M1 road widening
13 March 2006, 09:29 AM
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M1 road widening
Just heard on the radio the local plod chatting about the widening scheme between 10 and 8 of the M1. Apparently it's going to take 3 years with the added bonus that the cameras that take your average speed between the whole roadworks will be used, which I though was a nice touch. The speed limit for the 3 carriageways on both sides seperated by concrete barriers is a massive 40 mph.
Then when that is done, work will begin on widening from junction 8 to 6a. So all in all it might just be completed in a total of 5 years, great since my commute is junction 10 to junction 6.
Then when that is done, work will begin on widening from junction 8 to 6a. So all in all it might just be completed in a total of 5 years, great since my commute is junction 10 to junction 6.
13 March 2006, 09:37 AM
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Nice 
Time to use the now ruined rabbit run (cos of speed cameras, it used to be a good blat in the open sections)
Cheers for the heads up, time to avoid teh M1 like thge plague then.
Time to use the now ruined rabbit run (cos of speed cameras, it used to be a good blat in the open sections)Cheers for the heads up, time to avoid teh M1 like thge plague then.
13 March 2006, 09:54 AM
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When it's not rush hour you'll still be doing 40 mph too or you'll be criminalised 
And in five years time when it's all completed you'll be still stuck in a traffic jam.
Wasn't it the norm to have roadworks etc on motorways to have speed limits of 50 and not 40?
And in five years time when it's all completed you'll be still stuck in a traffic jam.Wasn't it the norm to have roadworks etc on motorways to have speed limits of 50 and not 40?
13 March 2006, 11:27 AM
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They have been doing road widening work at junction 34 of the m1(meadowhall turn off) since 2002,Every time you pass the place,there is alway's a couple of workmen changing the completion date on the road sign's,Originally it was sept 2004,needless to say this deadline has been and gone,the last time i saw it was june 2006,Not far off then guy's 
13 March 2006, 11:34 AM
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I've seen a report on them roadworks on TV. It's a disgrace that these things should take so long. I doubt that whole freeways in the US and Japan take so long to rebuild after an earthquake, let alone widening the road.
It probably took a shorter amount of time to build a whole motorway in this country years ago than it does to widen one now.
It probably took a shorter amount of time to build a whole motorway in this country years ago than it does to widen one now.
Last edited by scoobynutta555; 13 March 2006 at 11:38 AM.
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13 March 2006, 11:41 AM
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the construction companies make lots of money tho... and the stupid government pay it... no wonder it takes so long.
once again its the people at the top that are to blame
once again its the people at the top that are to blame
13 March 2006, 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by suprabeast
the construction companies make lots of money tho... and the stupid government pay it... no wonder it takes so long.
once again its the people at the top that are to blame
once again its the people at the top that are to blame
Dave
13 March 2006, 02:16 PM
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also why only do one bit then the next why not just do the whole lot in one go?
And if it takes say a month to do a mile why not have 4 teams of people working e.g. each doing their mile so that the whole 4 mile stretch gets done in 1 month? i am sure they can get it to line up they manage to build bridges over rivers that meet in the middle for example.
I think the fundemental thing is that congestion isnt a cost the Government cares about if it was they would dump all the bus lanes and stop widening empty pavements by reducing road lanes.
And if it takes say a month to do a mile why not have 4 teams of people working e.g. each doing their mile so that the whole 4 mile stretch gets done in 1 month? i am sure they can get it to line up they manage to build bridges over rivers that meet in the middle for example.
I think the fundemental thing is that congestion isnt a cost the Government cares about if it was they would dump all the bus lanes and stop widening empty pavements by reducing road lanes.
Last edited by Adrian F; 13 March 2006 at 02:20 PM.
13 March 2006, 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by scoobynutta555
I've seen a report on them roadworks on TV. It's a disgrace that these things should take so long. I doubt that whole freeways in the US and Japan take so long to rebuild after an earthquake, let alone widening the road.
It probably took a shorter amount of time to build a whole motorway in this country years ago than it does to widen one now.
It probably took a shorter amount of time to build a whole motorway in this country years ago than it does to widen one now.
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13 March 2006, 03:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Adrian F
I think the fundemental thing is that congestion isnt a cost the Government cares about if it was they would dump all the bus lanes and stop widening empty pavements by reducing road lanes.
The priority *should* be less congestion as you say AND you can do this without affecting other (more vulnerable, in PC parlance) road users. Instead they cause congestion for various reasons. a) more tax take from fuel b) more *proof* of the need for road tolling to cut congestion which is c) a way to replace fuel tax as vehicles become more efficient and use alternative fuels (they'll have to when oil runs out) and d) a way to thus watch over us/control us even more.
Dave
13 March 2006, 08:48 PM
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So why is it that 40mph is becoming the norm for motorway roadworks and not 50mph? The A303 in Wiltshire goes from dual carriageway to single carriageway, dropping from 70mph to 60mph. So, when they have contraflows to clear an entire carriageway, why 50 or 40?
The "more congestion, more money for the government" theory makes a lot of sense.
The "more congestion, more money for the government" theory makes a lot of sense.
13 March 2006, 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by SWRTWannabe
So why is it that 40mph is becoming the norm for motorway roadworks and not 50mph? The A303 in Wiltshire goes from dual carriageway to single carriageway, dropping from 70mph to 60mph. So, when they have contraflows to clear an entire carriageway, why 50 or 40?
13 March 2006, 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by scoobynutta555
great since my commute is junction 10 to junction 6.
This obviously also works in reverse on the way home.
Dave.
13 March 2006, 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted by suprabeast
the construction companies make lots of money tho...
2% to 4% profit would not be unusual on normal construction contracts including roads. I guess there're a lot of IT bods on here for whom 50% profit would be acceptable, and banking, legal types for whom 100% would be minimum.Poorly rewarded and poorly paid. Annoying thing is that the banks and lawyers don't apply their own values when contracting construction work
16 March 2006, 02:31 PM
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Apparently the new lane, once it eventually opens, will be a special lane only for vehicles with more than one person.
16 March 2006, 03:11 PM
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Nick, Ive known about the widening for ages, its just the specifics of certain aspects I was unaware of, like the 40 limit and the use of time/distance speed cameras
17 March 2006, 09:53 AM
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So its going to take 5 years for one extra lane between J10 and J6, by which time traffic would have increased by x factor. Why, oh why do they not just bite the bullet and put two extra lanes on?
17 March 2006, 09:56 AM
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That wouldn't be kind to the environment now would it 
BTW I've always thought EBC brakes to be pants........give me a free set of race pads (front) for a late 944 Turbo and I'll see if my mind changes
BTW I've always thought EBC brakes to be pants........give me a free set of race pads (front) for a late 944 Turbo and I'll see if my mind changes
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