Secrets of The Motorway - M3

[@zaphod4245]

Another thing you missed, between J3 and 4 the carriageways part with a mound in between them. This is actually because of the Bisley Rifle ranges which face towards the motorway, theres a big danger area between the ranges and the motorway, and the motorway is safe, but just in case a stray shot flies beyond the danger area, there is a mound to shield the southbound carriageway to the south west, but this wouldn't cover the northbound side without it being much taller, so there is a second mound between the two carriageways to protect it.

[@AutoShenanigans]

ahhh... i had no idea, that's a brilliant bit of info.

[@StoutProper]

Somebody got hit for them to build that

[@redboyjan]

@@StoutProper yeah a road builder getting a pop shot at them lol

[@1960dave1960]

An interesting point you have made, I measured the mean distance from the nearest ranges to the M3, it is 4km, if there was a stray bullet that could ricochet from Bisley it may hit someone in Lightwater first….(by the way I come from that area….)…

[@lprc7196]

I don’t think this is right. Interesting none the less

[@dawhandle]

Yes, I liked the old Spitfire Bridge as well. However, I'm the one that designed the 'monstrosity' that replaced it! I spent a lot of time going through various options to try and save the old bridge, but it just wasn't possible to get the N/B carriageway alignment through it. I also wanted to build a larger arch bridge to replace it, but the geometry of the existing road and earthworks made it very difficult to do. That's why I came up with something that would span across the motorway and adjacent link road in one go. As a bridge engineer (retired) I'm used to the general antipathy towards modern concrete structures, but it does hurt somewhat when my work is described as a monstrosity. How about about a bit on the dull side instead...

[@longjonwhite]

@dawhandle. You are very modest sir. Don’t settle for any less a descriptor than “iconic”.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Well you don't expect to hear from the designer when making such comments ;-) Thanks for commenting and offering some insight.

[@chriscohlmeyer4735]

From a family of architects so I have gotten used to 1) conceptual design, 2) actual planning with changes and adjustments to 3) the actual final plan when reality hits. You went through much the same process of 1) save it (that won't work), 2) similar style (to look right the lorries in the outer lanes would get clipped), 3) practicalities prevailed. I am sure you have some very interesting designs out there where it just fits right.

[@darreng745]

It is a good bridge for it is designed to do which is carry the Alresford road over Spitfire link and the main M3, next time I pass under it I'll look and think yep the guy who designed that took the time to speak on it

[@LesW100]

The reason there are two options for Southampton at J14 is because J13 is too close and it was deemed necessary to separate the traffic before J13 for safety so people weren't jumping across lanes at the last minute. As a result, traffic joining from Eastleigh at J13 going south, could only go westbound on the M27 (It was decided if they wanted to go east they could join the M27 at the other side of Eastleigh). Putting in a slip road up to the A33 allowed them to go into Southampton as well, and as a result there is a Southampton option on both slip roads (eastbound and westbound)

[@DomEvans]

People still change their minds last minute very dangerously. I'm glad the Eastleigh traffic doesn't jump across 2 lanes too 👍😁

[@LesW100]

@@DomEvans I went to the public exhibition when it was still at the planning stage and they were very concerned about the two junctions being so close that traffic would conflict, so their solution was to split the motorway back before j13 which is what we have now. If the Eastleigh traffic had to jump across three lanes at the same time as all the westbound traffic was trying to get into the two left lanes I am certain there would be major accidents there almost every day. At least their solution seems to work, although giving the strange set up where you get a slip road to the A33 from both splits of the motorway. I guess the designers actually did know what they were doing...

[@chinnyvision]

@@DomEvans Yep, you really need to watch out for this as you approach.

[@thomascharnock]

That bridge you're stood on at the end of the video...I run over that most days when I'm out for a jog. Now it is immortalised by Auto Shenanigans! 😂 Also a bit gutted I didn't happen to be running there when you were filming so I could accost you like a random nutter/fan

[@AutoShenanigans]

You wouldn't be the first :D Thanks for watching mate!

[@the90sfattyfromtakethat]

I think I saw someone running in the distance

[@paulknight5018]

@@the90sfattyfromtakethat probably a thief I'm allowed to say that I live in Southampton lol 🤣

[@Pixel_Runner]

When you reach the end of the motorway, you actually go left for Bournemouth and right for Portsmouth (which is a bit counter-intuitive). After the split, they then cross each other and go in the opposing direction.

[@mtickner]

Geographically yes, left to Portsmouth and Right to Bournemouth, but you need to be in the left lanes to go right and the right lanes to go left. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@techgeekout]

Does my head in because I'm quite geographically switched on, and have to manually remind myself that the lanes go in the opposite direction to their destination ffs

[@jimherbert007]

This, the number of people I’ve seen nearly crash over the years 😳

[@JasonGardnerUK]

I drive this often, and I'm always saying my best Mike Reid voice "Run around nah", as myopic drivers make their final decisions,

[@paulsengupta971]

@@techgeekout Like the M40 joining the M42.

