View Full Version : What's the A14 and M6 like on a Friday evening?
Seggons
21-09-09, 05:29 PM
So I'm off up to Liverpool this weekend and I'm trying to decide if it's wise to hit it on Friday evening or wait till Sunday morning. If I was to go Friday I'd be leaving my house at 6PM so I'd hope to miss some of the rush hour traffic. I have used them roads before but just not on the day or time. So I have turned to the org for some advice, hit it Friday and be fresh faced for Saturday or wake up early doors Saturday morning and then go up?
This is the route I'll be taking and I'll be in the car. Clicky. (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=A1&daddr=M62&geocode=Ff4xHQMdwMv7_w%3BFVbXLgMdwHnV_w&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=12&sll=53.419763,-2.745209&sspn=0.153043,0.308647&ie=UTF8&ll=52.679713,-1.120605&spn=2.491236,4.938354&z=8)
Mr Speirs
21-09-09, 05:32 PM
You should be okay at 6pm. You'd hit the M6 at about 7pm and the nasty part at about 7.30. Use the toll road and you bypass the really nasty part. Dunno about anything after that but it should be late before you hit the Manchester part so you should be okay.
Good luck ol chum!!!
maviczap
21-09-09, 05:47 PM
I go to Liverpool quite regularly and I always use the M6 toll road now. Cuts out the worst bit of the M6. Never had any great problems on the A14, although I'm sure that I will.
If you know the M6 is bad then you can go up the M1 and then across on the A50 and join the M6 further up.
I also go into Liverpool from the South turning off the M6 and head toward Runcorn, then follow the signs to Liverpool Airport. Cuts another bit of the M6 out.
Depends which part of Liverpool you're going to see Holly in :p
fizzwheel
21-09-09, 05:50 PM
M6 + Friday Evening = Total sh*te
If your on the bike it'll be filter mungus, if your in the car, you'll be stationary for quite a while...
Graciepants
21-09-09, 05:56 PM
personally....you're thinking about this all the wrong way
its either:
see Holly friday night and saturday but have to sit in a traffic jam for a bit, or see Holly just saturday
why are you even considering not going on friday night?!?!?!!?
fizzwheel
21-09-09, 05:59 PM
Scott if you can take 1/2 day and leave at 1pm on Friday lunchtime that'll be better traffic wise...
Seggons
21-09-09, 06:13 PM
M6 + Friday Evening = Total sh*te
If your on the bike it'll be filter mungus, if your in the car, you'll be stationary for quite a while...
This is what I was worried about. It seems pointless to go up Friday night if it's going to take me 4 hours instead of 3.
personally....you're thinking about this all the wrong way
its either:
see Holly friday night and saturday but have to sit in a traffic jam for a bit, or see Holly just saturday
why are you even considering not going on friday night?!?!?!!?
I'm actually going to see her Saturday and Sunday. I'm just not a big fan of sitting in traffic for ages and ages and try and miss it where I can. Hence if the traffic is too bad then it might be worth my while to go Saturday morning.
Scott if you can take 1/2 day and leave at 1pm on Friday lunchtime that'll be better traffic wise...
I'd love to but if this does become a more perminate thing then my boss might get a bit cheesed off with me only doing a half day every 2 or 3 weeks. :P
I'll be facing this. Started at college so i won't be able to leave Cambridge til after 4, which is when the A14 is stationary. Fantastic, if I was at work I could leave at 1. I'll be taking the toll road when I go to Liverpool, though it's nearly a fiver I believe.
Leaving at 6 should be alright, at least the worst of the A14 jams should've cleared by then.
7755matt
21-09-09, 06:15 PM
If you get a clear run up the A14 its not too bad but it doesnt take much to screw it up. M6 is always going to be rubbish at most times on Fridays. M1 *should* have cleared but top end can be a nightmare to wing off onto the A50.
Ive wasted many a friday night getting back from Thetford and Watford areas, using A14, M6, M1 etc. If you're going on Friday, be prepared for it to take AGES, then fi it doesnt its a bonus.
When are you planning on returning? If you're coming back Sunday evening then be warned that all the traffic to be found on Fridays generally seems to return on a Sunday night :(
I hate the M6
Seggons
21-09-09, 06:20 PM
When are you planning on returning? If you're coming back Sunday evening then be warned that all the traffic to be found on Fridays generally seems to return on a Sunday night :(
I won't be leaving her's till about 8'ish and I've already done the route on the bike. At that time the motorways are pretty quite and get more empty as the night draws in. :D
fizzwheel
21-09-09, 06:23 PM
I'm actually going to see her Saturday and Sunday. I'm just not a big fan of sitting in traffic for ages and ages and try and miss it where I can. Hence if the traffic is too bad then it might be worth my while to go Saturday morning.
