Re the ‘abandoned building’ you are correct that it’s a pumping station - it’s for the northern foulwater interceptor sewer which runs across north Bristol and down to the water treatment works. It was manned when it was originally built in the 1960s however fully automated later on in life. It’s not actually abandoned despite its appearance and was still operational until a few years ago. It might even just be mothballed at the moment due to the said accident in 2020 or otherwise because of a new system current being built up near the old Filton runway. Last reports of maintenance hinted at 2016/7 use - it’s quite possible it can’t pump any shit down to the treatment plant till they fix the blown tanks which are still completely untouched since the accident due to the investigation still on going. It is rather nice inside with lovely old control panel and big induction motors to move the shit under the motorway. The lower part with the sluice gates is less glamorous.. 😂. Pics available on request (of the nice bit 😂 )
I love how there is always somebody out there who knows exactly what someone is talking about and has all of the information and even insider knowledge to inform us.
I love old sewage pumping stations. I took my wife and daughter on a day out to Burton on Trent where there is a fantastic old steam and beam engine pumping station. We enjoyed going round it with a guide more than the nearby Molson Coors [Bass] beer museum and Heritage Brewery. Unfortunately the brewery and museum are due to have been closed forever last month but I’m sure that the sewage station pumps on.
It deeply worries me how compelling I find this series. I don't even bloody drive.... Interesting to see how your style's evolved too - it really feels like you've found a style and delivery that works.
This is the last place I would have expected to hear the theme to 'The Flying Doctors'. I'm surprised I recognised it since I haven't heard it since I was a child some thirty years ago. Ah, nostalgia. You never cease to amaze me, with your obscure motorway knowledge and eclectic choice of music you use.
Aha! I wondered where I recognised it from, and it was driving me nuts trying to remember. I must've been no older than 6 the last time I saw that on telly!
@chakatsandwalker thank you for revealing that, I recognised the tube from some dark and distant part of my brain, probably in the late 80s or early 90s during a wet school holiday sat watching crap on telly!
I just thought, if you want a REALLY obscure Australian tv theme for a future video you could try finding "The Outsiders" although that might be so obscure that it may no longer exist anywhere... In fact I think I'll go and have a look now. I may be some time....
Well that proved to be far easier than I expected, I should have known RUclips has everything these days. Anyway it was a 70s Australian tv show about two blokes driving around Australia in a cool old Holden ute doing stuff. Itv randomly showed it on Saturdays in the 80s. I was a car mad child so watched anything that had cool old cars in. The theme is far worse than I remembered but it might be worth using in a bad is good kind of way....ruclips.net/video/qay-Tsu1th0/видео.html
I have no business enjoying this series as much as I do. I don't live in the UK, I have minimal interest in motorways generally, but you make it very watchable. Your delivery veers unexpectedly from concise and informative to wacky and maniacal, and I love it. Abandoned buildings and forgotten or unappreciated large scale logistical projects do tickle my fancy, so it's a great one-two punch.
M49 is the ultimate piece of road for caning your car down, the long, subtle curves push you into your seat as you go muling down it. No slip roads to despatch mongs into your path either. Reminds me of the 80's arcade game 'Outrun'
@@Dan23_7 Personally I’m based very close off J4, and work just off J6, daily 8 minute commute! I know the Accrington to Preston stretch like the back of my hand, but Accrington to Burnley onwards - a little rough on the knowledge. We run wrestling shows just off J4 too, in a venue 2 minutes from the services.
The mad thing is that huge roundabout above the motorway is completely blocked off and cannot even be used by motorists to change direction on the motorway.
Could have been useful back in the summer when a lorry caught fire in the second Severn crossing. I was heading South basically the M49 Northbound was like a parking lot right down to Avonmouth. Was a hot day too I thought to myself that junction could be used in situations like this at least but no that’s a silly idea to these pen pushers.
I used to be an Openreach engineer and that building got all the hallmarks of being an old exchange maybe but I’ve never heard of one there. They used to be designed out of a book of designs that were approved along with the post office when they were the GPO. Possibly that? Not sure.