[@RobsHampshirePubWalks]

We locals call it Fukawi junction because of the confused veering and abrupt Lane changes (Think about it 😁)

[@leefpm]

Its CHOBHAM lane ,not Cobham, and its Chobham Armour that was developed at MVEE [its pronounced Mevee ] the main site has its own bridge over the M3 to access the track. you could do a lot on the test track like you did on the TRL site at Crowthorne. Bovington Tank Museum has a lot of photos and videos of MVEE[ and other the names it was known as FVRDE/RARDE/DERA/DRA/DSTL/QinetiQ in their archives .

[@drunkinclam100]

It’s Chobham armour not Cobham armour Cobham is a town about 5 miles CW round the M25

[@AFCManUk]

"....and it provided a link between the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway with the.... FUCKING WASP!!!" 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MKHNitro]

The 'Fuckin Wasp' dance is definitely going to go viral

[@AutoShenanigans]

Gotta laugh about such things :D I do genuinely fear wasps though.

[@AurumUsagi]

Trivia: Fleet Services was once one of only two motorway service stations in the UK where two rival burger chains and KFC co-existed. This was because of Welcome Break's then-parent company Trusthouse Forte wanting to counter Pavilion's introduction of Burger King by introducing McDonald's. When Forte was taken over by Granada (nowadays Moto), after taking over Pavilion before, they switched to Burger King for expansion, but kept the McDonald's in Fleet and added Burger King. When Welcome Break was sold off following an investigation into Granada's stranglehold on motorway services, KFC was added. Sadly, both McDonald's and Burger King shut down 2 years ago, with the only locations left being Winchester (Moto) and (where it transitions into the M27) at Rownhams (RoadChef), which are Burger King and McDonald's locations, respectively.

[@ChrisGuarraia]

I don’t live in England and haven’t even visited (yet), but I am completely fascinated by Secrets of the Motorway. I’m experiencing English motorways (and the landscape and hidden gems) vicariously through these videos.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thrilled to have you.. in which wonderful corner of the earth are you located?

[@StoutProper]

Watch the film Locke. Evokes the atmosphere of nighttime U.K. motorway driving wonderfully.

[@petetrundell5454]

I worked for and on the design of two of the M3 construction contracts. The two lane section north of Winchester was regarded as inadequate for the volume of traffic when constructed, let alone now. When the then Department of Transport put the scheme out to tender the requirement was for three lanes but every contractor said it was impossible within the projected cost so the Department, rather than spend the extra, ordered 2 lanes. The divided slip roads at Hockley are because of the topography. The hillside and adjacent river Itchen prevent a single conventional intersection. That contract is etched in history as the Twyford Down road scheme which attracted a great deal of anti-road protestors and press coverage. What is rarely told is that the road that preceeded it was an environmental disaster that had to be rectified. It was removed and covered with local earth and indigenous seedlings (rather than generic specimens) that had been cultivated at Sparsholt College to perfectly disguise the route. This had never been done before.

[@David-ci1vn]

Wasn't it THREE SSSIs that got covered in concrete, if they can do that to the highest level of environmentally sensetive site, they'll do it anywhere.

[@petetrundell5454]

@@David-ci1vn Yes, there was environmental damage, that has been established many times over. My point was that there was also significant environmental recovery of an area that was badly scarred and polluted and that fact is never put across when the story of Twyford Down is told.

[@RobsHampshirePubWalks]

The environmental damage to the world renowned River Itchen from the old Winchester by pass was awful but its a shame more money was not spent to provide a tunnel under Twyford Down.

[@W92Baj]

Don't want to be that guy but it's CHobham, not Cobham, which is further down the road. The research centre, where my mother worked in the 1960s, is surrounded by Chobham Common. Also, those Thorpe Park trains! TP used to be vast with a petting zoo on the other side of the quarry lakes with a long rail loop taking you there and back. In the summer in the early 80s I'd get dropped off outside the gate with some friends and spend the day there.

[@SortOfPurple]

I don’t know why I watch these, I don’t even drive a car. Says something about how entertaining this series is. I smiled when the ridge racer 4 intro music started.

[@ecotix]

I thought the same, but it's actually little insights into our culture and history for little "non-important" sites and I love that

[@moominpapa1980]

It’s Chobham not Cobham, it’s a very confusing area.

[@ap9970]

NO . .. . . . . Its Right to Portsmouth and LEFT to Bournemouth

[@Skorpychan]

Not going south down the M3 it isn't.

[@ap9970]

@@Skorpychan Yes, it is

[@Skorpychan]

@@ap9970 Broadly, it is. Actual roads may differ on the go-right-to-go-left front, but west is right if you're doing south. Don't confuse me; I have terrible trouble picking the right A27 direction.

