Secrets of The Motorway - M275

#portsmouth #hampshire #driving #infrastructure #motorway
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Portsmouth... here we come! The M275 is a short motorway that unless you live in the area, you've likely never used. A shame because despite it's short length, it's jam packed with interesting features and things to look at. During sunset it's a lovely drive.
There's some nice big interchange things going on, a predictably stupid motorway bus lane and a rather silly slip road design complete with traffic lights.
In this series I aim to explore what our motorway network is hiding. As we drive along at 70mph..ish...we simply just wouldn't be aware of what we're missing. This series will uncover some of the hidden secrets our motorways have to offer.

[@TheScottishSprayer]

Arthur theme song is a throwback. Yet another great episode and theme song. Well don Jon 😊

[@ricequackers]

Having fun's not hard when you got a KZbin channel full of motorway videos!

[@B3ATR0NIX]

Shoutout to John, the only one who asks how my week is.😂

[@audacity60]

My mum worked at the Transport Ministry in the 1970s. She did some of the paperwork on this motorway. One problem was the WW2 bombing. There were derelict sites where a house once stood. They wanted the owners to come forward, but if the house was hit by a bomb, it was probable that the entire family had been killed. They could not trace a legitimate owner or heir. So they went ahead on the proviso, that they had earmarked some compensation, should an owner ever come forward.

[@rogink]

My sister lives in one of the houses still left just before Whale Island. No doubt many houses were bombed, but others were demolished in the 60s to make way for the motorway. It seems their house was repossessed by the council post war, then went back to being private.

[@geoffreycoan]

The junction and traffic lights onto the motorway are not just for lorries, it’s the main exit from Portsmouth harbour so if you arrive on a ferry from St Malo, the Channel Islands or Northern Spain, it’s really quick and easy to get onto the motorway

[@gandythegreat]

It’s not for trucks at all…all commercial traffic exits via the freight gates. 😉

[@rogink]

Yeah I'm local so last few times on ferry with pushbike. Slightly unnerving when you realise you are being shunted out of the ferry port onto the motorway! Now I know to keep to the right. Then I can head back down towards city centre.

[@Auto-ism]

Unexpected wave of nostalgia at the end, thanks for that

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one, thanks for watching!

[@ONhistoryplus]

Having grew up in Portsmouth, I have never heard anyone refer to the northern end of the M275 as the Hilsea interchange. For a start, Hilsea is on Portsea Island. Anybody over the age of 35 from Portsmouth is more likely to still be calling it the Johnson and Johnson roundabout, even though that went a while ago. Gotta say, it was good to see that map of what could have been in Portsmouth for motorways.

[@chrisshelley3027]

That water droplet was perfect.

[@sddsddean]

What a crazy thought...cars using a junction!!

[@deancosens5710]

Us Paulsgrovers would object to being lumped in with the posh people on the other side of the motorway in Port Solent - Paulsgrove existed as more than just a lake with Paulsgrove House and some dwellings running along the seafront prior to the war, and the area being built up after the war to house the displaced population of the city. Fun fact, one of the BISF prefab houses up here took 4 men a single day to construct the frame!

[@richardsutcliffe2302]

The M60, my local car park, is 36.1 miles in length and has 27 junctions, many of which are closer than 1.6 miles, in fact some are so close they share slip roads but as far as I’m aware the entire length has a 70mph speed limit (when not under “smart” restrictions). Of course your lucky if you can achieve 20mph most of the time with the levels of congestion

[@ADJLfanatic52]

Here in the U.S. when the interstates were first built there were no minimum distances for junctions, leading to multiple places where weaving had to happen. Nowadays planners try to leave at least a mile or two (2-3 kms) apart.

[@daveoftheclanburgess]

In Alberta, Canada, particularly in Calgary, they are still building short gap weave intersections on brand new 4 lane highways... There no road planners in Alberta Transportation (I refuse to use their stupid new name), this a myth that they like to suggest. Add to that the worst drivers in an economically developed country and you have a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, Calgary is one of the fastest growing cities in North America...

[@circadianizzy]

Is that why most of your junctions are more spaghetti-like than Gravelly Hill?

[@ADJLfanatic52]

@@circadianizzy To an extent I would say yes.

[@DigitalDiabloUK]

It makes little difference, because people still 'get in their lane' as early as possible, rather than just merging in when a sensible gap arrives.

[@seanseoltoir]

A mile or two? Maybe... I've seen places a lot of places where it was less than a mile... Of course, what makes it even more "fun" is the road signs telling you about the upcoming exit... In Dallas, you often only get a warning 1/4 mile from the exit... In Houston, it's 1/2 mile... So, you are driving 80 mph and you need to cross 6 lanes of traffic in 1/4 mile... Yee haw !!!