Another fascinating instalment of motorway madness, thanks, Jon. With so many abandoned roads and buildings and slip roads going nowhere you are giving me the impression that Britain is A hinterland of dereliction. Nevertheless you seem to make it entertaining. I particularly like your impression of half a drone at the very end. You will never take off like that you’ll have to flap your feet as well.
John I love the music you use in your videos it always brings back memories, memories of something that I can't remember but always with a feeling of being happy so erm yea thanks for the music as well as the great content pal.
This was one of the most random (and sincerely interesting) channels I’ve been recommended on RUclips. This video’s commentary and humour sums up exactly why it also one of the best random recommendations too! 😂👌🏻
UPDATE construction of the link road was approved yesterday (23rd November 2023) after the land between the junction and the existing road was compulsory purchased. The Council says work will begin early 2024 and take 12 months to complete. Also plans have been submitted for a Services of this new/old junction.
fascinating! i grew up in Lichfied aND LEFT FOR AMERICA WHEN I WAS 30, your channel is so good...and keep me in touch with my roots.... thanks so much!
I saw on the A3, southbound between Wisley and Burpham an intriguing stretch of abandoned road, complete with a brick built bus stop shelter. Was wondering if there's a possibility of branching into the history of the A3 at some stage in the future, because the existence of that abandoned bus stop has long aroused my fascination
@@nrahim91 The National Library of Scotland has pages that let you overlay modern maps on old. Daren't post a link but "Explore georeferenced maps" should get you started.
@@GTRider69 where abouts is that? I drive on the A3 occasionally and haven't seen it. Edit: Nvm, completely glossed over the location on the original comment lol
"...Planning permission and all that shite, so we're looking at a good few years until this link road is open." This perfectly sums up what is wrong with how things are built, all this delay just over a few METRES of link road for a junction that cost £50 MILLION POUNDS !
Another illuminating installment in the series. I'm always intrigued by those little junction "stubs", abandoned buildings, and geographical scars left by our modern way of life. I rather loved the graffiti. I was sad to learn that a previous work had been painted over, but perhaps it had decayed to the point that it was a canvas in need of re-working; much like many a canvas from "masters" over the years. I'm looking forward to the third installment of the November segment. Thanks John.
As one of my local motorways and travel on nearly on a daily basis, I learnt more about this motorway watching this vid than I ever have traveling on it since it opened. Thanks Jon. I was a little surprised you didn't cover the access road off the roundabout heading towards Pilning. I always wondered whats down that road :P
Sundays just wouldn't be the same, without my weekly dose of Motorway Madness, Road Rants, and random satirical musings. Just right to sit down with a Lungo for ten minutes. Or if the video was any longer, I might come across all daring, and also indulge in a double shot latte, with a cherry bakewell, or something 🍰 'I'm on a sofa!'
I've just this minute discovered your channel. This is the first video I've seen. Instant hook. I had no idea our motorways could be so interesting - let alone funny. Good stuff.
“Twatted the Bridge” haha I thought I was the only person who says Twatted - adopted in the early 90’s in my construction jobs. Thanks for the great Vid John.
Yet another great video. When I used to drive from London to Weston-Super-Mare it was actually quicker to carry on to the M49 and then join up with the M5.
A fun fact about the Severn rail tunnel is that it relies on several pumping stations to keep it 'dry' if the pumps were to fail the tunnel would fill with water in a matter of hours. Luckily there's plenty of redundancy in the system.
God, that M49 junction was a nightmare back in 2018/19! 50mph along the entire motorway pretty much, and that crane made me late for uni when that happened, as it added half an hour onto the journey due to the traffic! That junction just keeps getting funnier and funnier, how can they mess it up this time! That's my last local secrets of the motorway though, guess I'll have to wait for secrets of the A-Road until you do the A303 then!
I like that wiggly little road that goes under that junction then spirals up, follows the inner edge of the roundabout then under the other side. Looks like a very over-engineered solution to some kind of access problem.
@@bobblebardsley Pedestrian footpath/Cycleway mate, yes, majorly over engineered, but keeps foot traffic away from vehicle traffic, and allows access from Cribbs Causeway.
