Between Nottingham and Leeds on the M1 there have been roadworks for about 5 years now. Different parts have been affected at different times but the works have been to widen it to 4 lanes in parts and change other parts to "smart" motorway. Still got some time to go.

But what are the alternatives, leave it as it was and see the motorway grind to a total halt, build a new wider motorway at the side (like they did on the A1) but that costs loads in land and there is still the upset.

Bottom line is none of us like the congestion but improvements have to be made. Hopefully it will be worth it when complete.

It boggles the mind to try and think how much the improvements to the M62 are costing in total. The news tells us it's so we can have a "smart" motorway as if we are meant to nod wisely and go "ah yes of course, a smart motorway, just what we need."

Is a smart motorway one that has gantries that say FOG when you are at a standstill in a queue caused by fog, or SPRAY when it's persistenly raining, or PEDESTRIANS IN ROAD when the pedestrian left the road two hours ago, or INCIDENT when a crisp packet blows across the carriageway?

I accept the need for roadworks, but doing them all at the same time is just nasty. And the western bypass ones are frankly ludicrous in the way the lanes have been laid out!

Whats more annoying is that they have coned off miles and miles, yet little or no work is being done due to the weather/short days. So why do them now!

They've got the money for the work now. Do you seriously believe that doing it all at same time is actually a plan to deliberately make life difficult. Neither can they constantly move the cones and redo the temporary lane markings every time the gangs move a mile or three around the worksite. It would be a total waste of money and manpower.

Even the really long sections like that in place M1 J16-19 move reasonably well at the 50 limit (although Sunday/Bank Holiday drivers struggle to maintain it). It only snarls up when there's a breakdown.

AIUI there are two types of capacity management. The first, exemplified on the M1 round Nottingham and first tried on the M42 is Managed Motorway. This uses lane by lane control of speed limits and hard shoulder running controlled via the gantries. The current iteration is Smart Motorway, a 'lite' version with hard shoulder permanently removed and speed and other control messages displayed on simplified signs. There are refuges for breakdowns every mile or so - I think the delineation is actually in km.

And let's not forget, into these endlessly clogged arteries come ever faster and more powerful cars, because our wonderful driving environment demands a 150mph top speed, sub-8.0 sec acceleration and 19" pot-hole fodder alloys to make rapid progress, whatever that once was.

Who said I was griping at other drivers? The congestion I'm on about is all caused by poorly planned and managed roadworks. Everyone stuck in the queue is in the same boat as me.