As many will know, the M25 is London's orbital motorway. When it's behaving itself, it is a marvel, cutting journey times even between adjacent London Boroughs. The traffic flow is so high, however, that the slightest problem quickly magnifies and, in the blink of an eye, queues many miles long build up. Because everyone then diverts off the motorway to local roads, these also then become quagmires, meaning the shortest journeys can become heroic adventures.
Here we are looking down on what must be one of the Top 10 busiest junctions in the entire UK motorway network. Traffic from the main A2 arterial route into/out of London and the Kent Coast joins that already on the M25 heading for the Dartford Crossing - the very eastern most crossing over the Thames. The next river crossing is 12 miles further west into London (and that also is a traffic hotspot). Today the traffic is flowing fairly well - although behind the camera the jams were already starting and we are still a few miles from the crossing itself.
We dread the M25 every time we have to use it. Living only 30 minutes from the crossing we often go over into Kent and it can take four times as long going one way as the other, worse coming back into Essex. Love the sense of rushing and speed here Peter, hope you got where you were meant to go at the right time.
A very familiar sight! I've wasted many hours of my life crossing one way or the other at Dartford. I laugh because it was supposed to speed up with the new numberplate reading system so you don't pay in cash anymore and it IS faster Essex to Kent but usually a queue of some length trying to go from Kent to Essex. So now another crossing is approved.......much to the dismay of friends I have who live in its intended path! I love your description - a heroic adventure indeed on many occasions! Great shot though, I love the way you have caught the movement.
excellent POV ... If we lived there, we would also be taking the way that takes 4 times as long! I have a little sign in my car that says 'always take the scenic route'.
What a great shot. Love the sense of movement. I hate the M25 as you can never predict how long a journey will take and always have to allow longer. Where did you take this shot from? It's a great vantage point. Fav
@suesouthwood Sue, I know what you mean. This was taken from the bridge carrying the B260 across the A282 (M25). If you were travelling northbound (anticlockwise), take the A2 (London) Exit ramp, but stay on the roundabout, taking the 2nd exit (NOT the A2); this then leads you up to the roundabout at the top of Princes Road. First exit here, then first exit at the next roundabout and you are on the B260 heading towards Darenth. Thanks for the fav.
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