Richard J. wrote:

Rob (UK) wrote:

Call for Action,
If you are a regular user of the M3 between junction 1 and 3 you
will be aware of crazy scheme under trial by the Highways agency.
Details can be found on the highways Agency website at
http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/14533.aspx

Please sign my petition against this scheme on the 10 Downing Street
website at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/m25m3project/

Regards

Robert

In summary
In March 2007 The Highways Agency started a scheme designed to try
and reduce congestion on the M25 at junction 12 and give road users
a consistent and reliable journey time.

In order to achieve this they have reduced the M3 southbound to 1
lane through the junction. They say that "this disbenefit will have
to be compared with the cost benefits to M25 traffic joining the
M3". M3 motorists now have to endure daily southbound tailbacks at
peak times. I understand that M25/M3 slip traffic still queues at
peak times.


If the traffic joining the M3 westbound still queues at peak times,
doesn't it indicate that the trial scheme doesn't give undue priority to
ex-M25 traffic? How long are the M3 tailbacks anyway?

This Petition campaigns for the restoration of the 2 lanes
southbound on the M3 through the scheme.


Why do you believe that through traffic on the M3 deserves 2 lanes
against the single lane for traffic joining from *both* directions of
the M25?

Because I use the M3 everyday. Even at peak traffic time, I believe the
new layout does not reduce the congestion off the M25. All its done is
cause tailbacks back up the M3 to the mile marker. That is not an
improvement. To add insult to the case they have installed a Specs
average speed detection system to ensure that everyone does 50mph
through the scheme. This just serves to compound the reduction to 1
lane. To quote Jeremy Clarkson he said that "If you reduce the number of
lanes from 2 to 1 then you have to double the speed to get the same
number of cars throug per hour", not likely to happen! This scheme was
thought up solely to improve M25 traffic flow at peak times. Which
consequently is the only time the Specs system is useless because
everyone is crawling. So the cameras are there to catch people out at
non-peak times and to fund their project and 24 hour security team.

Robert