Yesterday I had to go to Blackburn and pick a load
up and take it to castle lane in melbourne derby.
While I was being loaded the foreman gave me
directions to go past east midlands airport then
turn right at the fork road sign posted for melbourne.
He then came back a few minutes later and said the
other drivers take the M6 to junction 15 then the A50
then the A514 and then the B587.
So after I was loaded I went the M6 way and could not
take the A514/B587 as it was a 71/2 limit weak bridge
and I thought it also said it was monitored. So I pulls
in to a lay-by and asks a ambulance crew and they
say to go in by east midlands airport which was the
other route the guy told me about.
So I set off and went by east midlands airport and the
fork road sign posted for melbourne was also a 7 1/2 limit.
So I phones up and tells them I am having trouble finding
a way in and about 5 minutes later I get a call back from
a driver at blackburns depot who told me to further down
the road and take the right for breedon on the hill which
is B587 and also a 7 1/2 limit. As I was turning the truck
round to take the stuff back a local man said you look lost
can I help and I said is there a way Castle lane with no
weight restrictions and he said no but the best way in is
down that fork road.
I did not want to risk going through any of the weight restrictions
so decided to take it back. As I was going back I seen a artic
take the fork road and 2 rigids. The last rigid truck turned round
earlier but seen those other 2 trucks go down and followed.
I choose not to take any of the weight restrictions as basically
the firm told me you make the decision off your own back.
But I could tell they wanted me to do it but wont say it.
Apparently Blackburn’s drivers have been going over the
week bridge for years and there driver told me its all weight
restrictions around there but they ignore them.
So what would you have done or does anyone know any
different ways in as apparently the drop is on a industrial
estate which is the only one in melbourne derby according
to the foreman at blackburn.
Anywhere else would have been fair game to get to melbourne . Except swarkestone bridge , if you get caught on that you will get done . That is a strict weight limit , no exceptions and no except for access.
You made a good decsion staying off the bridge .
The best way in to melbourne with wider roads and no crappy lanes coming from the direction of the M6 or M1 is get on the A42 towards ashby , come off at the Ashby turn and turn right towards Ashby . At the next roundabout you will see a tescos in front of you turn right also sign posted europort . Follow this road for a couple of miles passing a pub on your left .After passing the pub look for a left turn , this will be sign posted for melbourne take this turn and follow the road into melbourne . Not sure which side of melbourne your tip is but be aware melbourne is a smallish village and the centre of it you will take all the room …
Thats the way i would go keeping away from bridges and dodgy lanes .
I,m sure that another local that lives in the village will probably suggest a better route .
The weak bridge one at swarkestone bridge is a
strict weight limit as paul@midway as said and I
am sure it said on the sign that it was monitored
and I recall reading that a company got fined for
drivers in artics going over weak bridges on this
forum somewhere and think that was derby area.
The best of the 3 roads I looked at was the forked
road just off the A453 which is a 7 1/2 limit without
the except for access but apparently goes through
a small village.
Turning down the fork at the A453 has one fatal flaw if the village is busy and if you are in an artic . It will be nearly impossible to turn right in the village , and you would be stuck with a left turn only , not because it’s the law , your vehicle size would dictate it .
I don’t live to far from there , can you tell …
I,ll have a look at your map in a mo .
Right looking at the map there is no reason why you can’t come in from the right fork on the A453 Shouldn’t be any drama and it would be quicker than the way i suggested .
paul@midway as you pass east midlands airport
on that bend and slight hill there is that right turning
which is sign posted melbourne and something
else like B587 is this the road you are referring to.
What is the access like for rigids to get to the
industrial estate and how big is the industrial estate
for parking for a break ect.
The monitored weight limit on the A514 off the A50 is both over Swarkstone bridge, and through Chellaston to the Derby ring road.
I come across this problem alot whit my job, and basicly, as long as there is an exemption plate below the limit you are ok . The odd time’s I’ve been stopped I just ask them the route I should take and 9 out of 10 times they don’t even know.
convoy:
paul@midway as you pass east midlands airport
on that bend and slight hill there is that right turning
which is sign posted melbourne and something
else like B587 is this the road you are referring to.
What is the access like for rigids to get to the
industrial estate and how big is the industrial estate
for parking for a break ect.
That B road is the road i,am referring to . Unfortunatley i have never been to that industrial estate and if iirc it is signposted from the road in melbourne . I wouldn’t expect a large area though to be honest as melbourne itself isn’t all that big . For that in depth info it is best to contact wheel nut .
To be out of the weight limits i can only suggest heading back towards Ashby and taking a break just off the A42 island where a pub and a mcdonalds is or head back towards the M1 and use donnington services . You could always plane spot and park within the airport grounds but i imagine security would move you on .
We don’t want your sort round here, this is a local village
If you come over swarkestone bridge you will get done, Im sick of paying for repairs out of my council tax. Its well signed to avoid it but we still get blind drivers coming across it, in fact I have even blocked the road on purpose to remind people. The A514 is a no no unless you are delivering beer to the crewe and harpur or flowers to the garden centre. I followed someone who knew a shortcut to willington and watched as he had to reverse because the bloke had missed at least 3 signs saying it was an 11’ 6’’ bridge
If you get an adrress to an industrial estate in a weight limit there is normally a sign saying except for access, this is the case using the road from Donington.
I dont care how many artics come that way as they are normally bringing the race teams to the circuit.
…
to willington and watched as he had to reverse because the bloke had missed at least 3 signs saying it was an 11’ 6’’ bridge