[@ap9970]

@@Skorpychan it's unnatural, like most things in the Southampton area

[@garycollard1981]

Yes, that bottom junction is a bit odd with having to be in one of the 2 right hand lanes to take you left for Pompey and going over the top of the left hand lanes which are now veering off right towards Bournemouth. It does a bit of a messy junction on a map.

[@darreng745]

The reason for the double slip road at Junction 14 is that traffic from Eastleigh at Junction 13 cannot access the main body of the carriageway heading up the hill towards M27 East which is the exit slip road for Southampton for the main carriageway, so you head for M27 West and take the slip road off to rejoin that sliproad before the roundabout at the start on Basset Avenue.

[@anthonylloyd6094]

"No wasps were harmed during the making of this video"

[@howardjones6752]

Another very entertaining video, so much so that I stopped watching Emerdale ~ love the wasp’s attempt to steal the show.

[@colindavis1466]

You never mentioned the dreaded Hockley lights. Zooming down the M3 and you were confronted by a horrific set of traffic lights. Easily added an hour to my commute

[@AutoShenanigans]

A seemless journey for us but we got lucky I suspect.

[@keithposter5543]

@@AutoShenanigans Probably because it's not 1992 😉

[@priscillaroberts7945]

My son was working at fleet services and once when left to cope on his own it got a bit busy so he turned up the extractor over the burger grill to get rid of the smoke and the accumulation of fat up there caught fire. The whole place burnt down. He was about 17 . They tried to get him to say the filters were regularly cleaned and changed but he wouldn't. He was" let go" as they say.

[@chinnyvision]

He needs an award for services to grim motorway services redevelopment. It was awful in there. Much better now!

[@captaindun]

And they rebuilt it… of wood!!

[@priscillaroberts7945]

@@captaindun and plastic. I wonder if anybody misses Wendys kitchen. He did get to see a lot of media stars. Eastender types and suchlike.

[@tmb8807]

First time I've heard of a viaduct built to link a railway with a wasp!

[@gareth204]

Chertsey resident here, who lives on St Ann’s Hill. The Armour you mention is Chobham, not Cobham. Chobham is the village next to Lyne and Longcross where the tank factory once stood intersected by the M3. Cobham is a village about 13 miles to the East next to the A3/M25 junction. Many mix them up, but they are two very separate Surrey villages.

[@swededude1992]

Wasps hurts to get stung by. The best way to save your self from being stung is to stay calm when a wasp is around you. The more you swing your body around the scarier you are to the wasp and the more the the wasp want to sting you. Wasps workes this way: As long as you are calm, the wasp will be calm. If your'e bissy being silly, the wasp will be scared and sting you.

[@edwardlees4585]

When you get to 50k subscribers you'll be able to afford to employ an animal/insect wrangler. Great video. Thanks.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I bloody well hope so.

[@BMWMike]

The wasp incident is the best piece of action ever captured on video.

[@elelegidosf9707]

This is a fantastically geeky channel for road geeks! Love it! Don't worry about coming across as a flailing-armed Nancy boy regarding the wasps 😃 - I can understand this as I am allergic to them. If I get stung, the affected body part blows up like a balloon. Anyway, keep up the good work.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Wacky waving arm flailing nancy boy. It is what it is :D

[@nickbannister775]

Chobham Armour not Cobham, Plus they built the M3 right through our school cross country course at Bagshot, myself and mates also got caught jaywalking when the M3 first opened. Fun was had watching the Army drive vehicles to destruction on Bagshot Heath.

[@chrisbeaven6521]

Maybe try doing a video on the A303 where it starts off as what was originally deemed as 1 mile stretch of motorway class road heading west from junction 8 of the M3 (probably was going to be called the M30 in its day) and the farcical proposals over several decades dating back to the 1950's to upgrade this 117 mile route to Exeter into an unbroken dual carriageway. The debacle over the Stonehenge lack of improvement and still no bypass around Winterbourne Stoke is farcical in itself. Let's not forget that the rest of the route West of this is a travesty in the making with the intermittent stretches of dual and single carriageway through Wiltshire and new roundabouts built on improved dualled sections in Somerset in the 1980's and 1990's such as the Cartgate junction near Yeovil. The Wincanton bypass was only extended past Sparkford in the late 1980's and not taken on another 3 miles to Ilchester bypass dual carriageway where this is finally being built opening in 2024 but no work on the A37 Podimore roundabout which has been designed for a fly over. Not to mention the extra wide single carriageway bypass around Ilminster (just 5 feet short of being wide enough for a dual carriageway so all the over-bridges have got to be demolished if this is widened). They are still undecided how to link this to the M5 whether to take it to Taunton or Exeter (Blackdown Hills, a triple SSSI is on the way to link up with the A30 Honiton to Exeter dual carriageway). Funny how the A30 West of Exeter will soon have over 100 miles of unbroken dual carriageway almost down to Penzance.

