V Festival traffic

[Simpo Two]

Sadly I have to get from Colchester to Tunbridge Wells tomorrow and I have to be there by noon - can't afford to be late. The V Festival is right on my route and I wondered if it will be 'OK' traffic-wise or whether I should go well out my way to avoid it, eg A120/M11.

All ideas welcome, especically if you had to deal with it last year.

[4key]

Seeing as it is dry, most people with weekend tickets will be turning up tonight, hence the A414 and most of Chelmsford being screwed at the moment. Everything depends on what bands are playing on what days, what the weather is like ect, so the only decent advice is when you wake up, stick Essex fm on the radio and have a listen, all they will do is talk about the festival and current traffic situation if any previous years are anything to go by. I would cut down through Maldon ect rather than go M11 though.

[Ekona]

Another vote for cutting via Maldon. Nice roads that way too

[David87]

I think you'll be okay. The A12 never seems to be too badly impacted by V whenever I've driven past. Today in Chelmsford there were signs up telling people to ignore their sat nav and follow the temporary road signs - taking traffic through the city centre!

[elephantstone]

How do you think ill be driving Manchester to Cwmbran (South Wales)? Need to be there for midday...

[Simpo Two]

Thaks guys, local radio is a good idea and I'll defo have 'TA' on. Think I'll head down the A12 and make a judgement on the way.

elephantstone said:

How do you think ill be driving Manchester to Cwmbran (South Wales)? Need to be there for midday...

As it's nowhere near Chelmsford I doubt you'll be affected by the V Festival. How about posting your question on the NW forum?

[elephantstone]

Its at two sites... The other one seems to be on the way down towards south wales.

[Simpo Two]

Ah yes, sorry, didn't know there were two!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffor...

[CAPP0]

It was VERY bad today; A12 solid as I passed overhead at J28, and backing up back onto the M25. Would agree with the Maldon suggestion. Once you pick up the A130 you'll be fine, onto the A13 then Dartford Crossing.

I drive from Maidstone to just outside Ipswich on a fairly regular basis (inlaws) and the A12 south is bad enough around Chelmsford on a regular weekend. (Not to mention the fact that the A12 strangely seems to have the highest nutter-driver quotient of any road I can think of!)

[elephantstone]

Hmm ill just have to make sure ive got some cigs rolled for when i get stuck on the M5...

[NiceCupOfTea]

I passed the Shropshire site today about lunchtime and traffic was OK - I was on the A5/M54.

[ctdctd]

Have a look at http://www.tomtom.com/livetraffic/ before you leave.

[Simpo Two]

Well how strange - not a trace of any extra traffic on the A12 at all, and a clear run almost to the QE2 bridge where I lost about 10 mins. Amazing!