Diversions 2022

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SteveA30
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Diversions 2022

Post by SteveA30 »

A good season opener today on the A38 from M5 J13-14, although the tailbacks were to Quedgeley and Gloucester on both roads. Stroud also affected as people tried almost any diversion. 16 hour closure until 7.30pm, the A38 itself not clearing until 9pm so slow was the traffic, caused by the Falfield lights at A38/B4509 and J14.

The first caravans start their migration south about this time. The mass migration will arrive over Easter.....

Of course returning southwards posed a problem, after all, I didn't want to be caught up in these huge queues so, the B4066 to Berkeley came in handy, then the old B4509 via Ham down to the A38..... twice. Good move because a 20 min visit to Sharpness Docks plus the journey, got me south and into the next layby at Lower Stone, before 2 cattle lorries that I had seen just before I left for Sharpness from the B4066 junction. 3 miles in 30 mins.
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View from a windscreen
View from a windscreen
Newport Glos.
Newport Glos.
Oh to be in England, now that spring is here.... Bloody freezing though
Oh to be in England, now that spring is here.... Bloody freezing though
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Isleworth1961
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by Isleworth1961 »

I heard about this closure just before leaving home to visit relatives in Gloucester, using the M5 from 14 to 11A. Falfield was OK on the short length from the A38 to the M5, but I could see the A38 north of Falfield was chockers - south of there it was absolutely clear, so everyone was going back onto the M5.
I monitored the traffic situation all afternoon, leaving at 7:30pm, deciding to travel home the long way round via the A40/A48/M48. Only took an hour, just a tiny bit longer than usual. Followed a Megabus M36 for much of the A48 between Westbury-on-Severn and Woolaston dual carriageway - obviously taking an alternative route to try and stay somewhere to schedule. I could have tried coming home via the back lanes all the way, but the A48 is a pleasant route with some scenery on the way.
SteveA30
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by SteveA30 »

Deleted
Last edited by SteveA30 on Sat May 21, 2022 22:00, edited 1 time in total.
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SteveA30
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by SteveA30 »

A nice hassle free drive along the South Coast early on Saturday morning, brought me back to the A20 again, scene of many fine divs caused by Euro traffic. Not as good/bad as Operation Stack but, still very reminiscent of the past.

Taking photos while driving is now illegal. See what happened was, I hit a big bump in the road and the camera bounced up really high. I grabbed it in mid air, level and the right way up and accidentally pressed the power button and then the shutter button and a photo got taken. This happened 8 times here and twice on the smooth A2690, don't know how.... Also 14 times on the A38 in Glos. These roads are in a shocking condition, someone should do something about it. :shhh:
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Harrietsham
Harrietsham
near Lenham
near Lenham
Hothfield
Hothfield
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e17simon
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by e17simon »

The A20 Photos between Maidstone and Ashford reminds me on what it used to be like before the M 20 Missing link was opened
Fenlander
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by Fenlander »

If you’re referring to the recent change in interpretation & enforcement regarding taking photos while driving that relates to using the device hand held, if it’s not being hand held then you’re OK as far as that law but still obviously up for debate on not in proper control etc.

Stick it in a dash mount and you’re fine.
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Was92now625
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by Was92now625 »

Some problems on A720, Hermiston and eastwards on Thursday. Caused all sorts of jams and delays on B701 etc.
jnty
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by jnty »

Was92now625 wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 10:22 Some problems on A720, Hermiston and eastwards on Thursday. Caused all sorts of jams and delays on B701 etc.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... e-61107130

Caused serious problems all through the West of Edinburgh all day. Going along the A70 at 8ish all signal phases still seemed to be very long, especially for the B701, don't know if that would be automatically triggered by residual traffic volumes or part of a special "the bypass is knackered!!" centrally triggered change.
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Was92now625
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by Was92now625 »

jnty wrote: Sun Apr 17, 2022 08:26
Was92now625 wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 10:22 Some problems on A720, Hermiston and eastwards on Thursday. Caused all sorts of jams and delays on B701 etc.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... e-61107130

Caused serious problems all through the West of Edinburgh all day. Going along the A70 at 8ish all signal phases still seemed to be very long, especially for the B701, don't know if that would be automatically triggered by residual traffic volumes or part of a special "the bypass is knackered!!" centrally triggered change.
Thanks for the link. Curiously, slightly later, Sheriffhall (going east) involved only a single cycle of the lights.
SteveA30
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by SteveA30 »

Above and beyond again.....night diversion through Okehampton westbound, May 20
Free flowing once out of town, 1 mile queue to enter, thanks to 3 sets of lights. The town centre ones have the longest phases, being a staggered crossroads. The first 2 are just T junctions and apparently fitted with sensors. The +roads set were installed in the last years of the A30, so this scenario would have been a regular sight.

