M25 roadworks - get a grip

[crumblinecentral]

I'm sorry but anyone who lives or works outside of the "golden sphere" that is the M25 has had to deal with road/motorway closures and sudden changes in route/planning for decades.

Why do we have to be subjected to this as "national news"?

FFS they close motorways every weekend in North West, Yorkshire, Midlands, Wales, Scotland and elsewhere on a regular basis.

YABU. It's an unusually long closure on a very busy road in the most populated part of the country.

Sounds like utter chaos tbh. And how is everyone supposed to get trains? Do they have unlimited seating or something...YABU

I've not really paid attention it's just 🤷🏻‍♀️ .

Have you driven on the M25? Its a totally different ballgame in terms of access to the places you mention. I've lived in Scotland, Manchester and Midlands and although road closures are a ballache the chaos isn't even close to prolonged m25 closure

YABU

Added to which, I gather there's engineering works on parts of the rail network in the very same area, so it's going to be mayhem. People effectively being advised to cancel plans and stay home this weekend!

This is the busiest section of the busiest motorway in the country. It's not comparable to anywhere else you have mentioned. I used to live in one of the villages through which all the traffic will be routed and it's going to be horrific. There are some parts where just two large lorries passing each other will be difficult, never mind condensing four lanes of traffic onto those roads.

I mean if you don't live there, of course you don't think it's relevant, however lots of people do live there and it's going to have a huge impact over the weekend so to try and minimise they are saying.. hey if you don't need to go out, probably best to stay home.

I live next to J1, so M25 ruins my day every day ha.

Parts of the M6 are the busiest in this country,not the M25.

Not according to official government figures.

This whole post is so typical of us British and the mentality which I try to escape whenever I can.

The mentality of “Why are you getting attention when others are equally deserving of attention”. Ugh.

So here’s one for you @crumblinecentral . I live at junction 10 of the M25/A3 Wisley interchange. It is statistically one of the top 20 busiest interchanges in the UK.

I am not in a paddy about the road closure, but I can tell you the disruption will be huge simply because lots of people use this here, it’s the first time a section of the M25 has closed for planned works during the day, and the M25 is Britain’s busiest motorway.

How much more newsworthy can you get?

• Busiest motorway in the UK
• First time it has closed for planned works during the day
• The alternative routes are going to be in huge demand so plenty of pictures for the news

Look - you may live somewhere which is less busy, hence it is less newsworthy…?

A lady that works for my partner has decided to sleep in her car all weekend as her husband is in hospital and is having end of life care and what would normally be a 20 minute journey could possibly take up to 5 hours this weekend going by some of the reports

She doesn’t want to risk not getting there in time if the worse was to happen and she had popped home

I know roadworks have to happen but for her this is the worst possible weekend as it is stress she doesn’t need. We are hoping that the hospital will let her stay on the ward but apparently it is not allowed, even under these circumstances. And we will try and get over there ourselves to support her

The statisticians don’t tend to deal in fractions when describing which motorway is the busiest in the UK.

I’m sure that sections of the M6 are as busy as the M25 at times.

But overall, the M25 is Britain’s busiest motorway.

Interestingly I went to look at the stats. Four out of the top 5 busiest segments of road in the UK are the M25.

The M6 didn’t even get a mention.

Oh this is awful that poor lady.

This is the sad reality of the M25, unless you live near it, you don't understand the impact of it closing/being shut.

@Timetogohome2 what a heartbreaking story.
if she speaks to the ward charge nurse or the palliative care team there may be a family room/hospital space she can use.
we don’t allow staying on the ward but have an end of life family room on a different ward.
would a hotel nearby be an option?

She is hoping that they will let her stay in a family or the recreation room. But due to the nature of the ward, she unfortunately isn’t the only one in this situation

No close hotels. Nearest ones are pretty much beside her house so no point. The issue is the roads that cars are getting diverted to cannot cope with the volume of traffic that hits the motorway. And all it takes is a car to break down on one of these local roads for it to be chaotic

We are about 30 minutes away so keeping an eye on it and hoping that people decide not to go out this weekend so the traffic is not as bad as what they are saying and we can get over there as their family are not local but are trying to get here too

It’s also very near Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports.

@crumblinecentral

your post shows your utter lack of understanding of the situation

if you look at the diversion route, the state of the road surface on that route and that this closure is budget driven not need driven ( could be done on overnights), you will see that these five closures this year are a disgrace.

plus the facts that the dates are set so late

it sums up this terrible bankrupt government we have

Errrrr....for awareness reasons...so that those who would have used it can find another route?

I don’t use the motorway on a regular basis but have been fascinated by this as it’s always such a busy stretch near there, I just can’t see how the area will cope with the displaced traffic. I hope that people avoid travelling if they can, I’m glad it’s been well publicised.

If it wasn't national news we may well have planned a trip that way this weekend and ended up stuck. Also plenty of people from outside the immediate vicinity fly in and out of Gatwick and Heathrow and will be affected.

Before you fly do you check local news just incase of closures that would potentially prevent your travel?

Eight lanes of traffic (four each way), it’s just as busy on a Saturday and this is being funnelled onto narrow roads with craters the size of the Grand Canyon on them.

It’s an exceptionally busy section of road and it’s never been closed like this before so it will have an impact on many people. Imagine they closed Junction 7-11 of the M6. Similar.

It’s also the route between two major airports, the route to/from channel crossings and has links with two other major motorways. Travellers from further afield might not have been aware of the plans so broadcasting them is only prudent.

FWIW, On a regular day on this section of M25, a crash taking out one or two lanes for as little as an hour causes chaos and clogs all surrounding routes so a full both ways closure is going to be havoc.

I feel really sorry for people who live in places like Byfleet who have to put up with all the traffic being diverted away from the closed section of the M25. I can't imagine how much traffic volume that is, it must be horrendous.

The reason it's made the news @crumblinecentral is because it's the first time since the M25 was completed in 1987 that any section of it has actually closed for roadworks - that's nearly 40 year!

That's awful. Makes you wonder if a local Facebook group couldn't raise awareness and someone offer her a room for the night if they live near the hospital. I expect all the hotels round there are through the roof ££expensive anyway, but even more so if the demand goes up.

The roads in that area just aren't built for the extra traffic.
8 lanes down to 2 lanes will make a sizeable difference to the roads.
The road surfaces are shit already so god knows what the extra traffic will do to them.
The A320 is the main route to junction 11 & also St Peter's Hospital plus transport to Ashford Hospital near Staines (the same NHS Trust) also involves using the A320 & the M25.
There is an ambulance station along that stretch of the A320.
I wonder whether emergency cases would be taken to the Royal Surrey in Guildford instead.
I understand there are traffic lights on the A320 around the McLaren factory.
Then the 6 crossroads roundabout can be fairly chaotic, there are two mini-roundabouts to contend with going into West Byfleet plus the A245 Parvis Road is always busy - pulling out from a side junction is dependant on the goodwill of other drivers.
So yes, if you live locally it is a big deal.
I'm sorry to hear about the lady that will be staying in her car, I hope somewhere will be found in St Peter's for her to rest.