Extensive southbound queues have built up on the A339 through Newbury today. This heralds the start of extensive roadworks to improve traffic flow on the Sainsbury's Roundabout.

Er... why don't they just switch the lights off?

Northbound queues as well.

I thought they were supposed to be doing this overnight? or at least between 7.00pm and midnight.

If drivers in the right hand lane could filter into the left lane and the drivers would let them in alternately the back up wouldn't extend so far back towards th RH roundabout. But then of course we have those knights of the road, HGV drivers who deliberately block the right hand lane for the length of the dual carriageway. That said though, it only took about five minutes to traverse it this afternoon so no real stress.

Fuckwit & Fuckwit at WBC have allowed the road to be coned off by 18.30 whilst there is still rush hour traffic about.

What complete clowns - bring on the redundancies!!!!!

Quoted from Nobby

Fuckwit & Fuckwit at WBC have allowed the road to be coned off by 18.30 whilst there is still rush hour traffic about.

What complete clowns - bring on the redundancies!!!!!

Why is it that everytime West Berks decide to do some roadworks that they create complete chaos.

Biggest load of tossers on the planet. How many more years are we going to tolerate these incompetent ***holes destroying our town?

Quoted from Archie

Why is it that everytime West Berks decide to do some roadworks that they create complete chaos.

Biggest load of tossers on the planet. How many more years are we going to tolerate these incompetent ***holes destroying our town?

How do you suggest roadworks are carried out?

Quoted from 78

How do you suggest roadworks are carried out?

Aren't these works just to improve flows through a roundabout that was fine before WBC put lights there?

The contractor started the job before they were meant to.

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=14286

Quoted from 26

Aren't these works just to improve flows through a roundabout that was fine before WBC put lights there?

I have been advised that they are resurfacing, improving the lane markings and installing a more intelligent traffic light controller similar to the one on the Robin Hood Gyratory.

They can't remove the lights now because of the pedestrian crossing on the southside which also doubles as a cycle route into the town centre.

I did hear a rumour last night that Sainbury's weren't very happy because nobody could get to them and those that were there before the roadworks started couldn't get home.

It took me one hour and five minutes to get from Long Lane to Andover Road. Via Robin Hood, A4, Hambridge Road, Boundary Road, Pyle Hill, Pinchington Lane, Monks Lane. I would have crossed into the town from the Robin Hood but there were 2 rather large lorries blocking that route and not moving. I didn't expect to find a queue of traffic starting at the Stryker building in Hambridge Road.

Quoted from 26

Aren't these works just to improve flows through a roundabout that was fine before WBC put lights there?

Fine for those going N-S, & S-N, not so good for those going E-W & W-E.

Quoted from BrianB

I have been advised that they are resurfacing, improving the lane markings and installing a more intelligent traffic light controller similar to the one on the Robin Hood Gyratory.

Do you mean the lights that are often failing at inopportune times.

Quoted from Archie

Why is it that everytime West Berks decide to do some roadworks that they create complete chaos.

Biggest load of tossers on the planet. How many more years are we going to tolerate these incompetent ***holes destroying our town?

If you think two lanes of queued traffic for half a mile is "complete chaos" you've lived a very sheltered life!

Also seems bizarre that you think them fixing the roads is "destroying our town".

As a previous poster said, how do you suggest they carry out roadworks or do you think they should do nothing and then get moaned at for that too?

Quoted from user23.3

Also seems bizarre that you think them fixing the roads is "destroying our town".

?

I think he meant destroys the town's image. Who would want to come to shop in Newbury when the traffic is like that?

Quoted from dodgy

I think he meant destroys the town's image. Who would want to come to shop in Newbury when the traffic is like that?

How many shops are open at 7pm when the roadworks start?

Quoted from user23.3

As a previous poster said, how do you suggest they carry out roadworks or do you think they should do nothing and then get moaned at for that too?

No but at least make sure your contractor knows when he is allowed to do the work before he starts!!

Quoted from user23.3

How many shops are open at 7pm when the roadworks start?

That's another problem Newbury town has (I don't blame the councils BTW)!

Quoted from BrianB

I did hear a rumour last night that Sainbury's weren't very happy because nobody could get to them and those that were there before the roadworks started couldn't get home.

That's true, on Sunday afternoon the duty manager wasn't too happy that they'd started early(I work there).

Quoted from user23.3

How many shops are open at 7pm when the roadworks start?

Once again WBC employees completely miss the point!

I don't think anyone has complained that works are taking place between 7pm and midnight - only that they were taking part outside of these agreed hours.

Quoted from jamoza

That's true, on Sunday afternoon the duty manager wasn't too happy that they'd started early(I work there).

I don't think they have started early have they?

They might have coned of the road in preparation before hand but I assume they started on time agreed with local residents?

Seems like decent planning to me, to make sure the area is coned of in preparation for work prior to starting.

Quoted from user23.3

I don't think they have started early have they?

They might have coned of the road in preparation before hand but I assume they started on time agreed with local residents?

Seems like decent planning to me, to make sure the area is coned of in preparation for work prior to starting.

Several contributors here seem to think that you work for West Berks. Judging by some of the drivel that you come out with at times, I think they must be correct. The work was due to start at 7.00pm on Sunday (15th). The story first appeared on this site at 1:52pm on August 15, 2010. This is at least 5 hours early and the photograph must have been taken earlier than that.