[@hydorah]

That Solstice park thing is truly horrific. I live in Exeter and have used the A303 extensively I think its worst feature is the constant variety of speed limits. Second worst is all the single carriageway sections. Frustrating stuff. Always nice to see Stonehenge though 🙂

[@TheCaptScarlett]

1:03 The underpass is a flood relief culvert should the Thames flood. 1:40 1979 was the year we went on our annual schoold day out to the new Thorpe Park - it had a petting zoo, a traditional adventure playground and waterskiing - it was a boring day out 9:27 "Hardcore, You know the score" kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIKyZqybi6-Xl6s

[@NigelJones]

Oh, memories of hockey traffic lights. I remember before that section was opened (lived in Chandler's Ford for years, though moved away in 2020)

[@TheChipmunk2008]

You need to do the northward journey from the M27 (eastern end) thru junctions 13, 12,. and 11, for the utter horror that it is... and the utter difference to the southbound journey

[@richardmiles3892]

AHH I remember the train in Thorpe park. It used to go from one corner of the park, then along behind one of the lakes, I vaguely remember there was like a petting zoo or similar at the far end of the line. I knew I wasn't going crazy!

[@marcwaller3657]

The abandoned Thorpe park train still gets used every year as part of their fright night events. It doesn't move but it's part of an interactive experience where some (student) actors act out various interactive ghost stories involving a train crash. The train is usually partly illuminated and some "spooky" smoke/mist is added.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I didnt know that. I'd get a ticket but.. kids.. nope.

[@uries15]

Fleet Services. Where the coach stopped so we could chuck up on the way to and from school trips to London.

[@machinist5828]

I share your non love for wasps. I spent 22 wonderful months in East Anglia with the USAF at RAF Bentwaters. I absolutely loved all the narrow back roads and lanes. I was not so thrilled with the motorways though. You just missed too much. Perhaps some day I can return and explore some more. Until then....... Cheers Terry from South Carolina USA

[@AutoShenanigans]

They're awful things. Thanks for watching mate... You can't beat an English back road for fun! I hope you enjoyed your stay with Bentwaters.

[@machinist5828]

@@AutoShenanigans I was there to the end. Last person in maintenance to leave. Saddest day in my life other than my dad dying. I had nightmares for years afterwards. Yes I totally enjoyed my stay. Cheers Terry

[@StoutProper]

@@machinist5828 if you enjoyed it that much you really should pay us a visit

[@machinist5828]

@@StoutProper if I could I would. Take the train right to Woodbridge. However I live in South Carolina USA. Cheers Terry

[@stewis]

WASPS. AHHHhHhhHhHHHhhhhHHHHHHH! hhhhhhHHHhhhhh Ahhhhh!

[@drinkupmeheartysyoho]

🤣 all I could hear was Michael macintyre's sketch about wasps/bees. He's defo type 3 🤣

[@AutoShenanigans]

My only fear in life...

[@stevemarshall3481]

Boring fact for you, before junction 4a was built, a house, riding stables and land was owned by a man called Joe Murray, Joe borrowed some money from Mick Collard (Duffy), Duffy was an ex-traveller and not a man to mess with, Joe couldn't pay Duffy back, so Duffy took the house, stables and land as full payment of what was owed, Duffy is the father of racing driver Rob Collard and grand father of Ricky Collard who's racing in the BTCC this season, Duffy sold the land to housing developers and a few years later sold the rest for J4a to be planted right on top of everything else he owned, Duffy and partner (Lesley) moved to a nice place in Eversley, can't remember what cars they had but the number plates were M1 CKS & L35 LEY, there you go, a bit of useless information, if anyone wants anymore, just Google the names, they'll be in there somewhere lol, unfortunately Duffy went to meet his maker a few years ago, but his son and grandchildren are doing just fine on the financial front 😉 ps, it's pronounced "Min Lee" 👍

[@jbbumpkin]

Remember Duffy racing on the small oval track at Matchams near Ringwood. He was a pretty good hot rod racer on the Speedworth tracks as I remember!

[@1960dave1960]

Actually it’s Chobham armour …not Cobham armour….two different places entirely…..

[@Jason-io5bu]

I do like you dron film I put that rallyway sign post up about 9 years ago reversed lorry back and lift up with PM crain that was a good Friday work

[@AldershotDave]

How can you pronounce “Minley” as “Mineley”?! 🙄 It’s MIN-LEE!! 😡

[@AutoShenanigans]

I didn't, I presented two options for the viewer to choose from.

[@callumpetch7903]

Only bit you missed was the M3 Twyford Down Protests before they re routed the M3 At Winchester and the park and ride that's now built on the old M3.

[@AldershotDave]

Old M3?