I can remember driving it every day (also to get to uni!) and wondering when the feck they were going to finish the damn roadworks that kept us going 50mph for nigh on two years ,,, didn't mind it aside from that and the bananas bit going onto the Avonmouth bridge where you had to take your life into your hands every time you swapped to the left hand lane towards Portishead
I mean, all the stuff about secret motorways is nice and all that. But I think we should all take a minute to acknowledge the sheer genius of using The Flying Doctors theme tune as an outro. After all, these are the things that dreams are made of.
That roundabout is the ideal spot to practice getting your knee down on a motorcycle, fresh, clean, smooth tarmac, with no oil spilled on it, and no traffic... perfect.. you could even practice going around the other way for left-handers.. 😄
Quote of the week: “Unfortunately, as you can see it’s been covered up by some mong.” 🤣😂😅 I love anything that makes me laugh like I’m 12 again 😄 Great stuff as ever, have a great weekend 🍻🍀👍
Absolutely brilliant. Just love these episodes of secrets of the motorway and makes you realise someone had to do it and this fella is great. Definitely makes Jeremy Clarkson a bore so nice 1 for that as well. Keep it up please and top marks.
Not useless for me, I've taken it loads of times from Somerset to South Wales. I've even gone east onto the M4, when the M5 is busy (like at Christmas when everyone is going to Cribbs Causeway). I didn't know what was happening with the junction though, so thanks for clearing that up
Loving these Bristol-based vids in particular; as I said in the M5 vid I used to live off J19. The M49 was a Godsend quite often as I had to commute down the M5 on summer afternoons; I'd turn off onto the M4 then down the M49 which would just about feed me directly into the slip-road lane for J19, meaning that I bypassed a fuckton of stationary traffic and didn't have to battle my way across numerous lanes going over the Avonmouth bridge. My route still usually had numerous tailbacks, but even with the massive diversion it still usually shaved at least half-an-hour off the journey time...
Great video! Can't believe the timing of it as I was driving along it today and wondering if you were going to feature it with its useless junction! 🤣 Only a short motorway but makes such a difference to my frequent trips from Wales to Cornwall!
Where the M49 passes over the Severn Tunnel it is actually on a very low viaduct. I’m led to believe that BR/Railtrack weren’t keen on the idea of the motorway resting on top of the tunnel where it’s at its shallowest point, so it’s actually piled either side of the tunnel and a concrete “bridge” laid over the top. You don’t notice at all from the motorway, but if you walk towards the railway/tunnel access gate alongside the motorway, you can see the structure.
That's because it was phased out when people realised it was derogatory to sufferers of Down's Syndrome (formerly named "Mongolism" since sufferers bear the far eastern characteristics of narrow eyes and recessed nose bridges, which also makes it not only ablist, but also racist)
@@Hawkskull Thx for the heads-up; never heard of it before as a derog. Was thinking he meant 'Ming' as in 'Minger' or 'Minging'; then I wondered where Minging originated; all I could think of was the evil dude in the old Flash Gordon tv programmes that was on in the school holiday back in the day...
@@whyyoulidl Ahhh those too-short b&w episodes of Flash Gordon. I still thank BBC2 for putting them on very early every day in the Christmas holidays because they were my excuse for being up before the rest of the house. Nothing to do with feeling the presents, no.
"I'm on a bench" 🤣🤣🤣
"oh! It's a train" 🤣🤣🤣
He cracks me up!!
this cracked me up so much
I literally only watched this because of your comment. Love a bench me 😂😂😂
@@ferrorail “fucking deliver everything don I” he’s so funny for no reason 😂
I had to skip the video back just to work out what I just heard 😂😂😂
I love the random interjections like "I'm on a bench" or "Oh look, a train, you like trains don't you!".
I get distracted easily :D
Squirrel!
