Parkway Bridge closed forever (for the ordinary motorist)
Park Way Bridge will be closed to all traffic from today (March 7th). It will reopen in the autumn but for buses and taxis only.
From today, March 7th 2011, Park Way Bridge will be closed to allow the construction of the new road for the Parkway Shopping Centre. It will reopen in the autumn, but for buses and taxis only. The bridge has been an arterial route for southbound traffic since the Second World War. Traffic will now be expected to join the increasing congestion on the A339 for all journies during the hours of pedestrianisation. To alleviate traffic jams during the evening rush hour, the hours of pedestrianisation will be changing to finish at 5.00pm instead of 6.00pm from Thursday March 17th. This move is also expected to ease the horrendous traffic hold-ups in the Wharf, where some motorists have been stuck in queues for nearly 30 minutes during busy periods. Traffic on the A339 is increasing at an alarming rate, as more and more heavy lorries are starting to use the route through Newbury as a short cut between the M3 and M4. The situation will obviously get worse if the Racecourse development is allowed to go ahead, without the construction of the proposed railway bridge in Hambridge Road. The construction of new tower blocks in Kings Road, would also increase congestion on the Sainsbury's Roundabout.
We often see debates about the traffic problems in Newbury, but what would each poster suggest to relieve some of the pressure on Central Newbury. I saw mention of a interchange with the A34 at the Enborne Road, is that viable? What about an Eastern relief Road, from the East of Thatcham around the southern part of Greenham Common and connecting with the A34 south of Newbury? An elected member previously suggested a ring road. What would you do if money wasn't an issue, and what do you think should be done with the limited financial resources available?
Some people like to talk of a 'Park & Ride' as if that would solve all traffic ills. I'd like the idea as as it would free some of the congestion and allow ME to drive into town (but I wouldn't use it myself and I suspect few others would either in truth) And where would one go?
We often see debates about the traffic problems in Newbury, but what would each poster suggest to relieve some of the pressure on Central Newbury. I saw mention of a interchange with the A34 at the Enborne Road, is that viable? What about an Eastern relief Road, from the East of Thatcham around the southern part of Greenham Common and connecting with the A34 south of Newbury? An elected member previously suggested a ring road. What would you do if money wasn't an issue, and what do you think should be done with the limited financial resources available?
An Enborne Road junction would help a little but the heavy traffic issue is about traffic coming through town going between Basingstoke and the M4. Plus, of course, heavy traffic from Greenham Common's increasingly busy industrial area. An eastern bypass would move this traffic out of town and also take traffic between Thatcham and the A34 at Tot Hill. A ring road would be completed by a road along the county boundary between the Swan roundabout an the A34 at Wash Common/Highclere - this alone would take a lot of Basingstoke/Greenham traffic out of town (could even get the Sandleford developers to pay for a lot of it).
A low cost solution to the Basingstoke traffic problem would be to impose a weight limit on the A339 - forcing heavy traffic to use the A303/A34 route.
Another idea would be to make the A339 through Newbury a toll road (with free passes for local residents), I believe councils are allowed to charge congestion fees these days? At least we'd get some income from those still determined to come through town (and from all those WBC and Vodafone employees commuting in from their distant homes).
A low cost solution to the Basingstoke traffic problem would be to impose a weight limit on the A339 - forcing heavy traffic to use the A303/A34 route.
Didn't Basingtoke & Dean Council try to introduce a weight restriction on the A339 through Headley (and therefore on the north approach to Basingstoke) as a kneejerk to the proposed Prologis site being located at Greenham Park? ... It wasn't successful...
Another idea would be to make the A339 through Newbury a toll road (with free passes for local residents),
A bad idea for numerous reasons but for a start.. you think rat-running is bad just now, just wait till something like that was considered!!(it would never get introduced anyhow)
Didn't Basingtoke & Dean Council try to introduce a weight restriction on the A339 through Headley (and therefore on the north approach to Basingstoke) as a kneejerk to the proposed Prologis site being located at Greenham Park? ... It wasn't successful...
Ah, but there is a reason B & D BC were against the Sainsbury depot. The Greenham warehouse was intended to replace the current Sainsbury depot in Houndmills Basingstoke. Trucks delivering & carry goods from it have been using the A339, through Headley for over 30 years. Odd that B & D BC should suddenly wish to impose a weight ban.................
Ah, but there is a reason B & D BC were against the Sainsbury depot. The Greenham warehouse was intended to replace the current Sainsbury depot in Houndmills Basingstoke. Trucks delivering & carry goods from it have been using the A339, through Headley for over 30 years. Odd that B & D BC should suddenly wish to impose a weight ban.................
I still would still wish for there to be a weight limit, even if the council's motives were not for altruistic reasons.
Right through Crookham Common? Strange from the bloke who has been campaigning about keeping green spaces.
Certainly worth looking into Brian? Where it cuts across the green at the eastern end of the racecourse would be an ideal site for the new pigeon loft Pavilion. Plenty of road access and it would leave a green space in the center of Newbury IE Victoria Park that they want to concrete over?
Right through Crookham Common? Strange from the bloke who has been campaigning about keeping green spaces.
Quite right, if anybody proposed it I would probably be against it. It is hypothetical anyway but it would skirt the edge of Crookham Common and across the end of Greenham Common rather than going through the middle as you suggest. I'm not looking for a full blown motorway by the way, just a link road but capable of taking the Thatcham to Basingstoke M3 traffic.
Maybe the link could be further East but would need a new rail bridge at Colthrop. Money was no object so would that work ?
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