[@stewart_fisher]

Sunbury is in Surrey (Spelthorne) not london.. its on the border

[@Robbo1966]

Great video, but did you know the Hockley interchange (Winchester) was famous for the Hockley traffic lights, it was said that you could drive all the way from Scotland and encounter traffic lights for the first time at the Hockley lights. It was during the 1990s, that the M3 was extended south from Basingstoke, cutting through the Twyford Down with much public protest, thus making the Hockley lights and the old A33 around St Catherines Hill redundant. Thanks

[@TheManFrayBentos]

Is Swampy still underground, chained to a tree root?

[@paulqueripel3493]

I remember the traffic jams there. Every time we went to visit my relatives in Southampton, had to queue at the end of the M3.

[@danimayb]

Earlier this year Thorpe Park submitted planning permission to build a new roller coaster, All of the old town area containing Loggers Leap will be demolished to make way.. If granted that is? Who knows if or how long.. But England's councils are decisive well oiled well run organisations so all will be good 😆

[@AutoShenanigans]

I was expecting work to have started when we showed up but it looks like they're still talking it through with those decisive councils.

[@BMordecai]

8:00 🤣 I can't stand wasps either

[@grahamclifton1483]

In 1975, during the M3 Sunbury construction, I nearly drove off the unfinished flyover one night, losing my way in the temporary road alignments… Love this channel…

[@hippyvanmug]

I don't think the Thorpe park rides are totally abandoned though as I'm pretty sure the train was integrated as a prop into one of Thorpe Parks Fright Night horror mazes, and so was the old queue building from loggers leap.

[@spikebmth]

correct.

[@jamessawyer479]

I grew up in Lightwater in the 80s, so I knew all the woods around the M3 J3 Bagshot. The machine used to lay the tarmac (through Bagshot section, at least) was imported specially from the Soviet Union. I was told numerous times that during construction, a Scammell Tipper broke down under the J3 Bagshot bridge just before the tarmac laying machine came through. Once moving, the Tarmac machine could not be stopped economically. There was no time to get the tipper going again so they buried it in the ground under the carriageway. At the Longcross site near J3 there is also a tunnel linking the two sides as well as the bridge. This is because they were testing vehicles which were too heavy for a bridge. Rumour has it the tunnel is very tall inside because they were testing mobile icbm vehicles there in the 60s and 70s. Many thanks for a cool and fascinating vid. Wasps. Classic!!!

[@AutoShenanigans]

The tunnel sounds interesting indeed, i can't find any evidence of it's where abouts though. Perhaps removed/filled in in later years?

[@dyslexiksteve2488]

I think you need a follow up on this video. You got quite a bit missing. However good video mate

[@IndigoJo]

You missed out the old slip road under the M3 just south of the A303 fork. That took traffic from the A33 from Basingstoke under the M3 to stay on the A33. Now, it's Popham Court Lane, an access to a side road into Popham village. It's a good two-lane road with lane markings and cat's eyes as far as where the old slip road ends, then becomes a fairly average one-and-a-half-lane country road, then just after a property access on the right, becomes a single-track road.

[@TheChipmunk2008]

As someone from southampton, why would they start up north where there's nothing? [grin]... popham is interesting, nice roundabout.

[@BeansOnToast_YT]

The way you handled that wasp, you're one of the bravest KZbinrs ever, hope you're able to carry on making more vids and put that incident behind you 😂

[@davidroddini1512]

At 7:55 when talking about the Hockley Railway Viaduct, he says, “It was originally called the Shawford Viaduct; and it provided a link between the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway with the f*king wasps!” Well I can see why it was abandoned then. Who wants a viaduct to provide a link to wasps?!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Bulldoze the whole thing I say.

[@TravellingTechie]

It should be noted between J10 and J11 was a landmark protest in the building of the cutting through Twyford down. It cut through a SSI, ancient monuments and landscape, replacing the notorious Hockley traffic lights and the old narrow road (I remember it well as I was on it most weekends seeing grandparents in Southampton!). I seem to recall engineers wanted to build a tunnel to reduce environmental impact but were overruled due to the cost. The protests caught national attention and sparked a movement for more direct action (as has been seen in more recent times with the protest of the building of HS2) against large infrastructure projects. Oh and I remember the old log flume riders dropping down as we came up the M3 towards Sunbury of an evening in the summer time!

[@adriankmarsden]

He could have also gone down the old road which is still mostly there. Being the cycle route into Winchester.

[@LucaZone]

Yes I too remember well the queues to pass through Hockley traffic lights heading south to grandparents on summer weekends!

[@davidlockwood9192]

@@LucaZone yes remember that well, used to live in Poole when younger and had cousins who lived first in Harrow and then Folkestone and during the 80's and early 90's remember those traffic lights and routing past the viaduct

[@RampageObidos]

You got a like from me for the wasp incident.

