M5 Oldbury viaduct works
Moderator: Site Management Team
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
Have they fully removed the restrictions and reverted to 3 lanes, or is it now just a 2+2 lane drop?
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
2+2 lane drop at J4a, but as others have reported, it is flowing very nicely now which is a relief.
-
- Member
- Posts: 1538
- Joined: Sun May 08, 2005 00:16
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
Apparently 80% of the repairs have now been done and all hydro demolition is finished. 50% of the edging is ready for waterproofing too.
This seems to have progressed much faster but there is snow forecast next week which may mean some down days.
This seems to have progressed much faster but there is snow forecast next week which may mean some down days.
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
I passed this was this afternoon to see how things are going. The removal of the restrictions at 4A is nice, but the extension of the 50 limit, specs enforced, on the northbound side back almost to junction 4 just seems to be a different exercise in trying to make money from deliberately engineered driver frustration.
Make poetry history.
Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Help with maps using the new online calibrator.
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki.
Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Help with maps using the new online calibrator.
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki.
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
Yeah, I think the total length of 50 enforced Specs south of the roadworks is now longer than it was before. During quieter times of the day and night I've been using the B4551 to avoid the frustration of crawling along at 50. It takes longer but is less stressful. It's no use doing this diversion during busy times as the queue at the A456 roundabout will be more painful than the 50 limited SpecsBig L wrote: ↑Wed Feb 06, 2019 17:43 I passed this was this afternoon to see how things are going. The removal of the restrictions at 4A is nice, but the extension of the 50 limit, specs enforced, on the northbound side back almost to junction 4 just seems to be a different exercise in trying to make money from deliberately engineered driver frustration.
How would you like your grade separations, Sir?
Big and complex.
Big and complex.
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
The northbound limit started about halfway between j3 and j2 before didn't it?
Make poetry history.
Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Help with maps using the new online calibrator.
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki.
Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Help with maps using the new online calibrator.
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki.
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
Start of the 50 limit was previously here. It is now approximately 6 miles further back.
6 miles of 50 limit, specs cameras, and not a hint of any work happening.
Make poetry history.
Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Help with maps using the new online calibrator.
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki.
Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Help with maps using the new online calibrator.
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki.
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
Perhaps it's a secret test, which could lead to a permanent 50 mph limit as a way of smoothing traffic flow up to the M6 junction!
Ian (M5 Driver)
Ian (M5 Driver)
AKA M5 Driver
-
- Member
- Posts: 1538
- Joined: Sun May 08, 2005 00:16
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
It does actually work though, queues onto the M6 on the link road haven't happened which also smooths flow on the M6 itself. When it returns to 70 we will all throttle it up to the link roads and sit in traffic again!
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
The lack of queues is surely more connected to the throttling effect of the roadworks and 30 limit than the 50 limit long before the works. At least when the authorities had their deliberately engineered jams at 4a it reduced traffic heading up the M5. Now there is much less disincentive.brummie_rob wrote: ↑Fri Feb 08, 2019 05:23It does actually work though, queues onto the M6 on the link road haven't happened which also smooths flow on the M6 itself. When it returns to 70 we will all throttle it up to the link roads and sit in traffic again!
Make poetry history.
Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Help with maps using the new online calibrator.
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki.
Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Help with maps using the new online calibrator.
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki.
-
- Member
- Posts: 1538
- Joined: Sun May 08, 2005 00:16
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
It does in a way, but joining at J3 every day, the actual queues from J3-J2 are much reduced or non-existent into the roadworks since the limit was extended south.Big L wrote: ↑Fri Feb 08, 2019 13:24The lack of queues is surely more connected to the throttling effect of the roadworks and 30 limit than the 50 limit long before the works. At least when the authorities had their deliberately engineered jams at 4a it reduced traffic heading up the M5. Now there is much less disincentive.brummie_rob wrote: ↑Fri Feb 08, 2019 05:23It does actually work though, queues onto the M6 on the link road haven't happened which also smooths flow on the M6 itself. When it returns to 70 we will all throttle it up to the link roads and sit in traffic again!
-
- Member
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 15:31
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
Delayed yet again https://www.expressandstar.com/news/tra ... he-summer/
There were reports earlier, that they were going to hurray the works up, by not painting the armco and other non-essential jobs. This would, of course, mean further closures later to either paint it, or replace the now rusty armco. Hopefully they will do everything.
There were reports earlier, that they were going to hurray the works up, by not painting the armco and other non-essential jobs. This would, of course, mean further closures later to either paint it, or replace the now rusty armco. Hopefully they will do everything.
-
- Member
- Posts: 1538
- Joined: Sun May 08, 2005 00:16
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
The update today suggests that they will remove the contraflow in the next few months but will keep two lanes running on each carriageway whilst they finish repairs in lanes 2 and 3 either side (it sounds like SB wasn't actually finished then properly). They also seemed to have removed mention of doing a concrete barrier and replacing worn bits instead. I'd rather they crack on with the concrete barrier than have more roadworks next year for it.
- Norfolktolancashire
- Member
- Posts: 1185
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 22:34
- Location: Cornwall
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
So that will be a years extension from the original completion date.
Once this stretch is finished, which sections of the M6/M5 viaducts in that area are due for similar treatment?
How long is this repair of the Oldbury viaduct reasonably expected to last?
Once this stretch is finished, which sections of the M6/M5 viaducts in that area are due for similar treatment?
How long is this repair of the Oldbury viaduct reasonably expected to last?
-
- Member
- Posts: 1538
- Joined: Sun May 08, 2005 00:16
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
All the signs on the M6 and approaching the works now say 'Main Works Completion Autumn 2019', so there will still be works on-going past then. Some may argue that the viaducts require constant work but there we go...
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
Drove it last night at about 11PM, so tedious being pretty much the only car around stuck doing 55 for no apparent reason for all that distance.
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
Looks like part time speed limits on this section should be set up. There must be a way of turning the specs cameras off after 8pm along with electronic signage for temporary speed limits that come on during the day and electronic signs by the cameras to display 'Not in use' when the speed limit is NSL?Bendo wrote: ↑Mon Apr 15, 2019 14:01Drove it last night at about 11PM, so tedious being pretty much the only car around stuck doing 55 for no apparent reason for all that distance.
Formerly known as 'lortjw'
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
Are they actually doing anything there in the day, it didn't look active as there were no cones etc out that I remember.lotrjw wrote: ↑Mon Apr 15, 2019 14:19Looks like part time speed limits on this section should be set up. There must be a way of turning the specs cameras off after 8pm along with electronic signage for temporary speed limits that come on during the day and electronic signs by the cameras to display 'Not in use' when the speed limit is NSL?
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
Well potentially it could go, but I think the idea was not to create a massive bottleneck when traffic reached the Oldbury viaduct. During the day that would make sense, but after 8pm and before 5am there is no reason for it, hence part time speed restrictions on that section would make better sense than full time restrictions.Bendo wrote: ↑Mon Apr 15, 2019 14:20Are they actually doing anything there in the day, it didn't look active as there were no cones etc out that I remember.lotrjw wrote: ↑Mon Apr 15, 2019 14:19Looks like part time speed limits on this section should be set up. There must be a way of turning the specs cameras off after 8pm along with electronic signage for temporary speed limits that come on during the day and electronic signs by the cameras to display 'Not in use' when the speed limit is NSL?
Formerly known as 'lortjw'
Re: M5 Oldbury viaduct works
Last year it seemed to work just fine as it was before the massive extension, whats changed?