He's so awesome
Re the ‘abandoned building’ you are correct that it’s a pumping station - it’s for the northern foulwater interceptor sewer which runs across north Bristol and down to the water treatment works. It was manned when it was originally built in the 1960s however fully automated later on in life. It’s not actually abandoned despite its appearance and was still operational until a few years ago. It might even just be mothballed at the moment due to the said accident in 2020 or otherwise because of a new system current being built up near the old Filton runway. Last reports of maintenance hinted at 2016/7 use - it’s quite possible it can’t pump any shit down to the treatment plant till they fix the blown tanks which are still completely untouched since the accident due to the investigation still on going. It is rather nice inside with lovely old control panel and big induction motors to move the shit under the motorway. The lower part with the sluice gates is less glamorous.. 😂. Pics available on request (of the nice bit 😂 )
id like to see the pics. if poss
thanks
@@anthonyapplebyvrgaming1742 I’ve tweeted Jon some pics
I love how there is always somebody out there who knows exactly what someone is talking about and has all of the information and even insider knowledge to inform us.
I have a vision of a Capt Nemo character, in a Steam Punk control room……… not battling unearthly sea monsters……. but giant turds…….. 🥳🇬🇧
I love old sewage pumping stations. I took my wife and daughter on a day out to Burton on Trent where there is a fantastic old steam and beam engine pumping station. We enjoyed going round it with a guide more than the nearby Molson Coors [Bass] beer museum and Heritage Brewery. Unfortunately the brewery and museum are due to have been closed forever last month but I’m sure that the sewage station pumps on.
Not heard anyone described as a "mong" since the mid-80s. Great content once more.
beer came out my nose..quality
Nothing cures a Sunday morning hangover better than the latest episode of Secrets of the motorway. Thank You John!
For me its a vid before bed🤣😎
Or in my part of the world, Monday morning just before work…as we are ahead of you.
Best hangover cure is a early morning Sunday drive
You're right John, I do like trains
+1 😃
So do I! 😁
It deeply worries me how compelling I find this series. I don't even bloody drive.... Interesting to see how your style's evolved too - it really feels like you've found a style and delivery that works.
It's the best thing if I can appeal to a "non driver." It's taken a while but I'm finding the "way" now I think. Thanks for watching.
@@AutoShenanigans Even more here ...do'n t drive and live in the Netherlands ;-)
I drive (on the correct side of the road) and have never been to the UK.
@@k6usytwayh
Anyone else like to see an entire episode dedicated to abandoned buildings?
Spose John could do a co-lab with Martin Zero or Ant from Trekking n Towpaths...
His channel is about roads
Would love to see something like that from this channel
@@ShiresMatt Is that your definition of 'auto shenanigans'? lol
might need more than 10 minutes
You always make me smile every Sunday with your dry humour, even when I'm in hospital like I am at the moment :) thank you
Get well soon!!
Hope all's ok; get well soon. Love from the SoTM family 🤗
Oh no! Nothing too bad we hope. thanks for the donation..again.. you really shouldnt!
Benches, trains, biosolids. Jon always delivers the good stuff.
Not to mention various kinds of public works sheit... which I obviously won't.
This is the last place I would have expected to hear the theme to 'The Flying Doctors'. I'm surprised I recognised it since I haven't heard it since I was a child some thirty years ago. Ah, nostalgia. You never cease to amaze me, with your obscure motorway knowledge and eclectic choice of music you use.
Aha! I wondered where I recognised it from, and it was driving me nuts trying to remember. I must've been no older than 6 the last time I saw that on telly!
@chakatsandwalker thank you for revealing that, I recognised the tube from some dark and distant part of my brain, probably in the late 80s or early 90s during a wet school holiday sat watching crap on telly!
Thank you! I was racking my brains on this one. Brilliant piece of nostalgia 😂
I love the music ... wondering, how many others can remember that show :)
I love these episodes, but the occasional apperance of Simcity 2K just makes my day. Keep up the good work!!
I like it when you do these short motorways as you capture so much detail, which you do not have time to give us in the longer roads.
"I'm on a bench" 🤣 you got no Special Brew tho 🤣🤣
I don't drive and I'm not particularly interested in cars and roads but I always find myself loving these videos!
If we appeal to viewers not interested in cars/roads then that's a huge compliment, thanks!
Love the obscure tv theme endings, continuing the recent Australian theme with Flying Doctors this time. Great video as always.