[@PantsManUK]

I drive down from London for the St Malo ferry at least twice a year, and the feeling of relaxation as I drive past the QE2 Country Park... The 275 is basically "you're there, you're allowed to stretch now"

[@youmadeim]

Finally the M275

[@charlottelarimore9261]

Bro didn't say first 💀. Your lucky to be first as your a lucky devil

[@AndreiTupolev]

Pounds shipbreaking yard which was on the right immediately after crossing the bridge was always interesting with old warships and submarines in varying states of dereliction. It also was the home of an enormous floating crane that you could see fo4 miles

[@dmc3067]

I remember that! I was in HMNB Portsmouth for a few years in the early 2000’s and saw that breakers every day. Not sure if it was true or not, but one of my mates said he had an old soviet submarine. I also seem to remember a horrific accident on that road when I was trying to get to Southampton airport one afternoon. Car went over the barrier into the water. Police spent ages looking for the “driver” because the poor chap driving was thrown into the back seat so looked like he was a passenger. Work scuttlebutt rumour was he lost his head in that accident, but I didn’t find out one way or the other.

[@PhilbyFavourites]

It was “Crane Lighter 4”. However it was marked in a way only the Dockyard could manage “CL IV” “IV” being the Roman numeral for 4. Hence for all my time, and well before and after, it was referred to with great Dockyard humour as “Clive”

[@abarratt8869]

Ah, the Internet has come to us too late. The Tricorn centre - gone - the marine scrap yard on the RHS as you went down the M275 into Portsmouth - gone. Thank goodness! That scrap yard used to have submarines in it, minesweepers too. From what I've hear they did very well out of minesweepers; no steel, anything metallic was copper, bronze, brass (including the anchor chain). Allegedly there were recovering something like £20k per foot of minesweeper in cupric scrap, having paid a song for the worn out vessels.

[@jonctr]

The Tricorn and the old subs in Tipner lake - happy days - Even the greyhound track has long since gone!

[@JSmith19858]

@@jonctr The landing craft. All cleared away for 'regeneration'.

[@garycollard1981]

The remains of one craft still there in the water...possibly one of the subs? Still some clear up required on that site.

[@stephenshepherd8740]

Having used the old Hillsea Roundabout every day for many years, it was a complete nightmare and accident black spot. I used to see at least one accident on it per week, in the few minutes I was queueing or in the roundabout itself. At least when it was first built, the new interchange was a much more consistent and safer way of getting through, rather than dicing with death!

[@mikeohara8758]

The Hilsea Roundabout is still there, down passed IBM next to the lido. The "Johnson & Johnson Roundabout" is what's now the traffic light controller crossroad. I too used to go around the J&J roundabout everyday, always accidents. Should have put lights on it to control the traffic at peak times and left it as normal roundabout at other times.

[@rogink]

@@mikeohara8758 Not sure whether lights would have helped J+J. It was just too big - and still is. No reason for it be more than 2 lanes in any direction. Now it's the Hilsea/Portsbridge rbt that needs lights. Glad I hardly ever use that!

[@Amun-Re]

Interesting titbit: on the exit of the Ferry Port there's a set of Traffic lights and a pedestrian crossing which goes over the exit, and since the stretch of road leaving the Ferry Port Premisses leading onto the motorway is technically under motorway regulations, the Pedestrian Crossing is technically illegal. Making it only one of 3 (I believe) pedestrian crossings in our Motorway Network.

[@edwinrs]

Whereabouts exactly? Can't find it on Google Maps

[@Amun-Re]

@@edwinrs its literally the road exit leading out of the Car Ferry Port

[@paulweller84]

@@Amun-ReIs the section where the crossing is under motorway regs? The sign for the start of the M275 is the other side of the junction, so surely that’s where the regs apply from.

[@hairyairey]

Isn't the crossing perfectly legal, it's just if you use it you're breaking the law? 😂

[@justinadcock4536]

I don’t think it is. The start of motorway signs are the other side of Whale island way which is definitely not under motorway regulations.

[@Sarge084]

Thanks Jon, you've made the tiresome chore of motorway driving more interesting now that I have things to look out for that I would never have realised were there. Keep up the good work.

[@MrKpsuk84]

4:14 this weeks theme tune: the cartoon 'Arthur'

[@nickes6168]

Man. Didn't know I needed that song right now.

