ChrisB

I'd take the M1 + A50 option all the time over the M6. Usually quiet.

Only time I do the M6 is between 11pm and 4am. I can suggest alternatives if you like a little x-country action (Although sections are riddled with GATSOs now)

[Edited by ChrisB - 7/1/2002 12:18:25 PM]

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

We went through the Brum section at the weekend and saw SPECS (sp?) cameras on nearly every gantry through the roadworks - you have been warned, no-one else seemed to know they were there as we were one of the very few cars obeying the 40 limit SPECS record the time it takes to travel between two cameras and work out your speed from that - scary stuff

As for the traffic - it was a Saturday evening so fairly light and free flowing which is of no help whatsoever to you...

Sal

[Edited by scoobychick - 7/1/2002 12:27:56 PM]

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Going up to Bolton tomorrow, so possibly having to brave the M6 I always hate the Birmingham stretch, so what's it like at the moment? Midday meeting so no rush hour on the way up, poss on the return though

If the reports come back as " " then I'll probably do the A60 from the M1 to S-o-T - unless thats kiboshed as well

Do not want to trog up to Leeds & along M62 & although I'd love to "do the Dales" would prefer a slighlty more sedate journey.

Thanks

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

What's like north of S-o-T at the moment? Spent many an hour stuck in the middle of nowhere before Junc 18

J19 any better?

Neil Smalley

Puff

Watch out for the SPECS(time and distance) cameras around Junction 2 to Junction 8 at Brum.

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

Neil - see above

ChrisB

M6 J19 is usually bad, although roadwork free now I *think*

I can bung you an AutoRoute 2001 file with my alternative to going north on the M6. Usually quiet and some nice twisties. GATSO free the last time I did it (once you get out of S-o-T that is!) Kicks you out on J20 M6

Neil Smalley

lol@Sal

I wasted time by checking and giving Puff the junction numbers.
The M6 is a fairly long motorway y'know

Burt

Puff

Just came up that stretch M6 19 - M62 Leeds today, some roadworks around 19 nothing much on the rest of the route.

Cheers
Burt

howardb

Puff, you up seeing us?

Jolly Green Monster 2

I used to do Kent to Walton (Near Preston) weekly and swear by the M1 onto A50 (junction 23A or 24 off M1) which puts u on the M6 at junction 15... Much better route... I am currently doing Kent to Derby weekly and using the M1 to junction 24 and there is only a small restriction to 50mph but no cameras on the M1..
Was talk of bridge stopped Vans between 14 and 15 on M1 in Northhamptonshirte but I have seen nothing.. just keep them peeled.

Good luck with the trip

JGM

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Howard

Who else do I know in Bolton?

I guess I'll have to come in PTMW! now

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

JGM

Do you use M11/A14 as an alternative to M1 all the way? Just interested...

Jolly Green Monster 2

PTMW,

I have done, but generally stick to the M1 which is quicker (about 15miles shorter) and there is no front facing camera's etc..

Usually use the M11/A14 when there is an accident, a fortnight ago I was slowly going around the M25.. approaching junction 27 when the digital sign read M25 closed Junction 28 to 24! I only saw the one sign saying this as I approached 27... jumped off and up M11... hadn't used it for a while and was quite glad it was traffic ridden, travelling at about 75mph so I couldn't accidently set off a camera. Then heard on the radio that the M25 was shut for most of the morning I believe... lucky escape. You could use that route though... depending on time.. on a Monday morning I need to be on the M1 for 6:30am otherwise you get slowed on the M25...

The M6 though Birmingham used to be okay on a Monday morning if I got through it by 6am in the car if I remember correctly.
Travelling on the bike and hit Birmingham at 6:30am and I used to be damn glad I was on the bike, despite having just filled the tank for the second time, and my legs wanting to drop off

Also the change of motorway and dual carrigeway breaks the journey, the A50 is a pretty fast route.. and there is no roadworks on the Derby end at the moment but cannot help with the rest of it.

JGM

ChrisB

You can say that again

Jolly Green Monster 2

The A50 is a pretty fast route!



I have a ceiling speed I stick below and people fly past me!

JGM

CharlieWhiskey

A50 is getting busier in the daytime with trucks but is still worth a bet.

Watch out for SPECS cameras or GATSO's in the roadworks on the M6 otherwise you should be OK

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Now going Wednesday - thanks howardb

So anything come to light over the next 24 hrs - pls post here

Little Miss WRX

Avoid M6 full stop

That's it

Toerag

Probably not much help, but traffic was so bad southbound around 11am between blackpool and Alton towers I had to turn the engine of. This was in early may on a thursday morning. Can't remember junction numbers sorry!

Figment

If you subscribed to Trafficmaster online, you could get this information as you go

NotoriousREV

There are roadworks between J19-J20 with 4 SPECS cameras in each direction (don't miss the last one as you come out of the roadworks. They're usually pretty free flowing.

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Thanks everyone for your knowledge & input - sailed up the M1, A50, M6, M62, M620(?) & M61 to my destination

Got back OK too, even if it was rush hour

Howard, I stopped off for petrol @ the end of the road (Esso) & was at home @ 19:30

Thanks again

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

On the other hand [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

Left home @ 08:00 & immediately came across local level-crossing down for 8 mins for a goods train...

Onto the A14, heard there'd been a crash near Huntingdon & it was shut, took "evasive" action to find myself in the diversion Eventually, cut further south & cross-country, back onto the A1, got jammed again (diversionary traffic), back onto x-country & @ 10:00, after 2 hours, I was less than 20 miles into my 200+ mile trip [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

Had to ring 'em up & postpone for 2 hours...