I just thought, if you want a REALLY obscure Australian tv theme for a future video you could try finding "The Outsiders" although that might be so obscure that it may no longer exist anywhere... In fact I think I'll go and have a look now. I may be some time....
Well that proved to be far easier than I expected, I should have known RUclips has everything these days. Anyway it was a 70s Australian tv show about two blokes driving around Australia in a cool old Holden ute doing stuff. Itv randomly showed it on Saturdays in the 80s. I was a car mad child so watched anything that had cool old cars in. The theme is far worse than I remembered but it might be worth using in a bad is good kind of way....ruclips.net/video/qay-Tsu1th0/видео.html
@@marcwaller3657 If you want obscure Australian tv themes, how about "The Sullivans"? That was a daytime ITV staple when I was growing up.
The humour is brilliant in this one, specificly the train passing and the water treatment silo accident sections.. brilliant!
Four people died in that accident :-(
I have no business enjoying this series as much as I do. I don't live in the UK, I have minimal interest in motorways generally, but you make it very watchable. Your delivery veers unexpectedly from concise and informative to wacky and maniacal, and I love it. Abandoned buildings and forgotten or unappreciated large scale logistical projects do tickle my fancy, so it's a great one-two punch.
Where are you from?
M49 is the ultimate piece of road for caning your car down, the long, subtle curves push you into your seat as you go muling down it. No slip roads to despatch mongs into your path either. Reminds me of the 80's arcade game 'Outrun'
It also helps that there's nowhere for a camera van to park up either! That will change if they ever open that junction though.
M48 is the same too, it's a road that exists outside the realms of speed limits
"covered up by some mong!" hehehehe
Another great episode - with so many highlights...
- unfinished junctions
- a train
- the use of the word 'twatting'
- an abandoned building
nice one!
This series and the humour gets better every episode. Love the series, love your work. Let me know when you’re doing M65!
One of my local motorways
I’m near Preston
I used to go up and down the 65 for 5 years 5 days a week
I know every bump n ridge on it 😂
@@Dan23_7 Personally I’m based very close off J4, and work just off J6, daily 8 minute commute! I know the Accrington to Preston stretch like the back of my hand, but Accrington to Burnley onwards - a little rough on the knowledge. We run wrestling shows just off J4 too, in a venue 2 minutes from the services.
@@rwluk Nelson every day for 5 years, I’m in Leyland. My van ended up driving itself up there while I had a Kip it knew the route that well 😂
The mad thing is that huge roundabout above the motorway is completely blocked off and cannot even be used by motorists to change direction on the motorway.
Could have been useful back in the summer when a lorry caught fire in the second Severn crossing. I was heading South basically the M49 Northbound was like a parking lot right down to Avonmouth. Was a hot day too I thought to myself that junction could be used in situations like this at least but no that’s a silly idea to these pen pushers.
I used to be an Openreach engineer and that building got all the hallmarks of being an old exchange maybe but I’ve never heard of one there. They used to be designed out of a book of designs that were approved along with the post office when they were the GPO. Possibly that? Not sure.
IF with the munitions works could be Govt telephone service?
Nah it’s defo a sewage pumping station
I also worked for Openreach and it’s predecessors for 40 years on building maintenance, it’s definitely not a telecom building.
@@christopherjordan4812 I said it looks like one, as you’d know they mostly came out of a book of approved designs and it has the same hallmarks
Definitely a government building or even an infrastructure type building.
Another fascinating instalment of motorway madness, thanks, Jon. With so many abandoned roads and buildings and slip roads going nowhere you are giving me the impression that Britain is A hinterland of dereliction. Nevertheless you seem to make it entertaining. I particularly like your impression of half a drone at the very end. You will never take off like that you’ll have to flap your feet as well.
A Hinterland of Dereliction sounds like a Catherine Cookson title.
@@bobblebardsley Or the current Tory manifesto
more like failure of future-proofing planning...
John I love the music you use in your videos it always brings back memories, memories of something that I can't remember but always with a feeling of being happy so erm yea thanks for the music as well as the great content pal.
