How Bad Is It On The M42?

jourdain2 | 20:51 Wed 19th Jul 2023 | Motoring

8 Answers

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?

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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

Question Author

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

Question Author

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

Question Author

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

jourdain2

Question Author

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. :)

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