Bank Holiday May 2015

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SteveA30
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Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by SteveA30 »

Saturday May 23 2015

On the A303 westbound between the junctions with the A338 and the A360, there are currently delays of 30 mins due to heavy traffic . Normal traffic conditions expected from 2:15 pm.

On the A303 westbound between the junctions with the A356 and the A30, there are currently delays of 10 mins due to heavy traffic . Normal traffic conditions expected from 3:00 pm.

On the A31 westbound between the junctions with the A348 and the A341, there are currently delays of 20 mins due to heavy traffic . Normal traffic conditions expected from 3:00 pm.

On the A35 westbound between the junctions with the A37 and the A3066, there are currently delays of 40 mins due to heavy traffic . Normal traffic conditions expected from 2:45 pm.

On the A38 from Exeter towards Bodmin between the junctions with the A388 and the A374 west of Plymouth, there are currently delays of 40 mins due to heavy traffic . Normal traffic conditions expected from 3:00 pm.

On the A30 from Honiton towards Penzance between the junctions with the A395 and the A389 Bodmin North, there are currently delays of 1 hour due to heavy traffic . Normal traffic conditions expected from 3:30 pm.

On the M5 southbound between junctions J13 and J20, there are currently delays of 1 and a half hours due to heavy traffic . Normal traffic conditions expected from 5:00 pm.

On the M5 southbound between junctions J23 and J24, there are currently delays of 20 mins due to heavy traffic . Normal traffic conditions expected from 3:30 pm.

The situation at 2pm today. usual suspects. The M5 seems to be going for the record for longest queue. Radio 2 news at 2, reported a 60 mile queue from Stroud area to Bridgwater area.

Only the A30 Temple problem will be solved in the near future, unless the A303 schemes actually go ahead.
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darkcape
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by darkcape »

The A34 from Sutton Scotney to the M3 is bad, and then the M3 from Winchester to the M27, and then the M27 from Cadnam to Ringwood.
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Johnathan404
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by Johnathan404 »

M3 southbound 30 minute delay between J8 and J13.
A34 southbound 20 minute delay between A303 and M3.
A31 westbound 15 minute delay between M27 and A338.
A337 southbound 25 minute delay between M27 and A35.
A27 Chichester Bypass westbound 25 minute delay.

Not looking that bad for a Bank Holiday Saturday.
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ronA1066
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by ronA1066 »

SteveA30 wrote:Saturday May 23 2015

On the A303 westbound between the junctions with the A338 and the A360, there are currently delays of 30 mins due to heavy traffic . Normal traffic conditions expected from 2:15 pm.

...
Unless you're simply being kind enough to warn us of delays, I assume you're proposing that something should be done to prevent these delays.

Back in the 1960s the then Ministry of Transport decided that it was wrong to provide facilities and capacity to serve holiday resorts that was only needed on 10 Saturdays every summer. Are you saying now that the principle was wrong?
SteveA30
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by SteveA30 »

Just a snapshot of a 21st century Bank Holiday in the west. Not proposing anything. It has all been discussed on here pretty thoroughly.

The routes to the west have been improved anyway, regardless of summer Saturday considerations.
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Sou'wester
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by Sou'wester »

The problems on the M5 will IMO be alleviated when/if the A303/A358 upgrade finally goes ahead. The M4/M5 choice will no longer be needed for people going further southwest of J25 of the M5.
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by Jeni »

Aren't there already various threads for the A303 and A30 upgrades?
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crowntown100
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by crowntown100 »

Jeni wrote:Aren't there already various threads for the A303 and A30 upgrades?
Yeah... Temple, Chiverton Cross-Carland Cross and the A303 and A358 schemes seem to be here. Should we make a thread for the A303/A358 schemes if there isn't one already?

Have to Rail Unions kept their plans to strike this weekend or no? It could be a very busy time on the roads this weekend if they are!
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by brummie_rob »

Was the 60 mile queue legit on the M5? I heard that too but saw no where reporting it.

I travelled down the M6 to work on Fri night and it was quiet both North and South. Easter BH it was a nightmare.
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by brummie_rob »

Was the 60 mile queue legit on the M5? I heard that too but saw no where reporting it.

