M49 - link to nowhere
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M49 - link to nowhere
On the BBC website this morning. How can this sort of thing allowed to happen, a waste of public money if the job isn't completed.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-53808525
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-53808525
Re: M49 - link to nowhere
Maybe the council should give notice of intention to impose a 7.5t weight limit on the other roads leading to the industrial estate...Kalna wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 09:09 On the BBC website this morning. How can this sort of thing allowed to happen, a waste of public money if the job isn't completed.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-53808525
Re: M49 - link to nowhere
No different to M1 J45 being unfinished for nigh on ten years though is it?
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
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Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Re: M49 - link to nowhere
Yes,that I think would help focus the mind...Stevie D wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 10:03Maybe the council should give notice of intention to impose a 7.5t weight limit on the other roads leading to the industrial estate...Kalna wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 09:09 On the BBC website this morning. How can this sort of thing allowed to happen, a waste of public money if the job isn't completed.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-53808525
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Re: M49 - link to nowhere
It's pretty bad that we've just kind of accepted at this point that the very cash strapped HE elected to build this junction despite having absolutely no guaranteed connections into it. Ground should have been broken on the private road the same time as the motorway, or else, no junction. How does this even happen?
It is most certainly a sign of the times that the businesses (very, very large in some cases) would prefer to keep their vehicles travelling via the M48 and thundering down the Severn Beach road rather than having their own dedicated junction for a relatively small cost.
It is most certainly a sign of the times that the businesses (very, very large in some cases) would prefer to keep their vehicles travelling via the M48 and thundering down the Severn Beach road rather than having their own dedicated junction for a relatively small cost.
Re: M49 - link to nowhere
Yes you'd think amazon and tesco especially would be pushing for this. Most of amazon's massive units are just off motorway junctions.DB617 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:58 It's pretty bad that we've just kind of accepted at this point that the very cash strapped HE elected to build this junction despite having absolutely no guaranteed connections into it. Ground should have been broken on the private road the same time as the motorway, or else, no junction. How does this even happen?
It is most certainly a sign of the times that the businesses (very, very large in some cases) would prefer to keep their vehicles travelling via the M48 and thundering down the Severn Beach road rather than having their own dedicated junction for a relatively small cost.
Re: M49 - link to nowhere
The local authority clearly foolishly allowed developments to open before the roads were ready.
For once this isn't actually a HE blunder in my view.
For once this isn't actually a HE blunder in my view.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Re: M49 - link to nowhere
Yes, I would have hoped there were clauses in either the local authority's planning agreement as well as between the tin shed occupiers and the estates company to make the connection to the motorway junction watertight to force the estates company to build the link road in the same time frame as the HE contractors built the junction.
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Re: M49 - link to nowhere
The East Leeds Link was a council scheme, rather than a developer led one, though I've no doubt there were some significant developer contributions. But yes. You build the junction and you don't always get the road at the same time.
Without wishing to negate your other points, I don't think you can really call HE cash strapped - all VED payments in England are ringfenced for their use and their budget is vast.
Chris
Roads.org.uk
Roads.org.uk
Re: M49 - link to nowhere
At least this answers a question that's been on my mind ever since the M49 opened: why was the M49's junction with with the M4 built with full access in each direction, rather than being a simpler (and presumably cheaper) limited-access junction serving only traffic to/from South Wales?
The fact that the M49 was supposed to have a junction serving the distribution centres at its halfway point provides the answer!
The fact that the M49 was supposed to have a junction serving the distribution centres at its halfway point provides the answer!
Re: M49 - link to nowhere
Definitely an assumption on my part, as every other Government department has a dearth of both money and expertise.
- Chris Bertram
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Re: M49 - link to nowhere
It's one answer - the other is that it provided traffic with a last chance to turn round and avoid the toll, especially if they didn't have the cash to hand. That reason no longer applies, of course. On the M48 that opportunity existed at the A403/Aust (Severn View) Services junction.Owain wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 16:29 At least this answers a question that's been on my mind ever since the M49 opened: why was the M49's junction with with the M4 built with full access in each direction, rather than being a simpler (and presumably cheaper) limited-access junction serving only traffic to/from South Wales?
The fact that the M49 was supposed to have a junction serving the distribution centres at its halfway point provides the answer!
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Re: M49 - link to nowhere
I think it was also built like that so that it could provide an alternative route to the M5 between Avonmouth and Almondsbury if there was a problem on the main section. Obviously we don't generally go round adding in redundancy "just in case", but when all that is needed is to change a fork junction for a roundabout interchange, it's an easy win.Owain wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 16:29 At least this answers a question that's been on my mind ever since the M49 opened: why was the M49's junction with with the M4 built with full access in each direction, rather than being a simpler (and presumably cheaper) limited-access junction serving only traffic to/from South Wales?
The fact that the M49 was supposed to have a junction serving the distribution centres at its halfway point provides the answer!