[@The__ASH]

You missed a load of stuff you could have included around Winchester, the old Winchester bypass at Hockley really close to the railway bridge you were stood on now returned to nature and the old bypass bridge hidden away where the bypass went under the railway at Hockley. There’s other stuff too, look on the web and ye shall find.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yep, we'll be looking at the old Winchester Bypass for our abandoned road series.

[@The__ASH]

@@AutoShenanigans : Excellent, can’t wait. My dad would have been interested in your vids and would have known some of the reasons for the various bits of road in some of your vids being disused, he was a civil engineer on various roads projects, sadly he’s been gone for over 16 years.

[@keithposter5543]

@@AutoShenanigans Yay!

[@The__ASH]

@@AutoShenanigans : You have another subscriber. 👍 Another interesting point, did you notice at the bottom of the M3 heading south you have to keep left to go right (west) and keep right to go left (east), I wonder how many people that has confused the carp out of over the years.

[@keithposter5543]

@@The__ASH It still confuses me and I live here 😆

[@surfblue63]

The slip road at J13 was originally a slip road off the A33 onto the B3037 (now the A335). When the M3 was extended they used parts of the A33 route, hence why the A33 is no longer a continuous road.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Good info, nice one

[@surfblue63]

@@AutoShenanigans Did you see my comment re Blackbushe?

[@AutoShenanigans]

I did, I've wanted to visit blackbushe for a while now.

[@Roaming50]

That's an animal underpass.

[@jillp1840]

Lived here 30 years. Never heard Minley pronounced as Mine-ly! I remember the hoo-hah about the Twyford Down cutting around Winchester, but boy has it saved time getting down to the coast!

[@AutoShenanigans]

I ignored the Twyford thing simply as I wouldn't be able to pronounce it correctly.

[@andymassey8105]

Wasp reaction classic comedy (even if not intended to be)

[@davidfalconer8913]

As a student holiday job , I helped build the M3 ( during 1972 ) ..... ( Lightwater to Sunbury section ) working for a subsidery of Bovis , called [ Larry Webb ] this was great fun and VERY VERY well paid ! ...The mining trucks took over 300 gallons of red diesel per day and had their engine oil changed every 3 DAYS ! ... their gearbox / back axle's oil changed every 14 days ! .. ( normal motorists take note ! ! .... Ha - Ha .........

[@AutoShenanigans]

I tend to do engine oil every 3 months.. but every 3 days!!?

[@ForburyLion]

Stay away from Bee Roads.

[@grahamtanner1066]

When you have completed all the motorways, can you do 'secrets of a wasp nest'?

[@AutoShenanigans]

I've got bleach to drink on that day.

[@cartographer29]

The extra slip road at Junction 14 is only there for traffic entering the M3 from Leigh Road.

[@quiggles]

Chobham armour not Cobham... Slight giveaway in the village next door being called Chobham... 😉

[@kennztube]

Yeah thought that was a slip

[@annabelholland]

now do secrets of the m42 and why the section up north is the a42 instead of the m42 and doesnt have a hard shoulder. it really should be a motorway (even without hard shoulder, although it is ideal to have one), as it is between 2 motorway sections; m42 and m1. same with the new a14, which has links between the m11 and the a1m, although i think thare are proposals to change the new a14 to a motorway (which is why this should have been done before it even opened). this is beacause, imagine going from newcastle upon tyne to birmingham, with only a 14 mile section in the middle that isnt a motorway.

[@vincentharriman3283]

The A42 is numbered such because it was built to a cheaper design. The original plan was indeed to build the whole link as the M42 but budget cuts saw this section downgraded.

[@annabelholland]

@@vincentharriman3283 I still think the current A42 should be a motorway as a hard shoulder is not a requirement, since motorways is a legal term, not engineering. most smart motorways do not have a hard shoulder and are still a motorway. I used to though a hard shoulder is requred (except where space doesn't allow, such as over or under bridges) for a motorway. All learner drivers except mopeds should also be allowed on motorway

[@vincentharriman3283]

@@annabelholland I agree that all learner drivers should be trained on a motorway as part of their driving test. I believe this is essential given the case that most if not all motorists will use one at some point.

[@justinadcock4536]

I was expecting you to mention the protests at Twyford Down cutting protest. Might be an interesting series, documenting major protests during construction of motorways.

[@automotivel3501]

My son went to Southampton Uni. (and now lives in Southampton) so we travel the M3 a lot, it seems to be permanently a 50MPH motorway. The Smart section (I join from M25 J13) was first issue, now it is Southampton end. Nice to know some of M3 history love John's videos. Perhaps he could do M11 - I worked on that (well i worked on Cranes that broke down building it) Motorway.

[@marksaxby607]

You're right about the huge 50MPH section, I did see a man leaning on a shovel once, though... I suspect it's just a revenue generation exercise.