Its never going to be good on Friday night, if your on the bike though it wont be so bad.
Getting up early and leaving on Saturday morning might be better, but you'll miss out on Friday night if you know what I mean ;)
Also how you going to feel on Saturday if you have just done a 4 hr drive..... might not feel like doing much and therefore not making the most of the time you have with Holly...
I'd give it a go TBH...the M6 is a fickle beast, one friday it can be OK and then next Friday it can be terrible. I always used to leave coming back till as late as I could Sunday night. Leaving at 11pm ish and then driving through the night, meant I spent less time moving and didnt get frustrated by sitting in traffic.
I've done Hemel the Hump to Manchester loads of times. Brilliant till you come off the Toll.
If i got a good run, even in rush hour, 2hrs 40mins. If its a bad one 3.5hrs.
Traffic alerts; if its a really bad one, M54 around Shrewsbury then up via Wrexham to the M56 and thro' the tunnel.
Good luck
If your on a bike you have no worries!!!!
maviczap
21-09-09, 07:49 PM
He'll be in his Metro I think
Seggons
21-09-09, 07:54 PM
He'll be in his Metro I think
Yup, so if you see a red metro at the side of the road don't forget to pip. ;)
bobbleheadbarne
21-09-09, 07:58 PM
i live in liverpool, work in portsmouth i use toll road all the time but ou can get caught out after toll road i would leave at seven and you should fly through quickest ive done it in is 3hrs in a 2ltr vectra
Specialone
21-09-09, 08:24 PM
Scott if you can take 1/2 day and leave at 1pm on Friday lunchtime that'll be better traffic wise...
Even at that time its rubbish, there are roadworks at jct 9 with average speed cameras, 50mph.
Also, further back between 4 and 6 there is work going on for ages :(
Toll road would miss it but dont get me started on toll roads.:smt013
Phil
Seggons
21-09-09, 08:49 PM
Thanks everyone at least now if I do decide to go Friday to expect to hit some slow moving stuff along the way. Cheers for all the advice. :D
M6 from Brum up to Stafford - just horrible. It eases at about 10pm.
If you turn off onto the M54 and A5 around S'bury, open invite to mine for a brew. Would be good to see you, I'd escort you back on your way up the A49/A41 (or you can do A5/A483 to Chester via Wrexham) then A55/M53 - very dull though. Better than the M6/M62... PM me for my mobile or just drop in, we're 7, SY3 9QT.
Quiff Wichard
22-09-09, 12:33 AM
scott if you do the toll.its longer but quickere.. and it is riddled with unmarked bobby cars .. it is very very tempting to go real fast..
Quiff Wichard
22-09-09, 12:39 AM
why not go kettering, leicester derby . liverpool.. 4 and a half hours.. nice roads, still friday traffic.. arrive later but like fizz says few beers nice sleep and you gain saturday rested and relaxed..
Quiff Wichard
22-09-09, 12:41 AM
or A1 M1 off at Derby and the A50 is a speedy big road and across to the pool
7755matt
22-09-09, 04:34 AM
A50 end of the M1 can be a nightmare too though, but the A50 is a nice road all except the noisy concrete.
SoulKiss
22-09-09, 06:27 AM
Well I did Central London (Liverpool Street) to Preston in 4 hours on the bike - that was with a 30 minute stop at the 2 hour mark @ the M6(Toll) services.
Deffo plus one on the toll - it will cost you, but it was mainly empty.
Beware the M6 tho - I think the Traffic Police must have a "If you nick the most speeders you get on Police Stop when the BBC come round again" competition on - saw at least 6 cars sitting at the side of the road with a police car with flashy lights behind it on the toll.
Even if you take a 1/2 day friday it will be rubbish we always go up north after rush hour in the morning its less stressful. i've had journeys to Ormskirk take me 8 hours instead 3.5 in the past. I agree use the m6 Toll
7755matt
22-09-09, 07:27 AM
Other option is Toll road, then come off Goethe A38 head up to Ashbourne/derby and then A50 to Stoke and then onwards, cuts out a load of rubbish, M6 can just be a joke from 12 after the toll up to 14 but up to 17-thelwall is the next black spot.
go on the bike
it will be quicker.
and if she see's you driving a metro, she will think your a ghey
454697819
22-09-09, 08:11 AM
personally....you're thinking about this all the wrong way
its either:
see Holly friday night and saturday but have to sit in a traffic jam for a bit, or see Holly just saturday
why are you even considering not going on friday night?!?!?!!?
couldn't agree more...
traffic jams mean nothing when your on your way.. :-)
I went though 40 000 miles and 3 cars seeing catherine, we get married in 7 weeks. :cool:
SoulKiss
22-09-09, 08:22 AM
or A1 M1 off at Derby and the A50 is a speedy big road and across to the pool
Just dont go further north than J25 on the M1 and you will avoid loads of roadworks...
