Traffic on M1S at rush hour - question

[bluecanary]

Next week I need to be at East Midlands Airport for a 10.30am flight. I'm a bit worried as this will mean travelling past Nottingham at rush hour and I've also heard that there are roadworks on the M1 slowing everything down.

 

Are there any commuters who regularly drive this route who could give me some info on how bad it is at the moment so I can plan what time to set off? I don't trust the one hour 15 minutes that Google maps is predicting, that's for sure!

 

Much appreciated.

[sheffbag]

So you have to be at East mids airport for 8:30 (is it still 2 hours check in?). Allowing for parking you want to arrive about 8 i would guess? Or is it a 10:30 check in?

 

its 50mph max for a lot of the route but i've found that you do tend to move at roughly that. If you allow hour and half leaving at 6:30 would guess you be ok but sure other forumsters will advise as well

[tzijlstra]

I drive that stretch very regularly and it is a pain because it can be a one hour journey and it can be a two hour journey (and without wanting to alarm you, I have taken 3 and a half hours before now). Nottingham isn't the issue, it is the entire stretch from Sheffield to the Mansfield junction where the road becomes 4 lanes. For reference, if I have a 9AM meeting near there I leave at 7AM and usually still have a stressy drive to make it to Loughborough in time, however, if I leave at 6.30AM I get there at 7.45 with an hour to spare.

 

If you have to be there at 8.30 (per the post above) I recommend you take the A61 down to Chesterfield and then the A617 to the M1, this cuts out a large chunk of the roadworks.

[Eater Sundae]

Next week I need to be at East Midlands Airport for a 10.30am flight. I'm a bit worried as this will mean travelling past Nottingham at rush hour and I've also heard that there are roadworks on the M1 slowing everything down.

 

Are there any commuters who regularly drive this route who could give me some info on how bad it is at the moment so I can plan what time to set off? I don't trust the one hour 15 minutes that Google maps is predicting, that's for sure!

 

Much appreciated.

 

I'm not up-to-date on current road works hold ups, but for the last 3 or 4 times out of EMA, I've set off very early just in case, but have always had an easy run and so been there well before the 2 hour before your flight time. On each occasion, I've been able to check in early. I've then gone for a leisurely breakfast and read a book until my flight is called. An early start, but absolutely no stress.

[bluecanary]

Thanks very much to both of you. It's online check in, so in theory, I only have to be there at 9.30am 9though would prefer it was a bit earlier for my own peace of mind!).

[willman]

In my experience i'd rather sit there abd ne bored than stressed in the traffic.

I travle the route frequently and as long as it moves at 50 its fine. Getting there two horus early will miss allt he hassle.

[L00b]

The problem is that if there is a crash in the roadworks at rush hour (every other week it seems, and one side or other because of gawkers), you could be in there for hours on end, even though you may have started way early to err on the side of caution.

 

tzijlstra's suggestion is spot on. Even if you stick to the M1, plan an alternative route via adjacent A roads in case of emergency. If you're driving and don't have a satnav, get one.

 

I'll always remember a particularly stressful drive from Anston (Jct 31) down to EMA with my mother-in-law some years ago. Left a full 2 hours before check-in begins (needed an hour at the time, no roadworks), thinking an extra hour for 'redundancy' (e.g. small tailbacks, flat tyre/wheel change) would be plenty. An hour later, still sat about 3 miles down from Jct 31 in a gigantic non-moving tailback, I was starting to sweat profusely, and I got a newfound respect for my mother-in-law's piloting ...erm, driving skills flying down the A61, A6 and A50 to EMA. Made check-in with around 5 minutes to spare IIRC, and choked up like you wouldn't believe (was flying to meet Mrs on hols, and had already been on phone 'prepping' her that I might not make it all)

[sheffbag]

A61 is a good shout, dual carraigeway most of the way down to derby and jump on M1 at J25

 

Would always advocate getting their earlier as others have said. Better to be there and bored then stuck on the road watching the plane take off

[Tobyjug]

I'm going to EMA on wednesday afternoon. I have been advised that a major upgrade to M1 J24 (for EMA) started today, so could cause some congestion, particularly at busy periods.

[Blast]

Travel that daily from 31 to 28. If you can get on the motorway at around 06:00 it usually flows pretty well discounting accidents and the like. Can be conjested from 30 to 29A, then around 29 up to Tibshelf and around 25 to A50. Starts to build after 06:30. Mondays and Fridays are the worst days for travelling. I'd give yourself 1.5 hours from Sheffield to be on the safe side, then add on another hour just to be safe - that way when you get to EMA early, you can have a leisurely coffee no stress. Been under J24 today and no roadworks on the roundabout - they're on the A453 near Ratcliffe Power Station.