Road teaser!

[roadtester]

The motoring journalist Alex Grant, whom I know quite well has tweeted out a picture of a busy section of motorway from a 1980s kids’ book and wonders whether we can identify it:

https://twitter.com/alexgrantuk/status/ ... 7820861441

Anyone hazard a guess?

[Owain]

Anyone hazard a guess?

Is it part of the M25?

I'm hazarding that guess because of the concrete surface and the traffic volume! And it looks quite new.

[roadtester]

Anyone hazard a guess?

Is it part of the M25?

I'm hazarding that guess because of the concrete surface and the traffic volume! And it looks quite new.

That was my first guess too, and for the same reasons. Also, it would have been topical because the final bit opening would have been recent at the time of the publication of the book (late eighties). I couldn't begin to tie it down more closely, though.

Those bridge pillars must be a clue for someone?

[Truvelo]

I'm struggling to find the location. The bridge pillars are really tall, not the usual height. Two bridges together would likely mean it's a junction but I can't anything that matches the SW corner of the M25.

The cars are a different story. I grew up with cars of this vintage and I can recognise most of them

[roadtester]

I'm struggling to find the location. The bridge pillars are really tall, not the usual height. Two bridges together would likely mean it's a junction but I can't anything that matches the SW corner of the M25.

The cars are a different story. I grew up with cars of this vintage and I can recognise most of them

If you can't get it, it must be a really difficult one!

[Truvelo]

I'm struggling to find the location. The bridge pillars are really tall, not the usual height. Two bridges together would likely mean it's a junction but I can't anything that matches the SW corner of the M25.

The cars are a different story. I grew up with cars of this vintage and I can recognise most of them

If you can't get it, it must be a really difficult one!

Does your car expertise extend to old style numberplates? The three letters signify the area the vehicle was first registered. All I know is O in the middle and those with EA were from Birmingham.

[roadtester]

I'm struggling to find the location. The bridge pillars are really tall, not the usual height. Two bridges together would likely mean it's a junction but I can't anything that matches the SW corner of the M25.

The cars are a different story. I grew up with cars of this vintage and I can recognise most of them

If you can't get it, it must be a really difficult one!

Does your car expertise extend to old style numberplates? The three letters signify the area the vehicle was first registered. All I know is O in the middle and those with EA were from Birmingham.

Interesting point - that could help narrow it down a bit. I'll take another look.

[JohnnyMo]

I'm struggling to find the location. The bridge pillars are really tall, not the usual height. Two bridges together would likely mean it's a junction but I can't anything that matches the SW corner of the M25.

The cars are a different story. I grew up with cars of this vintage and I can recognise most of them

Yes my thought exactly, also looking for the point where the photo was taken. Footbridge or other road close to the junction

[nowster]

Well worn concrete surface?

[Glen]

From the registrations I could make out there are: 8 London, and one of Swindon, Guildford, Gloucester, Luton, Truro and Worcester.

[B1040]

Lane 1 seems quite unpopular.
So does the 2 second rule unless they're going really slowly.

[roadtester]

From the registrations I could make out there are: 8 London, and one of Swindon, Guildford, Gloucester, Luton, Truro and Worcester.

I think that mix tends to strengthen the idea that it's the M25.

[JohnnyMo]

Does your car expertise extend to old style numberplates? The three letters signify the area the vehicle was first registered. All I know is O in the middle and those with EA were from Birmingham.

The newest plate I can read is C 7? BUC UC is London. Also the car next to it is ALT 42? S is London NW so London area would be a good guess

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_r ... 83_to_2001

[Truvelo]

I may have found it. Assuming it is the M25 and the only reasonable length of concrete section is the SW corner the photo could have been taken from here. There are two bridges in the distance and the pillars have the same profile as those in the photo.

https://goo.gl/maps/4bzgU7hkrTQkM4Fc9

[roadtester]

That does seem very likely - obvs with widening and lighting added since the original photo.

Anyone else think that's it?

[JohnnyMo]

Having the two photo's over 30 year apart shows how much grime there is. The bridge supports have gone from white to dark grey.

[trickstat]

Lane 1 seems quite unpopular.
So does the 2 second rule unless they're going really slowly.

For me, that says M25 all over. I started driving in the late 80s and the poor lane discipline that seemed largely unique to the M25 then has since spread to other motorways. I tended to think it was an M25 thing because people were particularly scared of accidentally leaving the motorway and ending up in an unfamiliar London suburb.

[roadtester]

I've now posted Truvelo's suggestion as our best guess (with an appropriate credit of course!) - if anyone has any other info, more than happy to pass that on as well.

[roadtester]

Alex has now thanked us for our answer - one satisfied customer:

https://twitter.com/alexgrantuk/status/ ... 7151380484

Thanks to all who chipped in - especially Truvelo.