It's hideous...... been doing weekend visits to the Manc area for the last 26 years and I now refuse to go on a Friday at all unless I take the day off.
Worst bit is from the M5/M6 junction northwards but, as others have said, you can avoid this by using the M6 Toll.
The other option, as Quiff said, is to head north on the M1 then cut across. This is the best option IMHO.
maviczap
22-09-09, 08:27 AM
scott if you do the toll.its longer but quickere.. and it is riddled with unmarked bobby cars .. it is very very tempting to go real fast..
He'll be alright, he's in his metro :p
timwilky
22-09-09, 08:28 AM
My bosses do not invite me to meetings on Fridays as I will refuse due the the M6 being ****e. The toll road helps. but it can queue badly from stoke to over the Thelwall. There are alternatives like the A50 but everyone knows them and crawls there too
plowsie
22-09-09, 08:32 AM
It'll be fine.
Friday evening is a mission wherever. Your best bet is the route you've stated. I wouldn't recommend taking the A50 etc, it'll be horrible at that time of night.
You take your chances, sometimes there will be delays round junction 6 to 7 (The M5 is Junction 6), avoid this with the toll. Normally you won't get too bad-a run up to that way.
Seggons
22-09-09, 05:57 PM
Thanks alot for all your input everyone it is much appreciated. I'm just going to suck it and see with the A14 and M6. If it does go all pear shaped then I'll just take another route next time and it that doesn't work I'll know to go up on the Saturday instead. :D
I'll report back my findings but for now I'm going to ask to have this locked so a certain person doesn't see this thread. :D
-Ralph-
22-09-09, 06:31 PM
Go up the M1 to East Midlands airport and across the A50 to Stoke on Trent. It's dual carriageway all the way, usually clear of traffic anytime I've used it 'cos the M6 was busy, and avoids that horrible stretch of M6 from past Birmingham and up to Cannock, and unlike the M6 toll it's free.
If you're taking that Metro to Liverpool get AA cover! ;-)
Spiderman
22-09-09, 07:01 PM
locky locky time :)
Seggons....pPM me when you want it unlocked again.
Seggons
28-09-09, 10:24 PM
I just thought I'd bump this back up with how my journey went. I bit the bullet and left my house at 6PM on Friday, took a few back roads to miss the dreaded black cat roundabout and I was on my way. The A1 all the way to Brampton was clear, the A14 to the M6 was as quite as a quiet thing. Got onto the M6 and decided to hit the toll road to be safe and it worked out. The first bit of traffic I hit was at Stoke but even that was only stop start stuff which added about 15 mins to my journey.
It was actually quite nice hitting that traffic because it gave my poor 4 speed Metro a breather after all them miles revving it's nuts off at 70mph. After that bit of traffic the rest of my journey was once again clear all the way to Holly's house who wasn't expecting me till Saturday so you can imagine the shock she got when I got there at 21:50. :lol:
plowsie
29-09-09, 08:05 AM
you can imagine the shock she got when I got there at 21:50. :lol:
'Oh my god he drives a metro'? :lol:
Like I said before you get lucky with it, it's not all that bad most of the time if you use the toll too.
So you had an additional night there then;)
Mr Speirs
29-09-09, 02:11 PM
wasn't expecting me till Saturday so you can imagine the shock she got when I got there at 21:50. :lol:
Not the good type of shock though eh? haha just kidding.
Told you it would be fine. All these scare mongerers.
yorkie_chris
29-09-09, 03:38 PM
This is what I was worried about. It seems pointless to go up Friday night if it's going to take me 4 hours instead of 3.
What's an hour when your getting a leg over?
Mr Speirs
29-09-09, 03:52 PM
What's an hour when your getting a leg over?
Exactly...1 hour of traffic for 30 seconds of passion.
...a little bit longer than that I would hope!!!!
yorkie_chris
29-09-09, 04:58 PM
...a little bit longer than that I would hope!!!!
I know, I figured he'd be stationary on the M62 for at least 2 hours!
Mr Speirs
29-09-09, 04:59 PM
...a little bit longer than that I would hope!!!!
Show off!!!
Seggons
29-09-09, 08:10 PM
'Oh my god he drives a metro'? :lol:
I made that fact clear to her very early on and she still wanted to meet me. :lol:
So you had an additional night there then;)
I'm glad I did because the spare bed at her house is more comfy then my own. :D
You lot are comedy geniuses. :lol:
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