This was one of the most random (and sincerely interesting) channels I’ve been recommended on RUclips. This video’s commentary and humour sums up exactly why it also one of the best random recommendations too! 😂👌🏻
UPDATE construction of the link road was approved yesterday (23rd November 2023) after the land between the junction and the existing road was compulsory purchased. The Council says work will begin early 2024 and take 12 months to complete. Also plans have been submitted for a Services of this new/old junction.
Its the deeply informative and well researched remark at 03:50 that makes this channel so gripping... and a very fine bench it is too.
The most random bench I ever did find.
Auto has to be one of the best channels on RUclips, he makes the uninteresting interesting, and funny, good on ya….
Nice one, thanks for watching!
I am not even from the UK nor I have been to the UK ever, but this is intriguing as hell!! :D
Hi, we're a weird bunch us Brits who find a shared joy in the most inconspicuous of things. Spread the word of this channel 😃
Welcome along, glad to have you!
fascinating! i grew up in Lichfied aND LEFT FOR AMERICA WHEN I WAS 30, your channel is so good...and keep me in touch with my roots.... thanks so much!
I absolutely love trains. Thank you for stopping so we could appreciate it.
I saw on the A3, southbound between Wisley and Burpham an intriguing stretch of abandoned road, complete with a brick built bus stop shelter. Was wondering if there's a possibility of branching into the history of the A3 at some stage in the future, because the existence of that abandoned bus stop has long aroused my fascination
That sounds like the old VOSA vehicle weighbridge
It's just the old alignment of the A3 before it was made into a dual carriageway. You can see how it curves more on old maps.
@@GTRider69 Correct.
@@nrahim91 The National Library of Scotland has pages that let you overlay modern maps on old. Daren't post a link but "Explore georeferenced maps" should get you started.
@@GTRider69 where abouts is that? I drive on the A3 occasionally and haven't seen it.
Edit: Nvm, completely glossed over the location on the original comment lol
"...Planning permission and all that shite, so we're looking at a good few years until this link road is open."
This perfectly sums up what is wrong with how things are built, all this delay just over a few METRES of link road for a junction that cost £50 MILLION POUNDS !
Your sense of humour is brilliant. Love the odd swear word thrown in!
Another illuminating installment in the series. I'm always intrigued by those little junction "stubs", abandoned buildings, and geographical scars left by our modern way of life.
I rather loved the graffiti. I was sad to learn that a previous work had been painted over, but perhaps it had decayed to the point that it was a canvas in need of re-working; much like many a canvas from "masters" over the years.
I'm looking forward to the third installment of the November segment.
Thanks John.
As one of my local motorways and travel on nearly on a daily basis, I learnt more about this motorway watching this vid than I ever have traveling on it since it opened. Thanks Jon. I was a little surprised you didn't cover the access road off the roundabout heading towards Pilning. I always wondered whats down that road :P
I also wondered... but then realised It's bridge maintenance access and stuff like that, "authorised vehicles" only etc.
It goes into the Highways Yard by Severn way foot path. There is another access road they use which connects to Shaft Road.
Sundays just wouldn't be the same, without my weekly dose of Motorway Madness, Road Rants, and random satirical musings.
Just right to sit down with a Lungo for ten minutes. Or if the video was any longer, I might come across all daring, and also indulge in a double shot latte, with a cherry bakewell, or something 🍰
'I'm on a sofa!'
Enjoy yourself now that you have time. You never know when your next chance of tasting happiness comes around.
@@TrondBrgeKrokli Very true... I could drop dead walking to the kitchen for a biscuit!
Our lives are truly at the mercy of fate!!!
@@hermanmunster3358 Fair point. Enjoy each moment when you get the chance. Smell the roadside flowers on your merry way.
@@TrondBrgeKrokli Is that a euphanism?
@@hermanmunster3358 Not at all, that was just a simple attempt to sound jolly, using old clichés to what others have recommended in the past.
I've just this minute discovered your channel. This is the first video I've seen. Instant hook. I had no idea our motorways could be so interesting - let alone funny. Good stuff.
You've got loads of great videos to watch then. 🙂
Another great video mate, the humour, the use of the noel's house party make for a great video along with the information you research for the video.
