Which Way Around ?

[Andrew T]

Going to France shortly and I hope that some of you who use the M25 regularly can advise me which is the best (or least worst) way around. I am heading for the M2 and Eurotunnel, I can either come down the M1 and then clockwise, or M40 and Anticlockwise (which is slightly further). I would be hitting the M25 at 6.30-7.00 am on a weekday. Which way is likely to be the least congested ?

[Davetheref]

Myself , I would say M1 and around over the Dartford crossing as I know the other way you can hit all of the M3 and M4 traffic. The trouble is with the M25 nowadays is you only need a small accident anywhere on it to screw up the traffic.

[Masked Marauder]

Where are you starting from?

 

I regularly go from Northampton to Crossways (other side of the crossing) for a living and can probably help you avoid the grief....

[Andrew T]

I'm from North Lancashire, so it's down the M6 to Brum and then ??????

 

If the M25 is going to be that bad I can start as early as is necessary, I admit to being naive in the workings of our great Metropolis - I get a nosebeed when I go south of Stoke !

[MrT]

The M1 for the next few years has a 40mph restriction between J10 (Luton) and the J6A (M25) whilst it is widened to 4 lanes and on a normal weekday without the roadworks this part is virtually stationary Southbound from around 6:00am to 10:00am.

 

There are also roadworks starting on 6th May at M25 J25 to widen the Holmesdale Tunnel which is a bottleneck on the M25.

[Masked Marauder]

It is a must to avoid Luton after 6, absolutely. You would be better off setting off in good time to get through the M1 roadworks early, try to get to the M25 before 5.45am.

[Andrew T]

Early night and early start then, thanks for your advice and suggestions.

[Joshua]

I commute daily clockwise (6.30am) from M23 -> M4, and it is usually quiet in the other direction.

I would personally do the south side of the M25, since you can then go down the M26 -> M20 and avoid A1(M) / M11 / Dartford junctions totally.

You are going to have most problems joing the M25 at any point M40 / M4 etc are all crap, but joining at 6.30/7.00 is still early.

I would do M40 / M25 (south) / M26 / M20 (ET is on the M20).

Why not do a few sample checks via the AA website that time in the morning to see where the slow spots are, problem is a breakdown / crash can occur anytime / any place and thats it.

[El Dingo]

My advice - consult a Feng Shui specialist.

 

Your Galaxy will have a 'earth-spin-wise' or anti-earth-spin-wise' preference. You can also check this by having the car four-wheel laser aligned. Look for tracking, camber and caster more positive one way or the other.

 

Go around the M25 in the opposite rotation for best results!

[Sharanfx]

Always find the south side a lot quieter. But as your coming on from the north side it seems a bit pointles to come all the way round the west half which can be bad between the M1 and M4 that time of the morning.

 

 

Best of luck...your need it. :blink:

[Jeff115]

Sounds horrendous :blink:

 

Andrew, maybe you should buy an off-roader

or go the night before :huh:

J.

[Andrew T]

Ah, the best laid plans of Mice and Men often go awry........

 

Well, we were on the road at 03.15 (and what a nice time to be on the roads, everyone driving with a sense of purpose) down the M1 and hit the M25 at 06.00. Started to go clockwise until 10 minutes later we got a traffic flash saying the M25 was blocked clockwise at J28 north of the cossing. At J25 we decided to cut our losses, do a U turn and go anticlockwise. Approaching and J21 we got another flash saying there was an accident at J19 anticlockwise backed up beyond J21. Can't win can you ? After sitting still for 15 minutes we bailed out and went through Watford. Missed our Tunnel deperature but got loaded withtin an hour.

 

Coming back up the North coast of France on Monday I noticed a lot of flash english registered cars flying past us on the Autoroute, Porches TVRs even a Lambo - thought it must be a car club outing. When we got to the next Peage there was the most spectacular (and expensive) traffic jam I've ever seen. Every lane was packed with exotica, spotted a Lancia Stratos and a Zonda. People were getting out and taking pictures of it (and I now wish I had - but my wife thought to do so was deeply sad). Then I twigged that it must have been the LeMans 24 hour race at the weekend. It was the same story at every toll booth after that and the Eurotunnel check in, so we missed the bloody train again. C'est la vie.