To be considering leaving my job because of this?

[fadedafternoons]

I live in a village about 5 miles from work.

There are ongoing roadworks just outside the village meaning road closures and diversions.

It isn’t an exaggeration to say that at peak times it’s like an island, no one can get in or out. It takes me an hour and a half to get to work. Coming home is hit and miss.

I’m utterly sick to death of it.

AIBU?

I can also vouch it’s a nightmare around the A14; and it’s expected to last another year. The op has answered all your suggestions to get into work. She’s explained she can’t change her working day, not everyone has a flexible job , maybe she’s teacher. Public transport is very bad our way, and cycling just isn’t an option at the moment. I don’t know why people are having a go at the op.

I don't have any suggestions other than what's already been posted but just sending some sympathy your way, that sounds completely shit and I'd be really annoyed too

Ok I’m off, I’ll respond to your question below and then hide the thread.

What do you suggest I ‘do about’ twenty odd miles of roadworks!

This is the post and many like it that you are ignoring:

I'd start by trying to think about the situation logically.
Is there any reason you have to live where you do now? Eg DC's schools. Do you have a partner? What do they think?
What do you like about where you live? What do you dislike?

Then your job. Do you like your job? Do you like the people? How easy would it be to get another one? Could you get another one with a better commute? Or might it be a case of relocating fo work and living?

How long is it going to be so bad? Do look at the local council websites. See if there are any Facebook groups dedicated to moaning about it, who might be able to give you the heads up as to when things will improve. And do try to make the journey more productive with Audible or podcasts.

Talk to your employer to argue for some flexibility if at all possible, work from home, altering start and finish times - okay not possible if you are a nurse etc. But might be worth it as a temporary measure otherwise.

That sounds horrible. I'm sorry you (and so many other people) have to experience this everyday. It must feel like you are trapped, if there are only two ways out the village and both are blocked. If it were me, I'd find it unsettling.

I saw your thread and knew it would be Cambridgeshire. I'm sorry people have upset you on the thread it must be totally soul destroying.

You have my absolute sympathy, my commute to work has increased from 30 minutes to an hour, and then add on time to park and it's a 60-90 minute commute all due to "road improvements schemes' which seem to be going on forever and not achieving anything. I could do some of my work from home, but my employer insists that I come into the office, it's absolutely ludicrous. I have to have back up childcare each day that I work because I can never assume that I will be home for the school run.

I have looked for another job because of it.

Not sure if already suggested, is redundancy an option?

OK, now all the further details have been posted I understand why walking and cycling are not options. What a hellish situation for everyone in the area.

Is it worth writing to your local MP/councillor to complain and put pressure on the highways agency to speed things up a bit? Maybe if you could get some TV coverage that might shame the authorities into action.

What about forming some sort of community action group and threatening to withhold payment of council tax until things are sorted out?

Could you take a few weeks/months of unpaid leave until the worst of it is over?

TV coverage? If it's the A14 roadworks as suspected, it's on TV all the time. I don't think it's a case of them speeding up a bit. Mostly roadworks overrun. Even if they speed up a bit it might reduce from the next 15 months down to 14 months or something. It's been going on years.

No point withholding council tax, it's nothing to do with the council. I expect there are plenty of action groups already.

It is what it is; you can't change the traffic.

Could you put on a good radio station or an audio book and try and enjoy the time alone.

Is there an option of working from home 1 day a week?
Go and see your HR and say it is effecting your operational health and see if you can negotiate a day or two at home.

I know its tough; I have a long commute 1 1/2 hours each way. But I try & work from home 2 days a week. I sleep in the morning (I know you can't!) and I listen to music or watch a program in the evening.

If all else fails take a week off sick and try & re-balance.
I feel for you A14 is shit and I hate driving.

I don't think OP can just elect for redundancy unless her com0any are looking to make redundancies.

This thread is a fucking nightmare!

The OP states quite clearly 1, she can’t afford an Ebike
and 2, ALL OF THE ROADS (even the country roads) are blocked by traffic!

How do you suggest she Ebikes round country lanes that are full of distracted and frustrated commuters that are still at just as much of a standstill as they are on the motorway/A14.

It’s quite simple really the motorway/A14 is gridlocked, this leads to the other roads having to take excess traffic they have not been built for. This is not only dangerous for anyone not in a car (and even adds to accidents if you are in a car) but it means these country roads become blocked with traffic too, so NOBODY CAN MOVE.

OP I don’t have a sensible suggestion other than seeing if work will let you do strange hours thus avoiding the worse of the congestion or see if they will let you work for home occasionally/all of the time.
You could try and get more notice of which roads will be worked on next but I don’t really see how that’s going to help you.
Maybe write to the highways agency stating the hell you are going through and ask what they suggest.

Does anyone want to see what we're talking about? There are some glorious pieces of drone footage of the progress of the works.

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DXKUXlyeIIKk&ved=2ahUKEwjmi4TF6pvmAhUJQEEAHR8aBb4QwqsBMAB6BAgHEAQ&usg=AOvVaw0pfwkp-K7-W1uiEVo71n-4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DXKUXlyeIIKk&ved=2ahUKEwjmi4TF6pvmAhUJQEEAHR8aBb4QwqsBMAB6BAgHEAQ&usg=AOvVaw0pfwkp-K7-W1uiEVo71n-4

Actually I think the OP has got something useful i.e. 1. sympathy and 2. some local connections (FB page etc) which mean she isn't feeling like struggling alone. Sometimes we just need some encouragement.

This A14 upgrade is one of the biggest construction projects in the country but it is nearing its end and hopefully the local road junctions will start being opened up in the New Year which should help.

@BringOnTheScience - thanks for the link, it gives perspective on the size of the project, but is deceptive as all the traffic seems to be flowing well on that footage! Makes OP look like she's exaggerating, but I'm sure she's not.

I wouldn't fancy cycling or walking along that road.

Sorry that my only suggestion Ebike not possible ( you never know it might help someone else on the thread!)

It must be awful - so sorry for OP and everyone affected

How was it for you today OP, with the new a14 section opening?

Pretty dreadful for us, I think it has made it worse. I'm hoping it's just teething problems but it seems like some significant issues with the road design.

Traffic thundering past my door as I type.

Really really wish we could move, but we are stuck.

DH works in Huntingdon & got badly held up this morning. Deliberately came home late tonight.

I'm looking forward to (not!) next week's switch around of the westbound A14/A428 lanes at J31. That'll be carnage.

OP I hope the changes this week are making things better for you.
Monday was dreadful, with cars just stopping in the road by Brampton Hut trying to work out where to go!
Hopefully once we all get used to it the pressure on the villages will ease.

Just a quick Hello to @fadedafternoons and all the other A14 Cambs MNers during this weekend of even more chaos & delays. Really hoping that none of you had to get anywhere urgently.

Sigh