M27 Closure and 60 mile Westbound diversion route

[Johnathan404]

Commuters are prioritised because they generally produce the heavier loads, and are less likely to cancel or adjust their journeys. This is easily provable on the railways where you can just count the trains. By its very nature long-distance traffic can take other routes, if it knows about them.

A Friday evening closure on the M27 would have been disastrous given the notorious congestion in the region.

I have no issue with the choice of date (except, perhaps, that if they'd have known it could be done so quickly then maybe a Sunday would have been better, albeit riskier) - my issue is with the quality of information.

[Peter350]

All finished and reopened 36 hours early.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-h ... e-48817038

[Berk]

Commuters are prioritised because they generally produce the heavier loads, and are less likely to cancel or adjust their journeys. This is easily provable on the railways where you can just count the trains. By its very nature long-distance traffic can take other routes, if it knows about them.

A Friday evening closure on the M27 would have been disastrous given the notorious congestion in the region.

I have no issue with the choice of date (except, perhaps, that if they'd have known it could be done so quickly then maybe a Sunday would have been better, albeit riskier) - my issue is with the quality of information.

But if it’d gone this way, and closed on Thursday night, it would’ve reopened at 4 pm on Friday.

This meant it was open for commuters, but not other travellers.

[SteveA30]

Fine work by HE and contractors (who?) Wearing Hi Viz vests in that heat must have been horrendous. Last years was also early, mid afternoon Sunday. Next one, October.
Coming in along the M27, there was no mention until the approach to J2, where a small yellow sign warned of closure at J3. On the A36/A3090, were the usual symbol signs. Only once at Romsey was there a sign that mentioned the M3, plus height warnings for lorries to take A27 from Romsey bypass, due to a low bridge in Romsey. At least 1 lorry came in from Winchester and had to U-turn at a signalled junction just before the bridge. Based on the other roads below, I doubt if he ever made the delivery. It can be seen in the first photo, in a bus stop layby.

I didn't see the M3 but, as traffic was queueing into Romsey by 8am and was later all the way back to Hursley on the old A31, now A3090, I imagine the signage must have been good. Those that stayed on the M3 would have contributed to the Southampton jams, which by all accounts were even worse than in the Romsey area. A27 North Baddesley seemed to be paralysed for much of the day. Most lorries were sent that way. All lanes around there were also jammed, as I found out when trying to get back from Hursley via u/c roads to Baddesley. An electric car ran out of juice and had to be rescued by a charger breakdown van, first time I've seen such a thing.

After staying in a queue for 20 mins in a lane, I U-turned along with many others. A Welshman was asking how to get to Bournemouth....in a country lane near Chandlers Ford. I said to head for Hursley. I went north of Hursley as part of my cunning plan. The first lane to Braishfield came a cropper, as it became single track after a mile and about 20 cars were in front, facing those coming the other way. U-turn again and up another lane to Ashley and on to Kings Somborne on the A3057. Down to Romsey and turn right onto the B3084 then a yellow road to the A27. A 20 min queue there to join the A27. Most went straight across towards Wellow and the A36, to avoid Romsey. The A27 was clear and, I was back to base after an hour and a half wasted and in a heatwave. I do this for....fun? Literally, all roads of all classes between Romsey and the Southampton area were solid. Still, 172 pics from 07.30 to 16.30 so, result.

[SteveA30]

1. Raynet, a volunteer group who were monitoring traffic at the A27 junction west of Romsey.
2. 1931 bridge. It was v warm, later upgraded to f hot.
3. Start of the early 60's D2 from Romsey to Ower A36

[SteveA30]

1. I had to requisition this front garden in the national interest, to get this and a few other shots.
2. Morning coffee
3. Afternoon refreshments. Traffic had eased throughout and re-opening was imminent, although I didn't know that yet.

[Nicholas]

I want to be corrected, but I bet there are no signs on the A34 or M3 telling traffic for Bournemouth (of which there is a lot - it's the hottest weekend of the year!) to go via Salisbury.