[@iangame7234]

I used to use the M3 but with that 50 limit for miles and miles it easier and less busy to go via the A3 north of Portsmouth. Virtually a motorway and avoid the traffic bottleneck around Winchester.

[@B1UK]

That road used to join onto the Staines duel carriageway. That road with the loop at the end was the former main road to Staines pre M3 and M25. The bridge you go under was originally a road that joined to the carriageway. Can be seen on ordnance surveys from before 1960.

[@ap9970]

Looking forward to the A3(M) all 90 seconds of it

[@buckerooney2247]

Crazy what mixed stuff we find on KZbin. I actually enjoyed this, considering I've driven the m3 daily for the last god knows how many years.

[@RobsHampshirePubWalks]

Great video. The abandoned sections of slip Rd at Eastleigh's J13 are in fact the old slip roads for the A33 Chandlers Ford by pass..

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one, thanks for watching and confirming

[@Craig-wp3pz]

Ooooh ,beware, The Staines Massif.... And wasps 🐝🪰

[@danrodrigues3531]

You had me at 'fucking wasps!'

[@AutoShenanigans]

What purpose do they serve... none.

[@TaylaReprise]

@@AutoShenanigans I have a huge phobia of wasps too, I feel your pain. They are evil bastards, whose only purpose is to be an annoying little c**t! Bees are useful and essential to the eco system, wasps however...... are not!

[@Aengus42]

@@AutoShenanigans Very important pollinators!

[@mark..A]

What about the turning to get on the a303.......to get to paradise

[@malcolmyoung7866]

Jeez I know that well every Friday and Sunday… 🚗💥💥💥

[@thetelephoneprankster4254]

Part of me really wants to cycle along that stretch now. John you should join me

[@CreatureOTNight]

Scumbury to Scumhampton. Couldn't pay me enougth to produce this video presentation.

[@grahamclifton1483]

In the 1980s, when we all had CB radios, there was a nice guy with a base station near the Spitfire Bridge, all the drivers would call him up and he would relay road traffic information… Loving your work!

[@AutoShenanigans]

CB is a little before my time but I love the idea of being able to get traffic info from a guy in a shed.

[@grahamclifton1483]

@@AutoShenanigans Picture yourself, 1983, leaving Preston on M6, 1800h, 200 miles to home, snow coming in, key the mic, say "One Nine, One Nine, any driver give me a Ten Thirteen (road report) on the Mike Six south to Birmingham? Gunmetal One standing by." Back comes a Devon accent, over a loud lorry engine, "Gunmetal One, this is Happy Wanderer. You're clear south to Birmingham." "Thanks Happy Wanderer, nothing heard north of Preston, safe journey.." "Thanks Gunmetal One ... becomes distant...Ten ten, Happy Wanderer standing by.."

[@StoutProper]

@@grahamclifton1483 the internet before the internet

[@philiptownsend4026]

@@grahamclifton1483 Those were the days ;-))

[@rwm2986]

Good video, thanks. Someone may have already said this (554 comments as I am writing), you need to pronounce the H in Chobham (as in cheese). And, just to confuse, there is also a Cobham in Surrey around 10 miles East of Chobham.

[@cjmillsnun]

Should've mentioned the controversy of the Twyford cutting.

[@stevemance2812]

You left out the old Winchester bybass before it was extended in to the M3.

[@Assimilator1]

I can't believe Thorpe Park just abandoned those rides! I finally know what those dead end slips roads between J6-7 were meant for! Re that old Spitfire bridge, 1 concrete monstrosity swapped for another, no real loss there!😂 (ok the old concrete one did have some style I suppose). Great wasp moment! 🤣

[@Aidanb94]

The duplicated slip roads at southbound junction 14 to access Southampton on the A33 are needed for traffic joining from junction 13 at Eastleigh. I always wondered this when I lived in Southampton!

[@TwoWholeWorms]

Still can't believe they permanently closed Logger's Leap, was one of my favourite rides at the park. :(

[@rogerthomas368]

The disused road at J13 with Leigh Road comes from the older A33 junction at that location. The A33 at this point was installed as the Chandlers Ford Bypass, but was in many ways just the M3 'in-waiting'. When upgraded to the M3 the slips on the eastern side had to be realigned. The result is the current gated 'short' slip that still joins the southbound carriageway at a near-right angle and the isolated part of the road that was part of the southbound off-ramp.

[@sidwainhouse]

No mention of Fleet services catching fire and causing several millions of pounds worth of improvements.