I'm not even entirely sure why but I absolutely love these videos! Great work as always
Fascinating. Makes you glad you're not a politician or bureaucrat responsible for mess-ups like that.
I can't speak for all us guys, but I am a guy who likes trains.....you really can deliver everything, John, and this guy appreciates it.
“Twatted the Bridge” haha I thought I was the only person who says Twatted - adopted in the early 90’s in my construction jobs.
Thanks for the great Vid John.
These vids are fascinating in themselves, but your delivery and humour put them on another level 😁
Yet another great video. When I used to drive from London to Weston-Super-Mare it was actually quicker to carry on to the M49 and then join up with the M5.
"Completely covered up by some mong'. Love it. What a perfect description 👌
Okay, who requested the Flying Doctors theme last week?🤣
That's what it is, I knew it sounded familiar.
That just made my wife's day hearing that tune. Thanks John. She now love you long time 😘
Cool thanks! I was lost on this week's offering.
I come here for the secrets, I stay for the 90s intro music and your dry humor!
A fun fact about the Severn rail tunnel is that it relies on several pumping stations to keep it 'dry' if the pumps were to fail the tunnel would fill with water in a matter of hours. Luckily there's plenty of redundancy in the system.
Brilliant script there! Had me in stitches when you said 'I'm on a bench', keep doing stuff like that dude!
God, that M49 junction was a nightmare back in 2018/19! 50mph along the entire motorway pretty much, and that crane made me late for uni when that happened, as it added half an hour onto the journey due to the traffic! That junction just keeps getting funnier and funnier, how can they mess it up this time! That's my last local secrets of the motorway though, guess I'll have to wait for secrets of the A-Road until you do the A303 then!
I like that wiggly little road that goes under that junction then spirals up, follows the inner edge of the roundabout then under the other side. Looks like a very over-engineered solution to some kind of access problem.
@@bobblebardsley Pedestrian footpath/Cycleway mate, yes, majorly over engineered, but keeps foot traffic away from vehicle traffic, and allows access from Cribbs Causeway.
I can remember driving it every day (also to get to uni!) and wondering when the feck they were going to finish the damn roadworks that kept us going 50mph for nigh on two years ,,, didn't mind it aside from that and the bananas bit going onto the Avonmouth bridge where you had to take your life into your hands every time you swapped to the left hand lane towards Portishead
I can’t wait for your multi-part series on the history and secrets of the A66(M).
I mean, all the stuff about secret motorways is nice and all that. But I think we should all take a minute to acknowledge the sheer genius of using The Flying Doctors theme tune as an outro. After all, these are the things that dreams are made of.
So, what's the intro theme?
Little purpose? You've NO idea how much traffic jams have reduced since this link was put in !
“I’m on a bench” Brilliant.
That drone shot 40 seconds in! Breathtaking!
My god. Completely unintentionally stumbled across this and my inner geek absolutely loves it 😁 *subscribed* 😎
Welcome along
What an excellent go kart practice track x
Very interesting those strange places where unconnected junctions or bridges are sitting in the landscape.
That roundabout is the ideal spot to practice getting your knee down on a motorcycle, fresh, clean, smooth tarmac, with no oil spilled on it, and no traffic... perfect.. you could even practice going around the other way for left-handers.. 😄
Not many people can make a 5 mile motorway into an interesting 9½ minute video :)
Well done!
Quote of the week: “Unfortunately, as you can see it’s been covered up by some mong.” 🤣😂😅
I love anything that makes me laugh like I’m 12 again 😄
Great stuff as ever, have a great weekend 🍻🍀👍
“..covered up by some mong!” Love it 😂
I loved the Old Spice reference 🤣
Loving the Flying Doctors music on the outro
I find car stuff to be beyond dull but your presentation style has absolutely sold me. fantastic stuff have a sub aha.
What a cool drone-shot you got at 0:38 with the motorway over the water goes into the mist .... 👌👌👌👍👍👍
The best outro you have done. Love it
I drove this bad boy on my way to Weston-super-Mare a couple of weeks back. True story!
Classic installment
"...and as you can see it's been completely covered up by some mong"
Nearly woke up my family from laughing 🤣 Cheers for that
I have no idea why this channel is so fascinating to me as an American but I love it
So glad we appeal to non UK residents! Welcome along.