[@jamestarn7066]

I've been following this channel for over a year now, and I'm still surprised you haven't ran out of motorways yet.

[@adder2204]

But I think this one is scrapping the barrel of the standard definition of a motorway lol

[@ds_e5202]

When he does run out, it'll be onto secrets of the A-Roads. That'll take a while.

[@garycollard1981]

Used almost every day on my work commute. I miss the floating crane that was recently removed, should've replaced the crappy sails thing with it. Was good seeing Jon standing in an underpass just a few minutes from my house.

[@fredericksaxton3991]

For any *WHO* band fans, the film of "Tommy" was filmed in Portsmouth, as in Southsea Pier, which caught fire during filming. There is a scene where Tommy is standing on large 'pinballs', these were a stack of old sea bouys that had been found in Pounds Yard maritime scrap yard at Tipnor. The bouys were round, large, about 6foot dia and when painted in silver paint made a good representation of 'pinballs'. The remains of Pounds yard is seen at 2:25 top right. Going to be a massive appartment complex with very few car spaces.

[@DeannaEarley]

And I believe the “balls” are buried under Junction 1!

[@celebraces2]

Wicked sweet awesome has officially entered my lexicon, thanks Jon.

[@mikeohara8758]

The M275 used to end at Junction 2 with the Rudmore Roundabout. The flyover was built in 1987 and 1988 an opened in March 1988 and the motorway now ends at the end of the flyover, south of the Rudmore Roundabout. The southbound access onto Princess Royal Way/Trafalgar Gate was added in 2011. Also, worth noting, the M275 is owned and operated by Portsmouth City Council, not National Highways.

[@ABH-82]

I'll be honest the best bit of this episode was the outro music, but that's a fair cop because it's an absolute banger

[@johnoblein4592]

Lovely end drone sequence showing Farlington Marsh nature reserve. Did you notice the old blockhouse by the corner of the site? One of two WW2 Starfish control units there, used to set fires on the marsh to decoy German bombers away from Portsmouth. I could go on about the wonderful birdlife there, but that's probably not your thing.

[@theawfulgambler]

Your personality really makes these. Couldn’t imagine watching this content with many other hosts!

[@markhaynes9923]

This takes me back. I was a student in Pompy 94 - 98. I made a point of getting out & about when I was there to get to know the place, but now with all the regeneration lots of it are unrecognisable to me.

[@SciFiFemale]

As a teenager, early 90s, I was helping crew a yacht, and it parked at Port Solent for a few weeks. I wanted to go into Portsmouth but wanted to walk, as it's not far. I did not realize that was a motorway, just thought it was a dual carriageway, and used the road and bridge to go to and fro from Portsmouth to Port Solent. Woops!

[@danielmarshall4587]

Thank you yes I have had a good week, also lovely vid cheers.

[@federicomarintuc]

Nice pedestrian underpasses this week. Clean and well light

[@paulknight5018]

Didn't mention the incredibly sharp bend on the m275/m27 junction. But you did show it in the city skylines vs reality video during the week. It's less of a motorway than an A road with an overactive imagination lol

[@ds_e5202]

The bend was shown at the end of the M27 video as that joins onto the M27.

[@vikkicaulton6038]

Exit song was a great one!

[@jonctr]

Thanks mate - a road well travelled for me from 1987 -2015, lived in AU since 2007, but Pompey has lots of fond memories!

[@timofthomas]

Are the scrap Oberon Class subs not still laying next to the '275 before the first junction? I always used to look for those back in the day, 'nearly there'.

[@isaacplaysbass8568]

Another Awesome Automotive Adventure!

[@johfc]

The bus lane you mentioned ends at an interesting pre-signal on the exit ramp a short distance from where it joins the interchange.

[@MrBLUEDEVILUK]

Jon, what the deuce? I’m away for 1 week driving the NC500 (now there’s a series idea for you!) and I return return to not 1, not2, but 3 fwicked sweet awesome videos to watch. Oh and once again you’re in my neck of the woods M275 territory. The Hilsea interchange old roundabout used to be called Johnson & Johnson roundabout by the locals as per the name Johnson’s & Johnson’s used to reside in the north west corner of where the junction is now. I worked there for a week. The curved building was built by Raymaeine (I worked there for 11 years) later sold to FLIR and then to Pall Europe from what I can remember? I can see my old house from here.

[@TMCNJ]

Ending the video with the Arthur theme was an unexpected joy

[@Andrewjg_89]

My cousin drives on the M275 to get to Portsmouth from Fareham and he said that the M275 motorway can get gridlocked lots of times if there is an accident or broken down vehicle on that motorway. Mind you the M275 motorway isn’t really that long. Same with the M271 in Southampton and M32 in Bristol.

