New roadworks on major Plymouth road at Laira Bridge to start next month
BUSINESSES are hoping new improvements at the junction of a major route will not cause the same disruption as past works.
The firms at Faraday Mill in Cattedown claim to have suffered greatly during the last phase of the multi-million East End Transport Scheme, saying customers avoided the area due to the roadworks.
Plymouth City Council has now announced the second phase of improvements on the city's Eastern Corridor, starting on September 3, which will be carried out by Plymouth Transport and Highways.
It will include changes to the junction of Finnigan Road and Laira Bridge Road with the aim of improving traffic flow over Laira Bridge. The work also aims to provide better crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
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The council said the junction suffers from queuing traffic, particularly at peak times, there were no pedestrian signals and only narrow refuge islands.
To help reduce congestion and improve journey times for people travelling over Laira Bridge, the right hand turn from Laira Bridge Road into Finnigan Road will be removed which the council said would "significantly" reduce waiting time.
The work will also see new signal-controlled crossings to be installed across Finnigan Road and Laira Bridge Road, meaning pedestrians and cyclists can cross safely. Both crossings will link directly to the National Cycle Network route on Finnigan Road.
While access to the Faraday Mill industrial estate and other commercial areas in Cattedown will be maintained, traders say they hope they will not see the same effects to their business as the last phase of work.
Darren Wallace, of Plymouth Battery Centre Ltd, said: "The last set of works did cause us a lot of problems. On the months the road works happened we were down on previous years takings. We can't say for sure the roadworks were the cause, but people certainly got fed up with it. When we spoke to customers on the phone and we said, where we were based, it put them off a lot of the time.
"Hopefully the new works won't affect us too badly this time."
Rob Jones, managing director of Faraday Furnishings Ltd said the last phase of work saw a downturn in trade.
He said: "I just pray that it's not as bad as last time – but I don't think anything could be as bad as last time.
"Ironically, the road improvements, once you understand them, weren't that bad when they'd finished."
In an effort to reduce the disruption being drawn out programmed maintenance work on Laira Bridge will also be carried out at the same time.
This work, which aims to improve and prolong the life of the structure, includes re-waterproofing the bridge decking, replacing expansion joints, resurfacing the road and installing new lighting columns.
Councillor Mark Coker, cabinet member for transport said: "It's important that we improve traffic flow over and around Laira Bridge and reduce delays experienced by drivers.
"This is a vital artery into the city and we're committed to making improvements that help motorists get around. The work on the bridge has to be done now or its condition will deteriorate further, which will require even more repair work at greater expense. It makes sense to co-ordinate the junction improvements with the bridge maintenance so there is a single set of works and future disruption is kept to a minimum."
Comments
by Blue Parakeet Coaching
Monday, September 03 2012, 1:31PM
“It seems unbelievable that we've just had six weeks of school holidays when the traffic over the bridge was light, but the very week the schools are back and traffic becomes heavier, the road works start. Where is the planning in that?”
by University Bookseller
Tuesday, August 28 2012, 2:16PM
“Just a note...any new students for Plymouth university will be arriving the weekend after....NICE TIMMING”
by University Bookseller
Tuesday, August 28 2012, 2:16PM
“Just a note...any new students for Plymouth university will be arriving the weekend after....NICE TIMMING”
by shipmateron
Wednesday, August 22 2012, 2:50PM
“I could correct all of your spelling, grammar and punctuation but it would be mean. I think the last word should be with you though, "leave a little earlier" sums up the arrogance of the minority of cyclists who give all of them a bad name.”
by pilgrim592
Wednesday, August 22 2012, 5:27AM
“shipmateron
One spelling mistake made, care insread of are, like I said, I cant be as perfect as you. You quote one example of a cyclist holding up traffic going up a hill, how about the rest of Plymouth, to much traffic is what is the cause of congestion. And if you think you will be late for work, do what others do, as do I when I drive or cycle, leave a little earlier.
PS, If you drive better after a skinful, I hate to think what its like when your sober”
by cundengic
Tuesday, August 21 2012, 11:31PM
“PCC, don't forget the addition of average speed cameras on this upgraded and improved section - just to put the fun back into motoring!”
by shipmateron
Tuesday, August 21 2012, 7:42PM
“FYI mate I rarely drive these days as I'm usually over the limit (although FYI2 I drive even better after a skinfull). I'd like to see your evidence to back up your so called facts as I was under the impression that most cars do not cause congestion, but most bikes do. When did you last see a car doing 5mph up a steep hill in rush hour with a massive queue behind them of grown up people with family responsibilities just trying to get to work on time so they don't get fired or have to stay late to make the time up? Never, that's when. Being called thick by someone with such poor command of the Queen's English who clearly lives in a dream world is really rather faintly absurd.”
by pilgrim592
Tuesday, August 21 2012, 4:22PM
“To shipmateron are you so thick that you cant see we have congestion because of the increase in cars, not bikes, comments like yours care so childish, its obvious you have some growing up to do.
And istooshort, if have never seen a cyclist use a cycle lane, you had better stop driving now and go to Specsavers. I suppose the pair of you are the most considerate drivers in Plymouth, never breaking the speed limit or parking in the wrong place, it must be wonderful to be so perfect”
by 10thattempt
Tuesday, August 21 2012, 2:40PM
“The whole East End scheme looks like it was designed by a comittee, who sadly never all sat down at the same meeting.”
by olddogbreath
Tuesday, August 21 2012, 2:30PM
“There are people who work on behalf of the Council, travelling around in fluorescent clothes and hard hats, whose job seems to be to cause maximum congestion.
One of the objectives of these roadworks was to improve air quality. So far, this has not been achieved due to the length of time this has been in progress. Changing the light sequence would have the desired effect not this massive upheaval.
Still what do we know, democracy in action I think not.”