Works access/exit

[madmondeo]

Why when there are lanes closed on duel carriagways/motorways at night (the M1 in particualar at 1 in the morning!!) do they have works entrances/exits? They cones are so far apart i could drive my lorry round the cones like a slalom!

I also fail to see the need to close lanes 1, 2 and 3 for miles before and after the bloke in a cherry picker type vehicle is working under a bridge. Surely just lanes 3 and 4 need be coned off??

[Panic Button]

They are far apart enough to get your lorry around for good reason.

It is to get lorries in and out to carry out the work.

[madmondeo]

so why have designated entrances and exits??

oh and it would be nice to actually see them doing some 'work' rather than have miles of motorway closed off and see f*ck all happening!!

[sddsddean]

I work on these, so here goes with an answer. Its bl00dy Health and Safety!!! It would appear we are too thick to be able to know when it is safe to enter/exit a section of roadworks. Currently we are working nights on the M1 near Milton Keynes and as you say, 3 lanes are coned off leaving 1 running lane. We are re surfacing, one lane at a time, so one lane is used for waiting and the other is the emergency lane (like I say H&S!). However, the Tarmac wagons park where they like blocking the whole place, but worst are those who are apparently 'in charge'. Not only do half of the 'high ups' in cars not have flashing lights etc (having given us a 3 hour induction to say how important safety gear is), but will then park their Ford Mondeo or similar right in the works access when you are trying to get in off the motorway from 50mph down to the site limit of 15mph and trying to stop half the traffic behind you acting like sheep and following you in! They are all total *********! If you do go in through the cones (even in a perfectly safe place) you will be banned from site. So called Health and Safety has got a lot to answer for!

[madmondeo]

thanks very much sddsddean for such an informative answer. so when is the estimated completion date ?

[sddsddean]

Supposed to end next saturday (7th sept), but rumours are flying about that we may carry straight on to around J15 (only another 6 miles!!), but hopefully there will be a bit of a break, as my wife who does most of the night shifts, is knackered! We started at the start of July and 6 nights a week for 10 weks would do anyone in.

[madman06]

who do you work for sddsddean and answer to the question is close lanes to slow drivers down so they r changing lanes and keeping away from the workforce,i worked on roads for 10 years,i thought it was daft at first to do this but trust me its safer for the road workers to do it