M5 J31
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SouthWest Philip
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- Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2002 19:35
- Location: Evesham, Worcestershire
The temporary layout at junction 31 of the M5 was introduced in 1999 to cope with the extra traffic heading to Cornwall to see the eclipse. It proved so succesful it is to remain permanently. I believe new signs and improvements are to due later this year.
In recent years the importance of the A30 to Cornwall has increased greatly. When the M5 was first completed in May 1977 the majority of traffic to all points west of Plymouth travelled via the A38 and Tamar Bridge. Now, with the A30 dual carriageway well into Cornwall it has become much the better road than the A38 and has seen a consequent increase in traffic.
Back to the layout approaching jnc 31. I notice travelling around that the principle of being able to leave the main route from both the inside and centre lanes of the motorway has been adopted at a number of other major junctions throughout the country. To name but a few - M6 jnc 8 for the M5, M27 jnc 4 for the M3, M5 jnc 4A for the M42. Whilst I guess it has a negative effect in reducing the 'main' motorway to just two lanesI think the positive effect of reducing last minute 'weaving' probably outweighs the negatives.
In recent years the importance of the A30 to Cornwall has increased greatly. When the M5 was first completed in May 1977 the majority of traffic to all points west of Plymouth travelled via the A38 and Tamar Bridge. Now, with the A30 dual carriageway well into Cornwall it has become much the better road than the A38 and has seen a consequent increase in traffic.
Back to the layout approaching jnc 31. I notice travelling around that the principle of being able to leave the main route from both the inside and centre lanes of the motorway has been adopted at a number of other major junctions throughout the country. To name but a few - M6 jnc 8 for the M5, M27 jnc 4 for the M3, M5 jnc 4A for the M42. Whilst I guess it has a negative effect in reducing the 'main' motorway to just two lanesI think the positive effect of reducing last minute 'weaving' probably outweighs the negatives.
<<I notice travelling around that the principle of being able to leave the main route from both the inside and centre lanes of the motorway has been adopted at a number of other major junctions throughout the country>>
Yeah, it appeared about a year or so ago on the M11 going south at Charlie Brown's, and also on the North Circular going clockwise at the same junction. It's improved the traffic flow a bit (particularly as there weren't three lanes on either road through the junction beforehand anyway), although I saw the police nick a Swedish girl the other month for being in the lefthand lane for most of the junction, and then cutting right across the white hatchings to go right!
Chris.
Yeah, it appeared about a year or so ago on the M11 going south at Charlie Brown's, and also on the North Circular going clockwise at the same junction. It's improved the traffic flow a bit (particularly as there weren't three lanes on either road through the junction beforehand anyway), although I saw the police nick a Swedish girl the other month for being in the lefthand lane for most of the junction, and then cutting right across the white hatchings to go right!
Chris.
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Yes, this is spreading everywhere now, and hooray for that. A bit of joined-up thinking at last from HA. The M62/M621 interchange at Leeds, which I passed today for the first time in ages,looks like it has been recently modified on these lines (the tarmac/signs look fairly new). Here they seem to have done the job properly by widening the road and not pinching the hard shoulder for half a mile and putting up yellow signs sothat everyone thinks its just a temporaryarrangement.
The M5/M6 junction (southbound) was the first example of this that i encountered, about 5 or 6 years ago - and it has remained to this day, still I think, with yellow "temporary" signs.
The M5/M6 junction (southbound) was the first example of this that i encountered, about 5 or 6 years ago - and it has remained to this day, still I think, with yellow "temporary" signs.
Philip: <<The temporary layout at junction 31 of the M5 was introduced in 1999 to cope with the extra traffic heading to Cornwall to see the eclipse. It proved so succesful it is to remain permanently. I believe new signs and improvements are to due later this year.>>
Thishas appeared (today?) on the HA site - they are widening the last 1km of the southbound M5 to 4 lanes plus hardshoulder - this will presumably facilitate improved flow onto the A30.
Simon
Thishas appeared (today?) on the HA site - they are widening the last 1km of the southbound M5 to 4 lanes plus hardshoulder - this will presumably facilitate improved flow onto the A30.
Simon
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Yellow signs do not always signify temporary arrrangements - they are sometimes used to draw particular attention to themselves in unusual situations- a good example is the approach to the Totso on the M25.
They are also on the Ipswich bypass, appraoching the end of the A14/A12 multiplex, to warn A12 traffic to turn off.
They are also on the Ipswich bypass, appraoching the end of the A14/A12 multiplex, to warn A12 traffic to turn off.