No badgers were harmed in the return journey.
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West of Okehampton
West of Okehampton
Entering Okehampton
Entering Okehampton
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Glenn A
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by Glenn A »

I can remember Jubilee Way into Dover being closed for repairs on a Sunday in 1990. However, this being in August and the era before the Channel Tunnel, the traffic on the A298 and the A20 on the sea front was unbearable, with huge delays. It was probably how Dover was before it was by passed in 1976 at holiday times, perhaps even worse with 1990 traffic levels.
SteveA30
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by SteveA30 »

Ooops, I did it again, I can't help myself, bad habits and other song titles. Once again, an evening shift in Devon. Lifton to Sourton, e/bnd, 8pm - 6am May 25 2022
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Combebow.jpg
Combebow 2.jpg
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SteveA30
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by SteveA30 »

Overspill counts as well so, the A38 longest lane...... Sat May 28 2022.
The M5 was stop/start from Falfield to Taunton. Probably Exeter as well....
Having trapped myself north of Bristol, I extricated myself via B4509, B4060, A432, A46, A4, A350 (stop at the new Costa on the Chippenham bypass A4 rbt.), A303 to Sparkford. Well, I don't want to be stuck in these stupid holiday queues do I :laugh:

The date on the sign at Hazel Grove is March 2024
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South of Bristol
South of Bristol
North of Bristol
North of Bristol
Hazel Grove rbt. Less than 2 years to go.........
Hazel Grove rbt. Less than 2 years to go.........
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SteveA30
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by SteveA30 »

The migration south for half term was spread along more than one day but, the return has been concentrated mostly on this day, unless tomorrow has a late rush. Slow from Chiverton to Exeter, partly due to early morning floods. The M5 caused tailbacks to Cheriton Bishop, on top of the slowness further west. Radio Devon reported slow traffic most of the way to Bristol as well. Still, I can only be in one place at a time unfortunately so, the C50 it was or to use the preferred classification, A30(T)
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Near Pathfinder Village
Near Pathfinder Village
Travellers take a rest at the Travellers Rest, continuing a tradition that must go back to horse and stagecoach days
Travellers take a rest at the Travellers Rest, continuing a tradition that must go back to horse and stagecoach days
Stuck In The Middle With You
Stuck In The Middle With You
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SteveA30
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by SteveA30 »

Queues were from about 11.30 to 4.30, a longer span than I've seen before. A four car shunt just after J31 added to the chaos, although Police soon cleared it to the hard shoulder. A Smart idea that.

The C50 belongs to the rare 'Tardis' category of road. It can go back in time to the days when it was an A trunk road.
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The race is on. We overtook the caravan slowly then it overtook us slowly. We win, perhaps.
The race is on. We overtook the caravan slowly then it overtook us slowly. We win, perhaps.
Wheatley bend, near Pocombe Bridge
Wheatley bend, near Pocombe Bridge
The C50 becomes the A30 holiday road again
The C50 becomes the A30 holiday road again
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SteveA30
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by SteveA30 »

A 7 hour closure of the M5 from J27-28 southbound, allowed the only gap on the old A38 to be covered, Waterloo Cross to Cullompton.
Willand Service Station, a fine example of pre-war A road services.
Willand Service Station, a fine example of pre-war A road services.
I have many memories of working at Willand Service Station with my cousin from about 1963 -1969.
I worked as a petrol pump attendant there. It is still in business today.

I used to work two evenings after school and weekends and as long as I could during school holidays. This was during the time when petrol was still put into your car by an attendant. I well remember being pleased when petrol rose to 5 shillings (25p) a gallon as this meant that 4 gallons came to exactly £1. The Service Station had a repair garage and a cafe attached and it was not unusual to have cars queueing for petrol and then queueing again to get into the cafe for a cup of tea or a meal and to use the toilets. We became a regular stop for some coaches as well. The local police also used it as a refreshment stop. I also remember that one man used to call in about once a month in his Rolls Royce. As a young boy it was always a thrill to fill up a Rolls Royce. In fact considering that I was about 14 or 15 at the time it was exciting being able to fill up expensive cars, check their oil and water levels, tyre pressures and in a few cases park the cars after all this had been done, as the owner had gone into the cafe. Heavy transport also used the service station as it had a large forecourt allowing articulated lorries access.

Later on in the sixties I worked at the service station through the night on summer Friday night/Saturday mornings. This had established itself as a very busy time, with traffic continuous all through the night as holidaymakers were either going on or coming back from their holidays.


Wincanton transport took aviation fuel to Chivenor and Culdrose airfields and were given keys to fill up with diesel during the night. One night when we were asleep directly above the garage, one driver had a different trailer from normal, which was 2 foot higher. It hit the building and, the impact got me out of bed quicker than at any time in my life.
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Between Cullompton and Willand
Between Cullompton and Willand
A lorry that cleared the headroom
A lorry that cleared the headroom
Last edited by SteveA30 on Tue Jun 14, 2022 16:48, edited 4 times in total.
Roads and holidays in the west, before motorways.
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SteveA30
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by SteveA30 »

One of the main dishes served in our 30 seater cafe on Saturdays, came about because it allowed us to handle large numbers. No sooner had their order been taken, it was brought to their table. Homemade steak & kidney pie, cooked in the Aga 4 oven, the best I've tasted ever. Pauline's mum was known as Mother to hundreds of regular motorists.