[@JRLNeal]

Another fascinating video John, thank you very much. I now see where you get your wide legged stance from. At 4.00 where are you showing off this video? You are obviously modelling yourself on the concrete supports each side of you - mystery over!

[@glenjones6980]

So many road building schemes never to go any further than the drawing board but I've never visited it, the place must be bloody huge but does anyone know where it actually is?

[@sw01ller]

i only watch for the "thwickid sweet awesome" line! haha. still dont know why i love this channel so much but i do.

[@WardyLion]

As a former resident of Southampton (for a few years) who still has friends in Pompey, I’ve used the interchange many times and can confirm it’s a right royal pain in the bojangles.

[@stevekelly5166]

'They' did something similar to blocking local traffic on the new, crazy bus junction on the M32 in Bristol. At least in Portmouth, traffic can get in and out of the Park and Ride facility. There is a use, but not for local people... Ziggy Marley - Great name for you 'Theme Song'! 🙂

[@shaunwest3612]

Great video John, great to see you in Portsmouth again,the original route of the m275 was planned to go through stamshaw and hilsea area of Portsmouth, obviously the residents kicked up a fuss,and got it changed, some land had to be bought off the ministry as it was navy land👍

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Hi Jon, Another great motorway video, thanks🛣👍

[@marksmith1944]

Thanks for great info 👍🌟presented in wet conditions. 🌧Love the music at the very end of footage 🎼👍🌟

[@roderickmain9697]

Its saving grace is providing a moderately speedy way to the cross channel ferries. My youngest is at Uni there and the roads can turn into a nightmare if theres an accident and/or road closure. So many one way streets Sometimes you cant even get to the M275 let alone drive on it. (I did once Have a conversation with the CEO of one od the ferry companies who found Portsmouth a very frustrating place to run ferries. As he put, "All it needs is two Navy sailors in a rowing boat to be paddling their way across the harbour and ferries cant put to sea". I wonder how big a problem this is?)

[@wilber3762]

Here I am again wondering why I watch this stuff,but once again John you fail to disappoint. WSA 👍

[@dixie9700]

What a tune at the end

[@leona_devon]

I remember the flyover being built back in the 80's when I was a kid, I've not been back since 2000 though so I've not seen the new additions.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Another brilliant and informative video Jon.

[@ifaiful]

I still enjoy Arthur : thx for the music at the end.

[@JohnnyH1992]

Wish I'd known you were filming down here, I could literally see my house in this video. Would have bought you a coffee.

[@john07973]

Good stuff 👍 Great load of extra facts and figures in the comments

[@corders1]

I did my industrial placement year on the park and ride/bus lane project. Lots of good memories

[@vincentyerkess7230]

That was a truly an exciting episode of secrets of the motorway 😮

[@FinnDeacon]

Thanks

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks a lot mate

[@tobyjackman3212]

This is the best video I've ever seen about anything

[@tucker9162]

Sunday complete - thanks John

[@SurgeDashcam]

Another thing to mention would have been the distinct floating crane that used to be docked nearby this motorway. It recently came detached in storn Eunice and got caught by one of the motorway bridges.

[@TheOz91]

Nice touch with using the Arthur theme song as the outro music

[@Toxicpen456]

It’s my local motorway!!!!

[@sabinebogensperger1928]

My little Fantasia Green VW Lupo is just about to reach 130k miles (it's 24 years old) - it will not receive a new suspension or such, but I may treat it to a drive through the car wash... 🚗🚿🧽🫧 Great video and for a total non car nerd, surprisingly interesting! Never underestimate the importance of making a cuppa during these jobs - nicely done! It's the only thing I would be trusted to do in a garage... ☕️😅

[@hubertbreidenbach]

The Jack sculpture. Couldn't have put it better myself.

[@hornhonker1]

Recently used the port slip lane to get on this motorway after returning from caen in France, was surprised how quick we got on a motorway after customs, almost instantly

[@roberthindle5146]

1:45 Jon has a halo! He is the second coming!

[@MrTurtlebar]

Another great video. Like the Arthur throwback, great tune. 😊

[@MrGreatplum]

Having the Arthur tune at the end made it 😆

[@thenarstar]

3:03 I also thought why you can't access Pmouth from J1 of the M275. But its all residental streets of the Pompey flavour - parked car, one cars width for moving traffic, parked car. And a primary school to boot. Maybe permit traffic in one direction in the morning and other in the evening?

