Drivers fuming as bridge work leads to gridlock
TRANSPORT bosses have been urged to "get a grip" to stop traffic chaos caused by major roadworks.
Drivers were left fuming as phase two of Plymouth's Eastern Corridor improvement scheme began on Monday with rush-hour gridlock.
The work, which aims to improve traffic flow over Laira Bridge, will take up to 11 weeks. A council spokeswoman admitted yesterday that most of the work would be done in the week, and not at weekends.
"Everybody is going mad about it. It's chaotic," Cllr Kevin Wigens, a former Cabinet member for transport, said.
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"They need to get a grip on a very bad situation. It's too awful to contemplate that this could go on for 11 weeks.
"Laira Bridge needs to be done, but the level of traffic chaos is such that whatever traffic management they have put in place evidently isn't working. It is affecting the whole of the city.
"I, perhaps more than anyone, would know how difficult this is to do. They need to be on it almost 24 hours a day. People will accept some delays, but this is unacceptable.
"Plymstock is badly hit but it is having a knock-on effect all the way up to Mutley Plain and North Hill. On Monday the city was virtually gridlocked almost all day.
"Cllr Mark Coker, the Cabinet member for transport, needs to be pummelling the transport department to get a solution to this."
Brian George, operations manager at Plymouth Citybus, said the problems had been worst in the afternoons as traffic built up. But he expected the mornings to become equally bad after the schools go back this week.
"It has been tailing back on Tothill Road to Mutley Plain, and along the Embankment," he said. "Tothill Road is particularly bad. We had to divert the number 24 service because it could not get down the hill from Greenbank.
"We do have the advantage of the bus lanes so it's not as bad for us as for other road users on some routes."
Royal Mail spokesperson Adrian Booth said: "Royal Mail finds the condition of these roadworks a significant challenge. We are doing our best to ensure the highest level of service to our customers."
A Prince Rock resident said a journey that normally takes 15 minutes took her more than an hour yesterday afternoon. "I'm fuming," she said.
A council spokeswoman said: "Disruption is inevitable when carrying out maintenance and improvement works on such a busy route, particularly at peak times, but these improvements will significantly reduce congestion and delays for people travelling over Laira Bridge.
"We have programmed the essential maintenance works on Laira Bridge to coincide with the junction improvements at Finnigan Road to minimise overall disruption on the road network.
"All diversions have been clearly signed and we are using our digital roadside signs to warn drivers about the works.
"It usually takes at least a few days for motorists to adjust to new traffic arrangements."
She urged motorists to avoid the busy periods and to leave extra time for their journeys.
"The majority of the works will be carried out from Monday to Friday but this will be under continual review.
"Where the sequencing of works allows and it can be programmed in cost-effectively we will be considering working outside these times."
Comments
by Workitout
Thursday, September 06 2012, 10:42PM
“You are ALL going to leave the car at home soon.
It WILL be better to walk.”
by rationaldog
Thursday, September 06 2012, 9:53PM
“For all those having a go at the Council - the timetable for these works was decided by Amey, who took over all this sort of work in 2008. Another outstanding privatisation by Pengelly and her Tory duffers.”
by Plymptonboy
Thursday, September 06 2012, 8:39PM
“Cornish Pirate
Thats easy to answer as almost all the cars turn right at the top of cot hill and if you turn right at the top of cot this usually means you end up in Elburton/ Plymstock as this is where the road leads too !
thats not rocket science just good old observational skills
who's laughing now !”
by Farkwar
Thursday, September 06 2012, 7:51PM
“Meh, I bet most people stuck in the traffic are travelling less than 3 miles. If that's the case why not cycle or walk instead?”
by DaveDave2
Thursday, September 06 2012, 7:20PM
“Hmmm....
Anyone else think the comment below by Asyouwouldbedoneby sounds a little suspicious? Sounds like someone trying to stir up anti-cyclist sentiment to me.
Anyone who's rode a bike over the Laira Bridge will know that there's already a bike lane marked on the pavement all the way up to Morrisons along with 'toucan' (i.e. bike and pedestrian) crossings, so they won't be particularly bothered about whatever cycle facilities are going to be put in along with the bus lane on the bridge.”
by Asyouwouldbedoneby
Thursday, September 06 2012, 6:46PM
“Its worth it for the sake of we cyclists. Leave your cars at home and either walk or cycle.”
by AirportREQ
Thursday, September 06 2012, 3:59PM
“http://tinyurl.com/cewmeqy
And they wonder why the City centre is on its !!!!!!!!
The motor car/ is the choice of the majority. Time to stick up for our Freedom”
by jimjamjonny
Thursday, September 06 2012, 3:15PM
“why not make the buses free like it is for pensioners and the mildly disabled”
by AirportREQ
Thursday, September 06 2012, 2:56PM
“They PCC want you to use the poxy BUS. They have spent in excess of 20 million on provisions for a BUS lane. For you to have the FREEDOM of your own personnel transport 4FS.
The bridge will have a BUS lane on it.
There are 20 plus council employed people knocking on doors around Prince Rock/ St. Judes area telling people they should be using the BUS or cycling.
Its time to get Angry drivers.”
by sonofmeldrew
Thursday, September 06 2012, 2:42PM
“I completely agree with everyone on here who says that it is very bad planning indeed (I'm talking TO YOU Mr Highways regional manager) to have such an important primary route into a major City Centre worked on purely during office hours Monday to Friday.
To work 24/7 should have been the only way forward for this project with absolutely no debate required. They invented big powerful lights a long time ago. So it is possible to work at night time these days without getting scared of the dark. Also & I know this keeps cropping up but why start on the very day that the schools went back thereby increasing the amount traffic congestion massively. No excuse or valid reasoning for that so far.
That said & to add additional severe insult to our collective increasing commuting insanity, this morning I went over the Bridge at 10:15 and thought I'd count how many contractors were actually on the bridge doing something. By that I mean doing some work, not standing around smoking and chatting with mates, which is always annoying to see when tax payer's money is involved. So how many contractors did I see working? Wait for it-----None, Zero Nada, nought, zilch. Oh sorry I forgot, yes, there was one person there, he was sitting stationary in a digger, I was sure he was fast asleep. (Seriously).
So there we are, a November finish is it? I note there is no specific date on the sign, so I guess we are talking late November not early? Certainly looks that way judging by the proper hard work I saw today @ 10:15, it takes a real effort to sit in a stopped digger having a kip! Well done but where was everyone else? Get on with it or we'll be stuck in Plymstock till the new year and beyond.”