Probably the man from West Berks who is supposed to be supervising the job had nipped off to the coast for the day, or I suppose he could have arrived at 7.00pm when the chaos had already been caused.

Quoted from Archie

The story first appeared on this site at 1:52pm on August 15, 2010. This is at least 5 hours early and the photograph must have been taken earlier than that.

The photograph was taken at 12:53 on Sunday. I had a call from one of the local driving schools, complaining that he had been stuck in the traffic for over an hour prior to this and had to cancel his next lesson because of it.

The Environmental Health (at West Berks)  would not allow the contractors to work beyond midnight because of the noise problems for residents in Mill Lane and Kings Road. In consequence the contractors are obviously working to very tight deadlines and are/were looking for ways to stay on target for their completion date of 27th August (before the Bank Holiday).

Quoted from user23.3

I don't think they have started early have they?

They might have coned of the road in preparation before hand but I assume they started on time agreed with local residents?

Seems like decent planning to me, to make sure the area is coned of in preparation for work prior to starting.

They had started early! At about 1pm I could clearly see a digger, doing guess what... digging!

Quoted from dodgy

I think he meant destroys the town's image. Who would want to come to shop in Newbury when the traffic is like that?

A couple of hours of traffic destroys a town's image?

Quoted from 78

A couple of hours of traffic destroys a town's image?

If it is a "one off" then it is not a problem.

Unfortunately this type of situation does occur on a regular basis in Newbury. There is only one route through the town and any roadworks, no matter how trivial do tend to cause extensive holdups.

A simple sign at the junction of the A34 with the A339 could have averted much of this particular problem for southbound traffic at least by diverting it down the by-pass.

Quoted from user23.3

I don't think they have started early have they?

They might have coned of the road in preparation before hand but I assume they started on time agreed with local residents?

Seems like decent planning to me, to make sure the area is coned of in preparation for work prior to starting.

Is this really WBC thinking - lets close off the road or part of it, as long as we don't start working for another hour it is OK.

You had better hope you aren't on the redundancy list User - you will struggle in the real world!

Here's a post with someone moaning about the council's roadworks department apparently delaying work until the designated date it was supposed to happen.

http://www.newbury.net/forum/m-1279636775/s-4/highlight-bartholomew/#num4

If they ever read this forum I'm sure this and the often seen "we need our roads fixed, why aren't they doing anything" followed by "it's traffic chaos, they're digging up the roads" would make them chuckle to themselves about the fickle and contrary opinions expressed. I guess that's the nature of the medium and why one shouldn't take it too seriously.

Quoted from user23.3

Here's a post with someone moaning about the council's roadworks department delaying work until the designated date it was supposed to happen.

http://www.newbury.net/forum/m-1279636775/s-4/highlight-bartholomew/#num4

If they ever read this forum I'm sure this and the often seen "we need our roads fixed, why aren't they doing anything" followed by "it's traffic chaos, they're digging up the roads" would make them chuckle to themselves about the fickle and contrary opinions expressed. I guess that's the nature of the medium and why one shouldn't take it too seriously.

Are you saying that WBC don't take the public's opinion seriously - that explains a lot!!

Last night (Wednesday), there were drivers doing 3 point turns in the one way section of Kings Road, driving the wrong way back down a one way street and then turning into Boundary Road.

Quoted from BrianB

Last night (Wednesday), there were drivers doing 3 point turns in the one way section of Kings Road, driving the wrong way back down a one way street and then turning into Boundary Road.

Hardly surprising. I was stuck 15 minutes. Didn't move an inch. The lights were being operated manually & the two chaps pressing the buttons seemed to have forgotten about the cars coming from Sainsbury's. Add to the fact that when coming down Bear Lane the done thing was to ignore the lights & if you did stop on the Red you were honked by the cars behind!
Sainsbury was empty - they must be losing a fortune.  

Dont tell me "they" are gonna do this on a Friday?

Quoted from 78

Fine for those going N-S, & S-N, not so good for those going E-W & W-E.

I've heard that said, but whenever I've seen those lights out of action  I've seen no queues at all. Plenty of traffic turns into town or Sainsbury's which should give plenty of opportunity to go east west.

ADMIN: "This heralds the start of extensive roadworks to improve traffic flow on the Sainsbury's Roundabout."

I cannot see how this is "extensive". All they have done is a bit of road re-surfacing, and a few clearer road markings.
Now I know what lane to be in to go from Kings Road into Bear Lane - nothing much else has changed.

So why has it taken so long to complete, and was all the disruption to traffic for little return, worth it?
Has anyone seen any major improvement to traffic flow on the roundabout?
Has there been any alteration to traffic light sequences to assist traffic flow?

Personally, I see no improvement other than some clearer markings, which may aleviate a little road rage against those who were in the wrong lanes beforehand!

Quoted from LocalRes

Personally, I see no improvement other than some clearer markings, which may aleviate a little road rage against those who were in the wrong lanes beforehand!

Or actually create some road rage!

Maybe, but that wasn't one of the questions!

If "Forum Rage" is anything to go by, then it doesn't take new white lines to instigate it!