Rob (UK) wrote:
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.

If you use the M3 every day, how can you assess the improvement or lack
of it on the M25? I would have thought that doubling the number of
lanes on the M25-M3 sliproad would have improved the flow off the M25.

To add insult to the case they have installed a Specs average speed
detection system to ensure that everyone does 50mph through
the scheme.

So what speed limit do you think is sensible for a junction where 2
lanes of heavy traffic join a single lane carriageway? 50 mph sounds
sensible for this unusual configuration on safety grounds.

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!

Clarkson is presumably ignorant of the benefits to traffic flow of
moderating speeds in heavy traffic, hence the use of variable limits on
the M25.

This scheme was thought up solely to improve M25 traffic
flow at peak times.

Yes, with some reduction of flow on the M3, as a way of improving the
majority of journeys. You seem to be selfishly intent on maintaining
your speed on the M3, and sod everyone else.

--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)