Road Works in Southampton

[Dancing Queen]

For anyone who might be travelling to Southampton in the coming weeks I just though I would mention that there are major road works around the Ocean terminal area, we were quite lucky pre Xmas as our taxi driver knew how to avoid them so our delay was minimal but had we been driving we would have had a significant delay not knowing the area, I've read elsewhere of it taking over an hour to get through them.

Maybe if there are any 'locals' on here they could advise of an alternative route if there is one.

[Frank Manning]

We have been aboard Norwegian Getaway. We drove down the M271 Wednesday morning en route for City terminal, arriving at about 11.30am and everything was fine. Left the ship just after 9.05 and drove back up. Apart from the usual tail back at the roundabout at the bottom of the M271 all was fine.

There has been much politics talked on Radio Solent, about the roadworks problems when 5 cruise ships were in port at once recently, and there have been reports of people taking 3 hours to move 200yards. Seems Liverpool may have a case for a cruise terinal after all?

[Quizzical Bob]

There are road works at the western end of the Itchen Bridge that should be avoided. A perfectly good roundabout is being replaced by a set of traffic lights which nobody except the Council thinks will be a good idea.

[Boris+]

Hi Jo,

How typically kind and thoughtful of you to post this thread - and even though I won't be sailing soon, thankyou from me.

We got caught up in the dreaded getting to Ocean situation in December - and a right lash up in a saucepan it was too! We got into Dock Gate 4 ok, and within spitting distance of the terminal. Then this twit in a suit told the parking people they were not allowed to park cars, but had to put customers in to a short stay car park (which they expected us to pay for). What then followed was a 2 hour wait, with priority being given to taxi drivers - which thoroughly annoyed people who had just come home from a cruise who wanted to leave the main car park.

These returning passengers simply wanted to go home, but they had to wait because only taxis were allowed to move. Meanwhile a healthy sized group of people wishing to embark built up in the short stay car park, and they rapidly got fed up with being fed different stories. There were loads of free spaces in the main car park, but apparently the people working for the parking company were not allowed to put cars in there under the orders of this twit from the port authority. The workers had also been told that whilst they would be allowed to drive passenger cars eventually into the main car park, they had to wait for a crew transport to take them back to the car drop off point outside the terminal - now that is all of about 200yds maximum! Un-blasted-believable!

All of this cascaded downhill and the passengers returning trying to leave the carpark to go home all decided to lean on their horns and get 'wordy' with the twit in the suit.

I simply informed him that if I was deprived of my priority embarkation, then I would be sending him a bill for the difference between the cost of a QG suite and a Britannia balcony. He asked another passenger who was also getting royally peed off if that was much, and this other passenger kindly said 'ooooooh yes' - and within an incredibly short time the cars waiting to leave were allowed to go, and those waiting for embarkation had their cars booked in as normal.

What a mess! Oh well, look on the bright side, by the time we get back down to Southampton for another cruise at least all the building work should be over!

Em

[chrisb60]

Does anyone have any updates on the congestion around dock gate 4?
We are due to travel down on the 13th March.
Any information would be greatly received.

[Quizzical Bob]

Does anyone have any updates on the congestion around dock gate 4?
We are due to travel down on the 13th March.
Any information would be greatly received.

The Itchen Bridge works have now been completed but I don't know about dock gate 4. I'll make enquiries.

[chrisb60]

Thanks for that. Any information that takes the stress out of our travel to gate 4 is most appreciated.