- Chris Bertram
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Re: M49 - link to nowhere
A directional-T junction would have provided that facility. I think the turnround facility (see my point above) was what determined the choice of a roundabout.Stevie D wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 17:05I think it was also built like that so that it could provide an alternative route to the M5 between Avonmouth and Almondsbury if there was a problem on the main section. Obviously we don't generally go round adding in redundancy "just in case", but when all that is needed is to change a fork junction for a roundabout interchange, it's an easy win.Owain wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 16:29 At least this answers a question that's been on my mind ever since the M49 opened: why was the M49's junction with with the M4 built with full access in each direction, rather than being a simpler (and presumably cheaper) limited-access junction serving only traffic to/from South Wales?
The fact that the M49 was supposed to have a junction serving the distribution centres at its halfway point provides the answer!
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Re: M49 - link to nowhere
Yes I think it's because of turning traffic around, otherwise it would have been easier and cheaper to build a single bridge trumpet.Chris Bertram wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 17:07A directional-T junction would have provided that facility. I think the turnround facility (see my point above) was what determined the choice of a roundabout.Stevie D wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 17:05I think it was also built like that so that it could provide an alternative route to the M5 between Avonmouth and Almondsbury if there was a problem on the main section. Obviously we don't generally go round adding in redundancy "just in case", but when all that is needed is to change a fork junction for a roundabout interchange, it's an easy win.Owain wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 16:29 At least this answers a question that's been on my mind ever since the M49 opened: why was the M49's junction with with the M4 built with full access in each direction, rather than being a simpler (and presumably cheaper) limited-access junction serving only traffic to/from South Wales?
The fact that the M49 was supposed to have a junction serving the distribution centres at its halfway point provides the answer!
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Re: M49 - link to nowhere
There's some kind of facility off the M4 junction, maybe a depot for the crossing? This could have been a factor in junction design.
From the new junction scheme page:
"As per our commitment in the government’s Road Investment Strategy, we've completed the construction of the new junction which will now allow local developers to build connecting roads into the stubs of the junction once they’re ready."
It strikes me as rather unusual to build a motorway junction entirely for hypothetical future developments. Usually there would be some kind of undertaking on the part of the developers.
There is probably a useful message here that, if HE really want to be in the development game, they should not do so unilaterally. I have no doubt that the stubs will be connected eventually, but there's no sense in making that contingent on ex post haggling with the landowners holding all the cards.
Here's the junction in all its glory:
http://assets.highwaysengland.co.uk/roa ... r+2019.jpg
From the new junction scheme page:
"As per our commitment in the government’s Road Investment Strategy, we've completed the construction of the new junction which will now allow local developers to build connecting roads into the stubs of the junction once they’re ready."
It strikes me as rather unusual to build a motorway junction entirely for hypothetical future developments. Usually there would be some kind of undertaking on the part of the developers.
There is probably a useful message here that, if HE really want to be in the development game, they should not do so unilaterally. I have no doubt that the stubs will be connected eventually, but there's no sense in making that contingent on ex post haggling with the landowners holding all the cards.
Here's the junction in all its glory:
http://assets.highwaysengland.co.uk/roa ... r+2019.jpg
Re: M49 - link to nowhere
Or threaten to install a 2 metre high barrier to stop HGVs from getting in and out of the old roads?Stevie D wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 10:03Maybe the council should give notice of intention to impose a 7.5t weight limit on the other roads leading to the industrial estate...Kalna wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 09:09 On the BBC website this morning. How can this sort of thing allowed to happen, a waste of public money if the job isn't completed.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-53808525
Formerly known as 'lortjw'
Re: M49 - link to nowhere
The cycle/pedestrian provision at that junction must be the best at any trunk road junction in the UK.
Zero conflict with motor traffic & grade separated from the gyratory & sliproads. It also probably added £5m onto the cost of the scheme.
Zero conflict with motor traffic & grade separated from the gyratory & sliproads. It also probably added £5m onto the cost of the scheme.
Re: M49 - link to nowhere
The roundabout has to be elevated above the motorway anyway, so there are no additional works to slot an NMU route through as they have done, it probably was peanuts to add this to a new build junction.
It's retrofitting this stuff that is the expensive nightmare, which is another reason to get things right first time and stop doing piecemeal crud. Cough Switch Island.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
- Jonathan B4027
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Re: M49 - link to nowhere
How is it signposted on the M49 or is it not currently/patched?
Casino Manager: "It was a good night. Nothing Unusual."
Harold Shand: "Nothing unusual," he says! Eric's been blown to smithereens, Colin's been carved up, and I've got a bomb in me casino, and you say nothing unusual ?"
Harold Shand: "Nothing unusual," he says! Eric's been blown to smithereens, Colin's been carved up, and I've got a bomb in me casino, and you say nothing unusual ?"