Reluctantly, I anticipate having to make a journey in about ten days time from Lichfield, Staffs, to Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and return.
I have not used M42/M6/M1/M25 for a year or two. M6 is always a pain but, in particular, I wonder what awaits me on the M1 in the region of Junction 8? I regularly hear references on Radio 5 to The Roadworks in that vicinity as if they are something permanent :o( What sort of delays am I likely to encounter there? I will not be travelling in the rush hour but I suppose most times of day are rush-hour-ish the nearer one gets to London!
Suggestions welcome. TIA.
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The M1 roadworks between junctions 8 and 10 are local to me and mega-major: widening of the carriageways. They will go on for many more months. Throughflow often seems reasonably steady off peak -- paired speed cameras throughout -- but forget it at peak times and be prepared for a very slow crawl in weather such as today.
You might be better off getting down to the M40.
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I live in Rugeley and have experienced them - would use either M40 and southern section of M25 or A14/M11 depending on time of day.
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M1 south of Luton is a no go area.
M25, M40, M42, M6 toll exit JT5
I do it in about 2 hours from M25 J10.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Of course from your place it will be
JT5 m6 toll, M42, M40, M25
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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There at raodworks that start just north of J10 (Luton Airport) running down to J8 (Hemel Hempstead). There's a 50 Limit all the way through and there can be bad delays at pretty much any time on the approach.
It only takes one idiot and the whole thing grinds to a halt.
Your alternatives for that stretch aren't really up to much. You could always leave the M1 at J14 (Milton Keynes) and pick up the A5/A5183 down to Hemel Hempstead and then the A41 to M25 J20, but then you'll be going through Dunstable Town Centre on the A5 and that's always very slow.
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Leave M1 at J15A, take A43 south until M40 J10 then M40 to M25. Far less stressful but watchout for speed cameras on the A43.
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I'm with TVM - if I was doing this journey the M1 wouldn't feature in any part of it.
Having used the M6 toll from jcn 5 to the M42 out of curiosity, I'd save cash and use the A38/A446 to the M42, it takes a bit longer as the A446 is single NSL, but you are only on it for 5 miles.
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I'm with TVM - if I was doing this journey the M1 wouldn't feature in any part of it. ..
agreed. it is a no-brainer as far as i am concerned. i can't see why anyone would want to do the route proposed by the o.p. except in a situation where the m40 was out of bounds for some reason.
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Many thanks for those suggestions. The proposed route was the one which came up in AA on-line Route Planner.
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