[@MemskiBobSki]

110K onwards and upwards for this brilliant channel 💯

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one, thanks for watching!

[@smogmonster1876]

Wicked sweet awesome and exciting episode as always Jon. Enjoy the rest of your week

[@mikep9945]

Love the sarcasm in these videos😅😅

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one, thanks for watching!

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

Wow that drone doesn’t piss about does it !

[@Supposedlyimrightwingnow]

Great video. Again very educational...I wasn't even aware of speed limit reductions between short distance junctions. Thanks

[@minibus9]

Awesome viideo

[@darmtb]

Lovely camerawork on this on, Jon!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one, thanks for watching!

[@paulisexpensive]

Great ending haha!

[@mobiletransportvideo]

On Apple Maps at the park & ride there’s multiple of the same car! Also no streetview for Portsmouth

[@shahedmc9656]

Like the theme from the "Arthur" cartoon.

[@Omegavision79]

Thought we might hear Portsmouth by Mike Oldfield at the end

[@Dan23_7]

The outro tunes are getting more and more random 👌🏼😂 No idea on that one but it’s very cheery. I’ve seen that sail thing and I thought “Burj a la rab” (however it’s said or spelled). Cheers Jon for the episode. How many miles has your Saab done now ?

[@Aiika__]

its the intro song for the cartoon "Arthur" a pretty popular one in the 90s :)

[@kgbgb3663]

_Burj al Arab,_ "the Arab Tower".

[@Dan23_7]

@@Aiika__ I remember it but never watched it, was he like a little mouse thing ?

[@Aiika__]

@@Dan23_7 i think he was a bunny? Idk, all the characters were weird anthropomorphic animals

[@Technaudio]

Re the Sails of the South, You say there are load cells measuring the forces on the cables, what are these forces measured for?

[@Anonymoususer_8823]

The M275 motorway itself that goes down to Portsmouth from the M27 isn’t really a long motorway and it’s bit like the M271 near Southampton and A3(M) which acts as a bypass to avoid Waterlooville. I think there were plans to extend the M275 to the Isle of Wight and the M271 also could have extend to Isle of Wight from Southampton. But sadly it never happened or wasn’t planned.

[@Anonymoususer_8823]

⁠Interesting stuff. I was wondering if the M275 motorway would have gone straight into Central Portsmouth and terminated where Portsmouth and Southsea station is located at.

[@johnmehaffey9953]

Disappointed no walk past by a disinterested person, ah well there’s always next week, great post again Jon , next time I’m visiting family in England I’ll be able to put my wife to sleep talking about interesting facts about the motorways and then she’ll not be able to tell me I’m going far too fast, yea doing 70 on the motorway far too fast mmm,

[@goddam9925]

Awesome dude !!

[@gthbtn]

Useless fact... This is only motorway my mother has driven on... Great memories of navigating from the passenger seat as she became increasingly terrified of the trees and rooftops to her left disappearing as she didn't like heights. Thanks for reminding me of a happier time...

[@mplsmike4023]

That’s a whole lot of odd in a very short distance. Thanks!

[@MilesMoncur]

Once again John you’ve made a 2 junction motorway important weekly viewing. When you have completed all the motorways would you be looking at the A roads that are long? I only ask because I was bored in work and watched exactly how far the A5 goes. It’s a long way!

[@sazwell]

I think the Arthur music in the credits is the first one I've recognised (sorry Jon) 🤣

[@philipellis7039]

Unexpected bit of Ziggy Marley at the end there. It’s a very wet and grey day here today so that was appreciated.

[@MintiesPoopin]

You can also notice when the M275 splits for the roundabout, there are houses West. You can tell it was part of the neighbourhood because it lines up perfect on the maps. So pretty much during construction they just blasted through the neighbourhood and created a slip road for the houses. Hopefully someone that used to live in those houses can say more about the moving out process in the replies. Also worth mentioning they were planning to try and fix congestion near the town centre by extending through where Morrison’s is right now. That never happened because the owner of the building refused.

[@liamc304]

“Despite its short length it manages to cram in several interesting features” - that’s what she said

[@potatocure2073]

keep up the good videos!

[@cbrue1896]

Sundays with Jon, what could be better?

[@natalieislovely]

Arthur theme tune slaps

[@timecircuits88]

2:45 So, quick query. Do you know the reason why J29 and J30 of the M5 keep the national speed limit when the junctions are so close together that their slip roads are connected?

[@starlight5229]

Best things come in small sections! 🙂 Surprisingly good for just a couple of miles 👍🏻