M27 J5-7 Resurfacing

[zapalniczka]

As mentioned on another thread, 2 years worth of work to resurface a road just converted to Smart Motorway is about to start:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-h ... e-68596383

The project manager (I don't envy his job, sounds like a thankless task) did say this should increase the lifespan of the surface, surely the concrete should be longer lasting, just nastier?

[Chris5156]

The project manager (I don't envy his job, sounds like a thankless task) did say this should increase the lifespan of the surface, surely the concrete should be longer lasting, just nastier?

The quote in the article is that it will help the "road last longer", which is really what all maintenance is about. You're absolutely right, though: a tarmac surface has many desirable advantages over concrete, but longevity isn't one of them.

[Gaz909909]

I noticed some SPECS cams around junction 5 yesterday that are currently not in use... Looks like they are prepping.

[B4444]

M27 J10 and Welbourne are also mentioned to start work this year.

[BOH]

Was it really too much to ask to have that work done during the (Non) Smart Motorway works of just a couple of years ago?

Really bizarre how this country approaches major infrastructure projects

[Gaz909909]

Was discussed at the time, but I believe that this money was coming from a different pot. They even added the extra metre width of road at the time... With concrete!

See here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/roUpcyKya6TtdUBe6

[Runwell]

Same as they have done with the M25 upgraded sections.

I thought overlaying of concrete with tarmac had now gone out of fashion, but I guess not.

[Gaz909909]

I think they keep the expansion sections aligned with the tarmac if I recall. I'm no expert on this. Someone else might be able to better explain the process.

[Lockwood]

Even with it coming from a different pot, they could have been able to sort it out timewise.

Uuuuurgh

[GeekyJames]

Having driven along this morning Westbound the middle lane in particular feels very very narrow. No sign of any works yet just setting up barriers...

[BOH]

Why does it take TWO years for some resurfacing?

[skiddaw05]

I think they keep the expansion sections aligned with the tarmac if I recall. I'm no expert on this. Someone else might be able to better explain the process.

I've only ever seen a concrete carriageway overlaid with a surface course (probably about 50mm thick) which was on the A47 at Dereham, and there were saw cuts made in the newly laid asphalt on top of the concrete joints.

I expect they will have to do the same thing with each of the (3?) layers which will make up the 180mm overlay

[Gaz909909]

I drove over this section today and actually, the concrete is in a right state. I'm not sure if what I suggested is even possible.

[CallumParry]

Another concrete road looks to be going, to be replaced with asphalt which will require 10x more the maintenance in resurfacing and patching. Concrete when done right will always be far superior.

[Gaz909909]

My mother lives 500 yards from the M27 and she would disagree. The noise is considerable and in the pandemic, when there was much less traffic, she really appreciated the quiet. So concrete may be cheaper and last longer, but it's not entirely preferable.

[B4444]

A few years ago, the A27 between Havant and Chichester was re-surfaced onto the original concrete because of noise complaints, with a type of asphalt. The new surface soon broke up. resulting another re-surfacing. It had to be feathered where the bridges occurred which made driving over them a bit of a roller coaster!

Aside, I've noticed the A303 is currently having selective re-surfacing, but not on the bridges, regardless of their condition. Why is that?

[Gaz909909]

So does that explain why on that section between Havant and Chichester the tarmac is laid in regular sections? Feels like you have a puncture... Bang ... Bang... Bang ... It's quite frustrating! You notice it coming off the Chichester roundabout going westbound the most.

You can see the sections here:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZA2TQHu2kk8Mpz9D9

I think this is what they will do on M27

[Ben302]

I can imagine a few years down the line it'll look like the M25 J27-30 section where the widened carriageway doesn't always follow the line of the original leaving horizontal and vertical joints that have been filled in repeatedly and it's constantly being overlaid with fresh SMA. That's perhaps why the M25 between J8 to 11 hasn't been done yet, despite being a similar age to the M27 between 5 and 7.

M25 section here

[GeekyJames]

Nearly a week in and no sign of any works actually taking place... The narrow lanes seem to be causing more disruption than Id have thought and t's causing tailbacks to Junction 9 Westbound in the morning rush hour and tail backs to Junction 3 Eastbound in the evening.

[zapalniczka]

**rant alert

What a disaster it was last night heading from the M3 to the M27 Eastbound

The works extend from J5 to the M3 junction for reasons unclear to someone like me. This means the M3 and M27 traffic merges into a narrow lane 'works' area and it was just jammed. Immediately after the merge the traffic through to J7 actually flows really well even at rush hour.

Why not allow the merge and then start to reduce lane widths? you could even keep the new enforced 50 limit. 2 years of this doesn't sound fun