planning by Highways Agency.
Close the M3 and then close the diversion route in two places as well !!!
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