On the opening of the M5 in 1976, our trade loss was 2/3rds overnight, so reconstruction took place over the next few years. Hairdressing and beauty salons were introduced. Shop area was increased and, step by step the turnover gradually returned to the level it was at the opening of the M5.




I can remember the opening of the Cullompton bypass but I cannot be exactly sure of the date. (Wednesday October 29 1969) All I can remember is that my father decided on the evening that it opened, to take a drive down to Westcott and back, I was a back seat passenger at the time and the thought that an upgrade of this road to a motorway would soon happen, was for me a cause for great excitement. I remember in about 1974 or so going just south of Cullompton to a place known as Nags Head Bridge, parking the car and watching the upgrade to M5 motorway and marvelling at the great earth movers and graders.

The local police were charged with keeping order on this new stretch of road which they patrolled in Ford Cortina Cosworths, Austin Healey 3000 and a Hillman Imp. The policeman who was given the Imp, was a PC Baverstock who was a giant of a man and managed to wreck this car in about 6 months, mainly by trying to get it to do 100mph up the Cullompton bypass.
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The M5 allowed residents to get their hair done. It must have been a right mess before.......
The M5 allowed residents to get their hair done. It must have been a right mess before.......
This was a rbt for the start of the A38 bypass. Police car wrecking a speciality, looking north, which was just fields from 1969 to 1974
This was a rbt for the start of the A38 bypass. Police car wrecking a speciality, looking north, which was just fields from 1969 to 1974
A nearby garage that didn't survive
A nearby garage that didn't survive
Last edited by SteveA30 on Tue Jun 14, 2022 08:11, edited 1 time in total.
Roads and holidays in the west, before motorways.
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SteveA30
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by SteveA30 »

Willand Service Station

There were many serious accidents on the A38 which I attended with our breakdown truck, not pleasant memories.


https://trektothewest.shutterfly.com/pictures/173
Attachments
We were caught in a queue for about 2 hours in about 1968/69, while travelling from Launceston to Fleet, with a deviation to visit more relatives in Clevedon. A major accident had closed the road just ahead and everyone was diverted via a country lane to Uffculme and back to the A38. The verges were wiped out by 2 way traffic trying to pass. The breakdown truck was a big American looking model, although it could have been a Scammell instead.
We were caught in a queue for about 2 hours in about 1968/69, while travelling from Launceston to Fleet, with a deviation to visit more relatives in Clevedon. A major accident had closed the road just ahead and everyone was diverted via a country lane to Uffculme and back to the A38. The verges were wiped out by 2 way traffic trying to pass. The breakdown truck was a big American looking model, although it could have been a Scammell instead.
7.05pm and the past recedes into the distance
7.05pm and the past recedes into the distance
Roads and holidays in the west, before motorways.
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SteveA30
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by SteveA30 »

M3 was closed from J6-5 e/bnd for most of the day for what was described on the NH page and on the radio, as a 'medical emergency'. I assumed this was different from a traffic accident but, after getting back and looking on the BBC Hants page, turned out to be a single vehicle accident in which the driver unfortunately perished. So, are RTA/RTI's now described as medical emergencies instead?

Anyway, M3/A31/B3349/A287 got me to the A30(T) as I prefer to call it, where it was buzzing as in them olden days. I gradually worked westwards, stopping frequently to sample the sights, as you do.
Attachments
Nately Scures hill
Nately Scures hill
The downhill steeper side is the original S2. An original junction, unhatched so far.....
The downhill steeper side is the original S2. An original junction, unhatched so far.....
The former Waterend pub is now a mostly bikers cafe but, quiet on weekdays. Coffee and a sausage bap were a welcome first eat of the day after an early scramble alert. They had a few extra customers from the queue. Diversions pay.....
The former Waterend pub is now a mostly bikers cafe but, quiet on weekdays. Coffee and a sausage bap were a welcome first eat of the day after an early scramble alert. They had a few extra customers from the queue. Diversions pay.....
Last edited by SteveA30 on Fri Jul 08, 2022 00:10, edited 2 times in total.
Roads and holidays in the west, before motorways.
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owen b
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Re: Diversions 2022

Post by owen b »

SteveA30 wrote: Thu Jul 07, 2022 23:17 M3 was closed from J6-5 e/bnd for most of the day for what was described on the NH page and on the radio, as a 'medical emergency'. I assumed this was different from a traffic accident but, after getting back and looking on the BBC Hants page, turned out to be a single vehicle accident in which the driver unfortunately perished. So, are RTA/RTI's now described as medical emergencies instead?
Maybe it was a medical emergency which caused the crash. For example the driver might have lost control of the vehicle as a result of a heart attack or some kind of seizure.
Owen
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