[@AutoShenanigans]

It's an old video but sir might like this episode where we visited Fleet services - kzbin.info/www/bejne/amq4o6SYireAjbc

[@newforestpixie5297]

As you go ‘ through’ Basingstoke or before the A303 headed SW are Slip Rds either side of a road bridge. You may well get to this in a bit ! Only last month I tried to figure out what had happened to Spitfire Bridge when Ally mentioned how as kids coming from Watford to visit relatives on the coast this bridge was a huge landmark. I’ve studied GE & maps trying to work out where the viaduct and traffic lights were in relation to the old dual carriageway I have at least managed to work out how the old A33 route is now a car park amongst industry .This is great - Thanks to you and everyones’ efforts in bringing it to us all . 👍😁 from near the sea

[@doctornick666]

It's worth visiting for a walk if you're nearby. The old railway route still has bits if old infrastructure, and you can tell the area near the viaduct used to be a road. Five bridges road is also interesting to walk on as it's being slowly reclaimed by nature but you can still see cats eyes, road paint and bollards from when it was open to traffic

[@obadger21]

Ahhh I’ve always wondered if you’d cover the potbridge abandoned road and bridge! It’s inbetween fleet services and Basingstoke

[@kirkmooneyham]

I haven't lived in England in a long time, but I spotted something in this video I remembered: an Eddie Stobart lorry. Probably seems rather mundane to most, but I was surprised I remembered that.

[@insignificantaftermathPROJECTS]

They are legendary.

[@maciejk3154]

From 11 October 2024, they will start improvements at junction 9. Free flowing slip roads to and from the A34 are being buil, with local roads passing underneath the slip road

[@strredwolf]

Stumbling across this, and I grabbed Google Maps. My guess is that they had junction 13 and 14, and the slip road from Lehigh Road had to contend with traffic getting off to go onto the westbound M27. After a few crashes and some outrage, they sectioned the slip road off for the westbound M27... which caused folks from Lehigh Road to be forced there instead of being able to get into Southampton.... or the eastbound M27. So, another sliproad... to get to Southampton and the A27. To get to eastbound M27, you have to follow Lehigh Road's numerical designation, the A335, east and down to the M27. Bother.

[@kempshott]

OK it may not have been a Spitfire that flew under the bridge, but the Spitfire was developed at Hursley House which is just a few miles away

[@andrewofford1533]

The Bridges at Junction 2, the ones for the M25, were built at the sametime of the M3. These stood empty, with nothing connected to them, until the M25 work was started. Also, Windmill Road in Sunbury, was redesigned to except the New Bridge crossing the M3, as the orginal Bridge, only went over the Railway line at Upper Hailford Station. The Clock at Sunbury, was moved from its Original location, as the Flyover cut across it, this was moved to near the Supermarket, Key Markets, before it was moved back to its new location, it is located now.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Didn't know that, great info mate.

[@andrewofford1533]

@@AutoShenanigans As a Side Note, just up the road from the M3, not far, from where you were siting, at the beginning of the Video, Sir Tom Jones lived, Springfield Grove, during the 60's.

[@1965GJS13]

Are you going to do the M27? Would love to know: a) why there is no J6, b) about the missing service station at J9, why it stops so suddenly after the M275 Portsmouth junction, c) why J10 is missing a set of slip-roads....

[@AutoShenanigans]

We will be taking a look at some point yes indeed.

[@howardlake6178]

@@AutoShenanigans yes I requested this as well. So…chop chop, toosh in gear, M27 before the autumn. Nish excuses 😂😂

[@coxfordlettings]

@@howardlake6178 The M271 and M275 could be shorts!!!

[@howardlake6178]

@@coxfordlettings 😂

[@petetrundell5454]

And why is the westbound off-slip at J9 so incredibly long? Budgets for these roads are always short so why design it three times longer than it needs to be? I’ve spoken to some of the engineers who designed the M27 and even they don’t know!

[@johncamp2567]

John: Your videos are fun, quirky, and informative! Always entertaining….with wasps or without. 👍

[@AutoShenanigans]

Cheers mate, appreciate you watching!

[@dennisbuckley]

The bits of abandoned road at J13 are what remain of the close-your-eyes-and-hope-for-the-best slips onto the old A33 Chandler’s Ford bypass before it was upgraded from dual carriageway to motorway. I also vaguely remember the A33 route took some unusual turns with odd junctions between Hockley and Otterbourne - I’d love to come across an old clip of this stretch. Also the political wranglings and protests over the carving through St Catherine’s Hill at Winchester deserve a mention. Time taken to queue at the old Hockley lights in the late 1980s - around 40 minutes on a busy but incident free morning. Time taken to drive through same stretch on the M3 today…?

[@AutoShenanigans]

Makes sense... for a slip road it looked a little tight!!

[@jonahearn4425]

That bridge in the closing shot, I'm sure that's Chilworth Drove over the M27 right? Not the M3... (I guess it's technically still just within the confines of junction 4)

[@AutoShenanigans]

Now I thought I'd get away with that shot... but clearly not ;-) Due to many flight restrictions in the area, this is the only angle we could get!

[@cjaams71]

i think those slip roads are part of the original chandlars ford by pass , which was intergrated with the M3.