I have tried all of these routes in the past, but none in the last few years and never with such a late start, so please which do we think is the best at the moment taking into consideration roadworks? Start at M20 M26 Junction finish at M54 A449 Junction 2 North of Wolverhamton.The job is daytime return trip, up solo back with M/T trailer with an office hrs start! Time on site probably 1hr. Under 15’ high (Hinckley). It won’t be me doing it but probably an inexperienced driver. Mid Kent to Hinckley loaded is roughly 3.1/2hrs with 2 or 3 am start.
M20, Dartford Tunnel, M25, M1, M6, M54
M20, Dartford Tunnel, M25, M11, A14, M6, M54
M20, Dartford Tunnel, M25, M1, A5 (M1 J18), A 449South
At that time of day I would take the Dartford, M1 M6 route the bottom side of the M25 is usually at a standstill in the morning from the M23 to Heathrow. Dartford will be a bit slow but after that usually not to bad round the topside of the M25
The M40 route should be faster in theory, but as said M25 can be bad after the M1 round to M40, if you have any traffic display device such as Google maps/Waze on your phone, then i would start to check things out before the M11, the M25 can be a bugger all the way round to the A1 too, so keep your options open.
Whichever route you take avoid the A5 completely, and unless there’s an almighty jam up on the M6 B’ham section, do not nip round the M42 to use M5 north cos contraflow with 30mph limit and lengthy delays M5 jct 2/1.
Only thing is in the day can get stuck on the M6 from J6 all the way to the M54 junction,
There is a way round the M6 from J6 to the A449
Off at J6 towards birmingham on the A38 2nd junction Dartmouth circus turn right towards Perry Barr to a large set of lights.
Turn right towards Walsall A34 keep going for about 5 miles come to a small double island (metro inn on the left) signed for walsall M6 keep going into walsall following M6 signs to J10.
Either if the M6 looks ok turn right onto the M6 then to the M54 or …
Over the M6 J10 island towards bilston 3rd junction turn right towards Wolverhampton A454 The Keyway keep going to wolvo town centre Novotel hotel in front bear left to the island turn right follow the ring road A4150,2nd major junction follow signs for A449/M54 towards J2 M54 past the wolves ground.
Maybe a way round for an inexperienced driver but beats sitting on the M6
cav551:
I have tried all of these routes in the past, but none in the last few years and never with such a late start, so please which do we think is the best at the moment taking into consideration roadworks? Start at M20 M26 Junction finish at M54 A449 Junction 2 North of Wolverhamton.The job is daytime return trip, up solo back with M/T trailer with an office hrs start! Time on site probably 1hr. Under 15’ high (Hinckley). It won’t be me doing it but probably an inexperienced driver. Mid Kent to Hinckley loaded is roughly 3.1/2hrs with 2 or 3 am start.
M20, Dartford Tunnel, M25, M1, M6, M54
M20, Dartford Tunnel, M25, M11, A14, M6, M54
M20, Dartford Tunnel, M25, M1, A5 (M1 J18), A 449South
as 3) but A5 from M1 J9 Markyate
M20, M26, M25, M40, M42W, M5, M6, M54
M20, M26, M25, M40, M42N, M6, M54
may be better on the way back I’m thinking
6 would be my default route. M40 is a much better route than the M1; it’s wide, under-used and currently no roadworks.
1 would be the second choice if there was congestion anywhere on route 6 (from Cobham to Heathrow is often slow), but the toll makes it less attractive otherwise.
5 would be an option without the roadworks on the M5 but it should be a last resort now.
Forget 3 and 4; the A5 is a dreadfully slow road and goes through several small towns (e.g. Towcester) even now that Dunstable has been by-passed. Forget 2; the A14 is miles out of your way and the roadworks between Cambridge and Huntingdon makes it slow.
cav551:
I have tried all of these routes in the past, but none in the last few years and never with such a late start, so please which do we think is the best at the moment taking into consideration roadworks? Start at M20 M26 Junction finish at M54 A449 Junction 2 North of Wolverhamton.The job is daytime return trip, up solo back with M/T trailer with an office hrs start! Time on site probably 1hr. Under 15’ high (Hinckley). It won’t be me doing it but probably an inexperienced driver. Mid Kent to Hinckley loaded is roughly 3.1/2hrs with 2 or 3 am start.
M20, Dartford Tunnel, M25, M1, M6, M54
M20, Dartford Tunnel, M25, M11, A14, M6, M54
M20, Dartford Tunnel, M25, M1, A5 (M1 J18), A 449South
as 3) but A5 from M1 J9 Markyate
M20, M26, M25, M40, M42W, M5, M6, M54
M20, M26, M25, M40, M42N, M6, M54
may be better on the way back I’m thinking
6 would be my default route. M40 is a much better route than the M1; it’s wide, under-used and currently no roadworks.
1 would be the second choice if there was congestion anywhere on route 6 (from Cobham to Heathrow is often slow), but the toll makes it less attractive otherwise.
5 would be an option without the roadworks on the M5 but it should be a last resort now.
Forget 3 and 4; the A5 is a dreadfully slow road and goes through several small towns (e.g. Towcester) even now that Dunstable has been by-passed. Forget 2; the A14 is miles out of your way and the roadworks between Cambridge and Huntingdon makes it slow.
A14 isn’t miles out the way only adds 10 to 15 mins but unless I was going early I’d avoid due to the road works often use it for a change of scenery