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The tunnel - Thea (11th Apr 2012 - 20:06:57) We got stuck just outside the tunnel yesterday for about 20 minutes when they closed it Southbound due to an accident just south of the Hindhead turnoff. What was clear is that there is no way for them to divert traffic away from the tunnel or even back on the A3 in a Northbound direction. My mum, who is very ill, found the wait very taxing and stressful and it made me wonder what would happen if there was a longer delay. No way round? Thea

Re: The tunnel - Huw (14th Apr 2012 - 09:58:43) I Too was stuck in the traffic caused by the closure for about 20 mins aand yes it was an inconvenience, if however the closure hadn't been put in place we would have been queuing in traffic within the tunnel and i feel that would have been worse, as with all the engines running the atmosphere wouldn't have been too good even with all of the extract systems that are in place. The weather was bright if a little chilly so it was hardly uncomfortable, the local radio was keeping eveyone informed and with with the resultant absence of traffic the emegency services magaged to clear the carriageway quickly and safely In my mind fairly sucessful

Re: The tunnel - Vicki (14th Apr 2012 - 22:18:47) I turned off having seen the 'tunnel closed' signs at Thursley. I was amazed at the number of drivers who ignored the diversion and promptly found themselves in the jam! Not suggesting that you, Huw or Thea, had done so. But by the time I got to the bridge the traffic was back to the Balfour Beatty site. It wasn't as if the 'tunnel closed' sign was hard to see!

Re: The tunnel - Cath (15th Apr 2012 - 09:02:34) Vicky To be fair I ignored the tunnel closed sign because local radio was saying the tunnel had re-opened. I did sit in traffic for about 20 minutes - so not sure if local radio had got it wrong and it wasn\'t re-opened yet or if it just took a long time for traffic to file through.

Re: The tunnel - Richard (15th Apr 2012 - 12:35:25) So if it was south of the Hindhead exit, why didn't they divert traffic via the slip road?

Re: The tunnel - Tyso (17th Apr 2012 - 00:16:53) Closed again tonight, apparently, after an accident. This has now happened quite often, with traffic being diverted to the most ludicrous alternatives involving many extra miles of travel for hundreds of motorists. The plain and simple reason for the level of inconvenience to those motorists is the lack of a simple diversion from the tunnel. The old route from Hindhead to Thursley was the obvious alternative, but the tree huggers were accommodated at the expense of commonsense. Makes you want to spit!!!!

Re: The tunnel - Alan (17th Apr 2012 - 09:31:52) Lane etiquette is still an issue. Saturday afternoon entered the tunnel at 70mph, to find a car doing 50mph in the fast lane, with no other vehicles on the nearside. He clearly believed that he was not allowed to change lanes in the tunnel and obviously did not want to go above 50. Not sure why he had entered in the fast lane though ! He knew I was behind him (flashed headlights several times) and he moved to the inside lane as soon as we exited the tunnel. So, please remember you ARE allowed to change lanes within the tunnel. The sign at the entrance 'Lane Control' does NOT mean 'Stay in Lane', but I suspect that is how people interpret it. Alan

Re: The tunnel - tony (17th Apr 2012 - 10:09:49) Alan thanks for that. It is unclear because the lane markings change from broken outside the tunnel (lane changing OK) to unbroken (except for cats eyes) inside which suggests lane changing is illegal. With all the cameras monitoring you I think that\'s why people are reluctant to change once they\'re inside. Also with the averaging speed cameras some people don\'t know whether the motorway 70mph limit or non motorway 60 mph limit applies. I think they just err on caution and end up driving at 50 in the outside lane out of fear. Maybe it should all be spelt out at the start for non regular users. By the way it's now a lovely cycle across the Punchbowl, I strongly recommend it. Just beware the terrible cycle routes out of Liphook, the Hindhead end is great.

Re: The tunnel - liz (17th Apr 2012 - 11:10:16) Er .. I thought the non-motorway national speed limit for dual carriageways was 70mph. (That's where I've been going wrong all these years!!!!) (There are 'National speed limit signs' all the way through the tunnel).

Re: The tunnel - Andy (17th Apr 2012 - 12:29:25) That "National Speed Limit Applies" sign is a real bugbear of mine - I know so many people who don't have the first idea what it means. It's about time we simply phased it out and replaced it with signs clearly showing the speed limit in numbers - for the avoidance of all doubt. Many drivers in the UK now didn't learn to drive here and this is becoming such a problem - something needs to be done about it. It's dangerous, causes unnecessary sharp breaking at times and encourages "under-taking" by idiots.

Re: The tunnel - Hal (18th Apr 2012 - 11:38:35) The national speed limit for a dual carriage way (i.e. a road with a central reservation and regardless of how many lanes on each side of the reservation) is 70mph. If there is no central reservation/barrier then it is 60mph.

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