I need to drive from central Birmingham to Sheffield, leaving around 4.30 pm this afternoon.
It looks like my options are A38/M6/M42/M1 or A38/61. Have any Backroomers done this trip regularly? Any pointers re the best route?
Thanks
Pete
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 12/02/2010 at 13:54
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Both routes can be bad for accidents/traffic any time.
I'd stick to the motorways where 50mph can usually be the average though the M42 variable limits and M1 roadworks. A38 and then A61 go though Derby, Alfreton, Clay Cross and Chesterfield all of which are stop start (and single carriageway) at the best of times.
I'd reckon 2 hours at best.
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It won't be pleasant whichever way you go (!). Check the traffic reports immediately before you leave, but I would stick with the A38 all the way to the M1.
This avoids the 20 miles of 50 limit on the M1 which sees a fair number of shunts in busy periods.
You will join the M1 at junction 28 and it will then be a slow trip to Junction 30/31/33 (depending where you need to be in Sheffield).
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I'm not a regular commuter up that way but in the past I've always used the A38 all the way up to J28 M1 without any problems, although I haven't been down that way for 12 monthes or so.
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I'd tend to agree, I've always found the M42/A42 to be, at best, unpredictable, and you have to drive down a chunk of the M6 as well, I even got stuck on the M42 one time on a quiet Sunday because a Camper Van decided to go up in flames on my way to East Mids airport, luckily I'd given myself an hours' grace! At least there are "ways round" if you use the A38.
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I wonder which route he took. I hope it was the A38.
16.20 traffic report.
Two lanes closed M1 northbound between junctions 30 and 31 with tailbacks to jcn 29. Accident in roadworks north of Nottingham, accident on A42. Not a good Friday.
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I wonder which route he took. I hope it was the A38.
Um, no he didn't. :(
I left early at 3.15, breezed through Birmingham city centre, zoomed up the M6 and M42 and ground straight to a halt on joining the M1. From then on it was nose-to-tail-stop-start all the way to Junction 29. 2.5 hours altogether.
Doing the same journey next week. I'll try the A38 route and see how it goes.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
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Let us know how you get on, Pete!
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