M4 and M5 motorway

CJL · 20 July 2004, 12:38

Am I the only person that has started to notice really bad rutting on the above motorways?

It makes driving on them really difficult cause my trailer fits the rutts but my car is that bit narrower and seems just sit on the side of the rutts. If I stop concentrating 100% its drifts down in the rutts and back down so the whole rig looks like its driven by a drunken wally!

Is it just me????

Plus, has anybody else been charged different amounts on the M6 toll with the same car/trailer combination?

Chris

Andy · 20 July 2004, 12:41

The M27 going West from Portsmouth is terrible for this. Its big trucks on hot roads that does it.

Nick Hearne · 20 July 2004, 13:21

Yes it is not very friendly, it makes cruising the middle lane a pleasure not that I would recommend this!
It is about the only good thing about the old concrete motorways, you do not get any ruts!
You have to remember that we as road users do not contribute much in the way to the up keep of our roads!!!!!!!

Nick

leeprice · 20 July 2004, 14:55

At last something I know the answer too.

The reasons for the ruts in the road are due to the increase in moments of military vehicles and the weight of them. This is why the motorways are mostly bad around operational bases, i.e. the M3 from Aldershot to Southampton and the M4 reading to Salisbury. And the roads were never intended o carry the weight of a couple of tanks on the back of a low loader.

I hope this explains the reason behind it.

Nick Hearne · 20 July 2004, 15:06

Lee are you saying that the weight limit on HGV dose not apply to the Army?
Nick

ashbypower · 20 July 2004, 15:35

You'll never see two tanks on a low loader. 1 tank weighs in excess of 65t. You may see 2 or more APC's though. Living V close to Salisbury plain, we see military movments regularly however these are usually convoy's of 7 - 16 Tonne's.

Scary Des · 20 July 2004, 15:37

Although I am sure that Army Lorries add to the problem I am not convinced that they are the main culprits, you get rutting on all roads over time.

The main problem is that tarmac is a liquid, all be it a very turgid one, over time it will move and it will rut and then we will all sit in a queue for hours paying to have it dug up and put down again.

Des

ps Challenger 2 weighs 63 tons add the lorry and the all up weight is close on 110 ton but because it is multi wheeled its ground pressure is comparatively low.

Phil Davies · 20 July 2004, 15:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJL

Plus, has anybody else been charged different amounts on the M6 toll with the same car/trailer combination?

I got charged a whopping £5 to tow my RIB on the M6 toll, £2 without a trailer, but it hasn't varied from this. The only explanation in your case would have to be that on one or more occasions you travelled 'off-peak' when of course the rate drops.

ashbypower · 20 July 2004, 15:43

Des, 63 Tonnes is conservative, for CR2 it really depend on a,the role b, the final fit and C what Equipment schedule it's loaded with.
Spot on ground pressure will be less that a standard 38 tonner.

CJL · 20 July 2004, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Davies

I got charged a whopping £5 to tow my RIB on the M6 toll, £2 without a trailer, but it hasn't varied from this. The only explanation in your case would have to be that on one or more occasions you travelled 'off-peak' when of course the rate drops.

You see at 6-7pm I got charged £9 (a HGV only gets charged £10!) This was a Weekday. Same week, same time, different day £3????!!!

Answers on the back of a postcard please!

Chris

Daniel TD5 · 20 July 2004, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Davies

I got charged a whopping £5 to tow my RIB on the M6 toll, £2 without a trailer,

i get charged a poor £3.60 each time i go over the dartford crossing with the
rib on the back of the L200 crew cab but when i nick the discovery from work
it only two pounds work that out

Phil Davies · 20 July 2004, 16:14

codprawn · 20 July 2004, 16:16

Lack of repair and the new "surface it quick" style don't help matters at all - also I would love to know how they decide to surface a road - in my area they have just resurfaced all the motorway slips yet again when there was nothing wrong with them - there has also been other resurfacing of roads that were in a perfect state of repair and yet some very busy dual carrigeways with 70mph limits have terrible surfaces that are actually dangerous and haven't been done for at least 10 years!

Bobaw · 20 July 2004, 16:16

DanielTD5

I think thats because the L200 is classed as a commercial vehicle and the disco for want of a better description a personal car, and therefore implies private use....

Only a thought. I will ask tomorrow when I go through the tunnel.

Ribald · 20 July 2004, 17:00

When I used to travel through the Dartford tunnel in my little Bedford Rascal (

) I was charged commercial rate but my mate in his Roller only paid the car rate.

The M25 east of J8 (Reigate) is becoming very rutted. Sometimes have trouble turning off for the M23 - beast wants to go straight on

ashbypower · 20 July 2004, 17:10

What do you all think? Will the new transport policy out lined today improve matters

The rutting is positivley dangerous when riding on two wheels.

Daniel TD5 · 20 July 2004, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobaw

DanielTD5

I think thats because the L200 is classed as a commercial vehicle and the disco for want of a better description a personal car, and therefore implies private use....

Only a thought. I will ask tomorrow when I go through the tunnel.

bobaw

you are right the l200 crew cab is commercial and should be charged more
but my point is it a rib on the back so why is £1.80 more when its behind the
l200 and £1.80 cheaper behind the disco is it me i don,t get it

CJL · 21 July 2004, 08:10

The Pay as you go scheme is flawed.

The reality which the government is not facing up to is that people will not leave there cars unless there is a better alternative and currently there isn`t. Congestion Charging does appear to work in London but that,s cause companies pay the bill for staff. (Why are taxis exempt? They make a profit out of causing congestion in the centre and they normally only have one person in!)

I went through the M6 toll the other day in my car only and the run in to the booths with the mega concrete curbs, has what look like sensors mounted at different heights and distances.

I suppose its just pot luck on what sensors are triggered when you pass through. I`ve always been charged more when I have to wait to pay. Perhaps there is the answer?!?!?

Chris

codprawn · 21 July 2004, 11:42

Toll roads are great - just come back from Spain - toll roads almost empty and all other roads packed - lorries nose to tail on single track roads to avoid paying the tolls!!!!

We have more traffic on our roads - what is Labour's solution? Close off loads of them - make the a lot narrower and stick humps everywhere - brilliant! I would love to see some actual figures showing just how many roads they have closed lately. In Swansea loads of side streets have been closed off forcing people to stick to roads that are totally clogged with traffic - of course this backs up and causes congestion eveywhere else including the M4.

Just come back from Carmarthen today - they have made the pavements about 6 feet wider each side and it is causing chaos - I counted ONE pedestrian using it.

Phil Davies · 21 July 2004, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Just come back from Carmarthen today - I counted ONE pedestrian.

Probably all in chapel.