chaz Posted 27 February , 2020 Share Posted 27 February , 2020 first time this year will be travelling down to Folkestone next Tuesday/Wednesday just wondering how the roadworks are going., any delays or diversions? weather not looking too promising for the week so probably wont get out too far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Regiano Posted 27 February , 2020 Share Posted 27 February , 2020 1 hour ago, chaz said: first time this year will be travelling down to Folkestone next Tuesday/Wednesday just wondering how the roadworks are going., any delays or diversions? weather not looking too promising for the week so probably wont get out too far Chaz, we came through on Tuesday. I guess we hit the M25 around noon. No problems. We had a great run through and got a train one hour earlier than booked. Terminal car park was almost deserted. Reg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 27 February , 2020 Admin Share Posted 27 February , 2020 It was fine early doors last Thursday, coming back Sunday was busier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imaginatian Posted 27 February , 2020 Share Posted 27 February , 2020 (edited) Chaz, If you're travelling overnight, to get to Folkestone early, then you might have problems! The M20 is scheduled to be closed from Jct 3 to Jct 7 and from Jct 9 to Jct 12 coastbound, both from 20:00 to 06:00. This is from March 2 for a couple of weeks. I'm going London bound at this time most days and have seen this in action. They tend to starting closing it around 20:30. I can't comment about when it reopens! See http://www.trafficengland.com/?evtID=2061859 There's a 50mph Average Speed Check from Jct 3 to Jct 6 and from Jct 9 to just beyond the new Jct 10A. The latter one has been catching people out recently as it was 60mph but they replaced concrete barriers with steel ones which meant they also had to reduce the speed limit down. These limits are in both directions. Between Jct 3 and Jct 6 the active lanes keep changing every few days as the works progress. If going coastbound then some of the new roadsigns are misleading, as they assume that all 4 lanes are in use, although some bits are taped over. If the inside lane, previously the hard shoulder, is in use then some of the signs suggest you have to exit at the next junction, which isn't true. If unsure then don't use the inside lane! There are also closures London bound most nights. I worked late yesterday and had to use the A20 from Jct 11 to Jct 9, and they might have been closing it at Jct 4 - by the time I got there they had put out enough cones that it was down to a single lane just before the junction. The obvious alternative is the M2, but that also has roadworks some nights. However I don't think they ever close both motorways in the same direction at the same time, as then there's no alternative other than minor roads. Be aware that Google Maps has been misleading recently. What is marked as slow traffic has actually been a closure! All the best, Ian Edited 27 February , 2020 by imaginatian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted 28 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 28 February , 2020 Thanks all, going to be a day run as I'm working Tuesday night. Ian, the question is does the new speed limit apply to BMW and Mercedes drivers as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imaginatian Posted 28 February , 2020 Share Posted 28 February , 2020 Chaz, Based on today's commute it would appear that UK Audi and Belgian Volvo drivers think they are exempt! The worst offenders are Dutch lorry drivers going towards London in the evening. They are usually delivering flowers, so have a light load. They regularly do 60 mph in the 50 mph sections where there are narrow lanes, so I slow down as they pass so they get by quicker. I guess they're on a tight schedule, but that's no excuse for their terrible driving. The very worst I've seen were a Ferrari and a Lamborghini, both with Dubai plates I think, doing at least double the limit London bound one evening. They were racing each other and, I think, a Eurostar train. Note that there's been a police car parked on the verge of the slip road at the Eurotunnel junction. I'm not sure that it isn't empty, and just acting as a visual warning! They have put up new "50" and then "30" speed limit signs on the slip road recently. Maybe someone has approached the check-in gates too quickly and gone into the back of something! This is all based on what I see as I drive past on the M20 each day. There's also been a police motor-bike on the hard shoulder some days just after the exit from the tunnel, to deter or catch motorists who speed away from there too quickly. Hope this helps! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted 28 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 28 February , 2020 thanks Ian, very helpful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted 4 March , 2020 Author Share Posted 4 March , 2020 Just to update, I can confirm the police car parked at the 50 junction is empty, or at least was today when passing. Very quiet today.. opted for our booked crossing and currently sat in the train early and no £20 charge. And nice touch the man on french passport control wished me a happy birthday. So they must read them when scanning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imaginatian Posted 4 March , 2020 Share Posted 4 March , 2020 Chaz, I thought it was empty! The giveaway was that it's parked in exactly the same place every day and the other day it had seagulls perched on it! With the new speed limit signs I guess they've had a pile up at some point and are trying everything to make traffic slow down early? And Happy Birthday! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithfazzani Posted 4 March , 2020 Share Posted 4 March , 2020 I drive fairly regularly from Ashford to Dover and back. The speed at which some foreign cars drive is terrifying. I simply don’t understand why there aren't speed traps with the police waiting at entrance to the tunnel and the roundabout into Dover. It is certainly what happens on the French side where the the police are ready and waiting at the toll booth. I presume it is because we don’t have on the spot fines so stopping anyone foreign is pretty pointless. But at least they might be stopped long enough to miss their Shuttle or Ferry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted 5 March , 2020 Author Share Posted 5 March , 2020 thanks Ian, no sign of the police bike , having said that there was only half a dozen cars or vans booking in/ Probably 20 vehicles waiting at public terminal we wer y group but got in on x (2 per hour) and there was a car with a J hanger so 3am this morning! Keith, travelling along the M26/M2 the foreigners and German car owners were in their usual unpaitince state and in the wet driving down the A26 from the A16 junction in France we were going along at 110 the wet speed limit and the French were130+ normal dry limit. time for a rant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted 8 March , 2020 Author Share Posted 8 March , 2020 for anyone interested, travelled over Wednesday morning and back today 8.20 am shuttle, both ways everything travelling well, only 5 cars on the top layer this morning left house in France at 5am very quiet gave me a chance to try new headlights out..... waste of money, now looking for different bulbs. nice to see the sunday shift working on the M20, I would think nearing the end, hopefully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now