Why didn't the M3 go into London?

[qwertyK]

The M3 doesn't actually reach London, it ends just at the Surrey/London border. It could have gone much further along the A316 Country Way/Gt Chertsey all the way up to the first roundabout (Hospital Bridge Road) or potentially even up the carriageway before the Whitton Road Roundabout. Why was this not done? The A316 before the Hospital Bridge roundabout is near motorway standard with GSJs/flyovers and it wouldn't take a massive amount of work to ugrade the sections beyond this

[Ritchie333]

roads.org.uk has a pretty good account and history - https://www.roads.org.uk/index.php/ring ... rn/m3-a316

[Richardf]

Same reason the M23 doesn't. Nowhere for the traffic to go when it gets there.

Now if only there was an inner orbital road or motorway for that traffic to use........ cough *Ringway 2* cough