8:36 "that would be wicked, sweet, awesome" 😂😂😂
Great video and I absolutely loved the bit of Noel's House Party theme tune at 6.52!
I absolutely love your videos, very informative, but what does it for me is your sarcastic comments and sense of humour!
I came for the closing music. Like a moth to a flame.
The deadpan humour just gets better, well done Jon. 👍
Absolutely brilliant. Just love these episodes of secrets of the motorway and makes you realise someone had to do it and this fella is great. Definitely makes Jeremy Clarkson a bore so nice 1 for that as well. Keep it up please and top marks.
Thanks a lot mate!
Not useless for me, I've taken it loads of times from Somerset to South Wales. I've even gone east onto the M4, when the M5 is busy (like at Christmas when everyone is going to Cribbs Causeway). I didn't know what was happening with the junction though, so thanks for clearing that up
Loved the old spice reference 👌
Excellent video John.
"I'm on a bench." Subscribed.
Superb! Next time I'm passing that way I'm gonna stop & explore for myself
Absolutely effing love these videos. They don't half brighten up my days 'n' make me chortle!
I'm so glad!
We need to see more episodes like this. I don’t think ive laughed so hard at a video about a few miles of concrete and tarmac before
That final shot is Oscar worthy
Loving these Bristol-based vids in particular; as I said in the M5 vid I used to live off J19. The M49 was a Godsend quite often as I had to commute down the M5 on summer afternoons; I'd turn off onto the M4 then down the M49 which would just about feed me directly into the slip-road lane for J19, meaning that I bypassed a fuckton of stationary traffic and didn't have to battle my way across numerous lanes going over the Avonmouth bridge. My route still usually had numerous tailbacks, but even with the massive diversion it still usually shaved at least half-an-hour off the journey time...
Best wave yet Johnny boy!
Top man! Brilliant wave-off! 😂
Great video! Can't believe the timing of it as I was driving along it today and wondering if you were going to feature it with its useless junction! 🤣 Only a short motorway but makes such a difference to my frequent trips from Wales to Cornwall!
Totally agree the journey from the South Wales Valleys to Brean or Burnham on Sea this short motorway does save some time.
Where the M49 passes over the Severn Tunnel it is actually on a very low viaduct. I’m led to believe that BR/Railtrack weren’t keen on the idea of the motorway resting on top of the tunnel where it’s at its shallowest point, so it’s actually piled either side of the tunnel and a concrete “bridge” laid over the top. You don’t notice at all from the motorway, but if you walk towards the railway/tunnel access gate alongside the motorway, you can see the structure.
Yes, something I learned about after filming sadly, I'd have liked to have explored it further.
I love this video’s chaotic energy
Your presenting style cracks me up, brilliant stuff keep it up 👍
Havn’t heard ‘ mong’ since the 80’s
That's because it was phased out when people realised it was derogatory to sufferers of Down's Syndrome (formerly named "Mongolism" since sufferers bear the far eastern characteristics of narrow eyes and recessed nose bridges, which also makes it not only ablist, but also racist)
Make Mong Great Again
@@Hawkskull Thx for the heads-up; never heard of it before as a derog. Was thinking he meant 'Ming' as in 'Minger' or 'Minging'; then I wondered where Minging originated; all I could think of was the evil dude in the old Flash Gordon tv programmes that was on in the school holiday back in the day...
@@whyyoulidl Ahhh those too-short b&w episodes of Flash Gordon. I still thank BBC2 for putting them on very early every day in the Christmas holidays because they were my excuse for being up before the rest of the house. Nothing to do with feeling the presents, no.
Ah. So that’s why the junction still isn’t in use. I never knew that. 👌🏻👍🏻
seamless road to rail transition.
I've had a good week thank you, and thank you for this vid.
7:14 "a silo containing bio solids or shit exposed for some reason" 🤣🤣
I hope you have plans for when you run out of motorways, I'd miss these so much when your done. You know the spirit when you sing the theme tune
He'll just move onto A roads, then B roads, then every other road in Britain. That should keep him busy.