M8 Gridlock

Where to start...

I left work early to fetch J as her department at work was let go early due to the weather situation. There was lengthy queues at South Gyle apparently so I just waited in Sighthill Industrial Estate, while J walked over to me.

We then headed to the M8 going home to Bathgate. It was about 2.30pm when we queued for the M8 at Hermiston Gate where we heard that there was a jacked-knife lorry at junction 5. So we sat there not moving at the Hermiston Gate roundabout for a good hour. We decided to turn around and head for the A71 to Livingston, but that road wasn't any better. So it was back to the M8 as we heard on the radio it had re-open. We did see a wee gritter truck where the driver was obviously in a hurry while stuck at a roundabout with stationary traffic. he decided to drive across it almost getting stuck in the snow. We turned back again to join the M8 with another hour stand still traffic on the slip road near Sighthill. We started crawling along the M8 slowly, stopping and starting, but mainly stopping. The road conditions was appalling, slush, snow, frozen slush and ice. During the crawl back home we saw many lorries broken down, a few abandoned cars and some very cool snowmen along the motorway. People obviously got bored and decided to create some artistic entertainment. It gave us a much needed smile...

6 hours later we finally reach home! 8.30pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I tried to dig the car back into our driveway but failed. So one of our neighbour offered their drive for us to park the car for the night since his cars are all parked elsewhere.

This is the worst conditions I've ever driven in and my mate C said to me, 6 hours driving would normally get me down to London!?!