"Bob Martin" wrote in message
...
IIRC, the plan for the M25 was that it should have 4 service areas, of
which
we now have 3 (South Mimms, Thurrock, Clackett Lane).

Logically, the 4th would sit somewhere around junction 10 (A3) or junction
11 (M3). As there is another bout of works around J11 at the moment, has
anyone heard if they plan to recitify the deficiency at the same time ?
Or,
for that matter, ever?

Given that the south-west quarter of the M25 is the most intensively used,
it's surprising that it wasn't the first to get a service area. It's also
surprising that there aren't signs at each junction on the M25 to the
nearest off-motorway services where you could at least get a cup of coffee
and a Mars Bar, and go to the loo.

There seems to have been a change in the design of motorway service stations
in recent years. Originally (with the exception of Scratchwood at the
southern end of the M1) two service stations have always been built - one
serving each direction with no vehicle link between the two. Now (M40
services, M25 services) one service station is built which is reached by
coming right off the motorway at a junction - this is probably more
efficient as it avoids duplication and allows the services to be used by
non-motorway traffic too. I wonder why this wasn't done from the start.