I seem to spend much of my time tramming up and down here to Southampton and the south coast and the southbound surface of it is getting worse I’m sure
It’s pretty decent from the M40 past Oxford and the Swindon and Reading turn offs but just as you get to the crest after the Reading turn off there’s a chunk of road that’s sunk about about 6" running right across the nearside lane and when you hit it it literally ejects you out of your seat skywards Don’t have a cup of coffee or tea on the go or you’ll be in some real trouble
The surface is pretty decent then until you get the other side of Chieveley and a good few miles down the road, past a turn off for a village called Litchfield and then the nearside lane turns into something from a demolition site The wagon (half air, half leafs) crashes and bangs over the ruts like there’s no tomorrow for a good few miles until it reaches a crest with some overhead power lines and starts to drop down towards Winchester. Luckily it’s mainly late at night when there’s not much about, but I just sit in the offside lane until I’m clear of it all I’ve known smoother parts of the concreted section of the M74
I think it’s high time the folks that “patch” up these roads took a ride in our wagons so see just how bad the surface is
I agree with Rob, these companies get awarded huge contracts to repair roads but use substandard material or just skimp on equipment, There are more potholes and sunken verges on the main trunk routes than ever.
My other winge is the local council scattering gravel on hot tar to repair road surfaces. The only warning they give is a 20mph sign for 2 months. Bloody dangerous on country roads, especially on 2 wheels
know exactly where you mean rob, been running up and down the 34 every night for about two weeks now, something does need to be done about “that” bit of road… there is also another bit that lurches you totally on the otherside heading towards chieveley, no doubt you know the bit i mean… hehe
I think that, if a report in writting, is sent in to the roads department of the local council, they have to do something. Even if they don’t, a written report has to have a follow-up, so you can phone in a month or two later to find out what is what.
I used to moan about the state of the roads there, till I came here
Massachusettes has to have the worst maintained roads, I 495 in particular is like riding a roller coaster
If you complain they’ll probably just slap a temporary speed limit on it like they’ve done on the A329 just north of Milton Common.
“30mph Temporary speed limit in force due to uneven road surface”
just how “temporary” it is, they don’t say.
And personally, I don’t think it’s any worse than any other road but there you go.
Mind you, all roads feel 'orrible now I’ve changed trucks and I’m back on cart springs instead of air ride
Never mind, at least I’ve got a regular run every day instead of general go anywhere.
I agree with you Jonboy about the A38, there are some real rough spots between Burton and Bassetts Pole. The surface of Dunton Island (M42 J9) is looking like a moonscape now.
Does anybody else think that the new quieter sufaces are much less durable than the previous ones and soon develop potholes/craters?
And while I’m in A38 moan mode, it would be nice if the cone squad on the A5/A38 island gave us some warning signs when they decide to force the traffic down to one lane, instead of just a line of cones.