I travelled down the M6 to work on Fri night and it was quiet both North and South. Easter BH it was a nightmare.
DavidBrown
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by DavidBrown »

I think they were reporting 1 and a half hour delays between J13 and J20, with further 20 minute delays between J22 and J24. A journey that, at 70mph, would normally take 50 minutes, would be over 2 and a half hours yesterday. That said, that is not in the slightest bit unusual or surprising - in fact it would be concerning if, for the second bank holiday in a row, the M5 was quiet and running smoothly - it means people aren't coming down and giving some of us a living. I drove back from Birmingham on the last bank holiday Saturday, and instead of being stuck in traffic all evening, I can honestly say I've never seen it that quiet in daylight. Poor weather and the election were the reasons for that, so it's almost like this weekend is two bank holidays rolled into one.
SteveA30
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by SteveA30 »

The Guinness book doesn't have longest queues anymore apparently.

Got this from elsewhere on the web.

Worst traffic jam. On the 5th of April, 1985, there was a 40 mile jam on the M1 between junctions 16 and 18. (Note - not 40 miles. Did they mean J23?)

Also, the M6 between Charnock Richard and Carnforth, Lancs, on 17 April 1987, and involved around 200000 people and 50000 vehicles.

Longest line of stationary traffic. On the 17th of August, 1988, there was 22 miles of stationary traffic between junctions 9 and 8 of the M25.

So, it looks as if the M5 may have taken the record for a stop-start queue (cheers) but, not for stationary traffic, which goes to the M25 (applause)

I recall a Guinness record from about 1989/90, which reported a recent jam on the A34 from Oxford to near Birmingham, M42 presumably, of 50-ish miles. The M40 denied that road the chance of breaking its own record.

Before that the A30 bagged the trophy in May 1970, from Egham to Popham, 35 miles, the M3 removing any chance of bettering that one.
Last edited by SteveA30 on Sun May 24, 2015 13:36, edited 1 time in total.
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avtur
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by avtur »

I drove from Caernarfon to Stockport yesterday setting off just before 1pm, the opposite direction to all the holiday traffic!

We have a caravan near Caernarfon so have made this journey many times over the years year.

I was interested to watch the westbound traffic on the A55 and M56, you have to chose times carefully if you want a 'clear run'.

I saw traffic was heavy and slow(er) moving from Colwyn Bay all the way back to the M56, just to the west of the M6.

There didn't appear to be any accidents just volume of traffic, no complete standstills, but I don't think any stretch was running at full speed.
Raykay
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by Raykay »

SteveA30 wrote:Longest line of stationary traffic. On the 17th of August, 1988, there was 22 miles of stationary traffic between junctions 9 and 8 of the M25.
Is that typo? It's only 8 miles M25 from 9 - 8.
SteveA30
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by SteveA30 »

Didn't notice that one as well. The M1 had 40 miles between J16-18. Not my typo.
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WHBM
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by WHBM »

150 mile jam on the M25 :laugh:

Meanwhile, here in inner London, it's apparent, as ever at holiday times, how the number of vehicles parked in residential roads is well down. Generally these are going to be the overflow from driveways/own parking places, so at such times the roads become notably clear for a day or two.
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by Nicholas »

avtur wrote:I drove from Caernarfon to Stockport yesterday setting off just before 1pm, the opposite direction to all the holiday traffic!
Done similar, heading from Bournemouth to Wigan today. No problems at all heading north... the M6 was backed up southbound from J19 to J16 and J14 to J13 due to the sheer volume of traffic.
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by CrackersA361 »

brummie_rob wrote:Was the 60 mile queue legit on the M5? I heard that too but saw no where reporting it.

I travelled down the M6 to work on Fri night and it was quiet both North and South. Easter BH it was a nightmare.
Not sure whether it was ever 60 miles, but I went past it heading north from Almondsbury and it was virtually solid until about a mile or so south of J13, and that was at about 1pm.

I wonder how many heated family arguments there were in all of that! :laugh:
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by nowster »

CrackersA361 wrote:I wonder how many heated family arguments there were in all of that! :laugh:
Are we there yet?
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Re: Bank Holiday May 2015

Post by djw1981 »

Most of the families would deserve it though. Choosing to go a busy and crowded area of the country on a busyt weekend and travelling during the day is asking for trouble.

Many other seaside and inland holiday areas would have been empty, and with better nationwide infrastructure, these places can be reached much more quickly than before.
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