"Mizter T" wrote in message
...

On Mar 11, 6:13 pm, Peter Campbell Smith wrote:

Mizter T wrote:
Even if one is heading for 'central' south London then I've been told
that leaving the M23 and heading along the M25 from junction 7 to jn 6
on the A22 Caterham bypass to get in to Purley is preferable to going
straight through Coulsdon on the A23.

Even now that there is a bypass round most of Coulsdon? You may feel as if
you're going faster by taking the A22, but it's quite a bit further and
quite slow from the northern end of the Caterham bypass into Purley.

I'd agree with using that route coming along the M25 from the east, but
from the M23 it's marginal at best out of peak hours.

I've never done this diversion myself, and I can quite believe that
the illusion of movement might make it seem quicker when it's not (and
I can imagine the source of said advice falling into that mindset!).
Whenever I've been that way I've gone the Coulsdon route, which is as
you say improved now given the new bypass. I've only every really
driven the A23 when it's not so busy (certainly avoided in peak
traffic) and my recollection is that it's been alright.

A22 into Purley can be a nightmare. Worse when the kids are at schoo