It's also reported that the work has been re-scoped to include at least cabling to provide for future (or even immediate) implementation of, 'smart' motorway.
That makes sense, with concrete barrier they can run the opposing two fast lanes closer, effectively widening the road.
The junction 13 to 9 section seemed to take for ever, but it's been a big improvement, its only in the last year that the traffic volumes have increased so much that we're now being slowed up considerably approaching junction 9 soutbound.
I noticed the queues going into Hemel the other morning, amazing volumes of traffic at peak periods.
The smart motorway software suffered a glitch last week. hmm two or three actually come to think, on the elevated section at B'Ham between 6 and 5 southbound. All 4 lanes signed as 60 limit with the text sign simultaneously displaying hard shoulder emergency use only, take your pick...sure enough there's a car broken down on the stilll live lane hard shoulder and nowhere for the poor driver to escape if it went badly wrong unless he took his chances and dived over the papapet.
Thats now the third time i've personally had to avoid broken down vehicles on the live lane hard shoulder with no warning, all in the Birmingham section.
Certainly if you break down in such a place getting out and away is a must, nasty place for the not so nimble or if stopped on a bridge.
Edited by gordonbennet on 15/06/2015 at 10:28
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