That would have been intentional - Salisbury was hosting the national Armed Forces Weekend event, so would have been rammed with visitors for that. In addition, the A345 up to Amesbury was closed for part of the weekend, due to the music event being held at the rugby club alongside the road, and also being under the flight path for the air display.

There will be a further weekend closure in October for finishing works.

[Peter350]

Final closure date announced

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/180328 ... announced/

[SteveA30]

As expected, a much quieter winter diversion. Probably 30-40% down on June traffic levels. Flowing well most of the time, with only intermittent queues. 5 caravans and few coaches on the Saturday, apart from the odd football outing, as shown.

1. Original pavement still in place, 80 or so years after the bypass opened.
2. Rebuilt bridge for the new motor road.
3. Having been denied Rownhams, this Aston Manor coach driver saw the Cromwell Arms and pulled over. After an hour or so, they continued to Bournemouth, only to lose 2-1. A subdued journey home no doubt.

M27 still closed, re-opening set for 6am. Romsey and N. Baddesley quiet now.

[Norfolktolancashire]

I take it the traffic "congestion" was not as gridlocked as the local newspapers promised!

[Peter350]

I take it the traffic "congestion" was not as gridlocked as the local newspapers promised!

Rather surprising so, considering that the main railway through Eastleigh was blocked as well!

[Jeni]

At least it was at the weekend not during peak commuting time!

[SteveA30]

Not a patch on June. The map a few posts above this shows the total gridlock then. This time, it was just A27 N. Baddesley and old A31 Romsey that were affected. In June they finished at 4.30pm on that Saturday, avoiding a whole load of trouble for Sunday.

[Berk]

But they could still have started the work 24 hours earlier- and spared most of the weekend then.

(Thinking more of June when they got on fairly quickly with the work).

[Jeni]

But they could still have started the work 24 hours earlier- and spared most of the weekend then.

(Thinking more of June when they got on fairly quickly with the work).

In commuting time? Yeah, great idea!

[Berk]

But they could still have started the work 24 hours earlier- and spared most of the weekend then.

(Thinking more of June when they got on fairly quickly with the work).

In commuting time? Yeah, great idea!

And weekends is better... how??

At least in summer you can make arrangements. Possibly have a day off. Weekends are important too for tourists. The idea that no-one will be inconvenienced then is just as laughable.

[Bryn666]

But they could still have started the work 24 hours earlier- and spared most of the weekend then.

(Thinking more of June when they got on fairly quickly with the work).

In commuting time? Yeah, great idea!

And weekends is better... how??

At least in summer you can make arrangements. Possibly have a day off. Weekends are important too for tourists. The idea that no-one will be inconvenienced then is just as laughable.

Because people going to work vastly outnumber tourists perhaps?

Now unless you're retired or unemployed, you'd never in a million years suggest having roadworks closures out on a Friday.

[Berk]

I have observed traffic volumes are often lower on Friday daytimes (bar the off-peak, perhaps).

It’s exactly the same as on the railways. The idea that “peak services matter” implies that off-peak and weekend don’t. But that doesn’t mean that traffic levels are uniform, just because it’s a working weekday.

Summer weekdays are quieter than winter ones. If the work is a literal one-off (or series of one-offs, as in this case), a weekday closure mightn’t be a bad thing.

The only time I wouldn’t recommend it is for long-term roadworks, such as the A14.

[Jeni]

And weekends is better... how??

At least in summer you can make arrangements. Possibly have a day off. Weekends are important too for tourists. The idea that no-one will be inconvenienced then is just as laughable.

Because without commuters, there would be fewer people in a financial position to become leisure travelers.

Tourists are flexible, working hours and days generally aren't.

[Bryn666]

Friday mornings might be quieter but the POETS Day mantra means the evening peak starts at 2pm and carries on through til 7.

A single traffic incident in the NW for example during this period brings the network to a virtual standstill.

In 2002 we did an airport run on a Friday and an overturned vehicle at M60 J13 ballooned the journey time from 45 minutes to 4 hours. That was then. It's only got worse since.