How Bad Is It On The M42?

[jourdain2]

We're off down to Devon tomorrow morning (Grandson's Wedding on Sat.!!!!!). 8 years ago I didn't really turn much of a hair about driving up from below Poitiers, Chunnel, Dartford Tunnel, M25, M1/A1 to get here. That was 8 yrs. ago. Things change.

Now I'm feeling terrified! I've left it a bit late to ask as I'll have to be off to bed in half an hour, but I can click on in the morning.
Route is M18, M1,A42,M42,M5 - locally we have no problem. Everyone, EVERYONE, is saying how awful the M42 is now with loads of new exits and roadworks.

Any reassurance/advice?

[Zacs-Master]

I wouldn’t go on it between 8am and 10am, or after 3pm until 7pm. So 10am until 3pm shouldn’t be too bad. If you want to avoid it altogether, you could go M62, M6, M5.

[jourdain2]

Thanks for that Z-M.

[Buenchico]

If you want to avoid the M42, you'll only add 14miles to your journey by using the A50 (which is a decent dual carriageway throughout):

M18
M1 to Jn 24
A50/A500 to M6 Jn 15
M6
M5

[jourdain2]

Ta. :)

[Hopkirk]

Sorry Chris but I disagree.
True the S50 is a good road most of the way.
However the Stoke on Trent bit, the M6 and M5 past Birmingham are very challenging. I would definitely take the M42 in preference. The M42 is busy but as Jourdain isn't joining or leaving, it shouldn't be too bad.

[Hopkirk]

A50

[jourdain2]

Thanks all, I think we'll have to stick with the M42 & cross our fingers.

[jourdain2]

UPDATE - journey down south was foul. Early afternoon it took us 1hr. 30. mins of stressed-out, stop-start driving to get from E. Birmingham to the M5 - never mind the alarms about more delays at other junctions (which, when I looked them up, didn't affect us).

We got back home at 10 to 6 this evening, having bumbled cross-country from Exit 7 (M5) via Coventry, M-whatever to the M1 at Leics.. A bit tense at some roundabouts - signage not very good and some was obscured by trees! Anyway we managed and then came up the M1/M18 with no problems.
We saved about 45 mins. and a lot of stress!
Thanks all - now we know. :)