Taking the train might have been a solution
but not now rail fares could rise by 30%
Cllr Brian Rush has asked Peter Tebb, the PCC Network Team Manager to have a considered look at the Whittlesey Road/Pondersbridge Junction where the traffic has been backing up weekday evenings between 4.00/6.00pm, along the Stanground by-pass and Whittlesey Road into Stanground and to see if the Network Team can resolve the problem.
What follows is Peter Tebbs response to our Cllr. Brian Rush, but before you read it, if anyone does have an idea of how this can be resolved then Peter Tebb and his team would no doubt warmly welcome your suggestions!
It will not have escaped your notice that should the Dubai World Magna Park Rail Terminal development go ahead on Drysides - between Park Farm and the single track Railway line this little local difficulty will seem like nothing to the chaos hundreds of container trucks will cause....
Peter Tebbs writes:
I’ve had a look at the issue but can’t see a quick solution to the problem.
I suspect that the issue may have become more noticeable recently due to the ongoing closure of North Bank (until January 2011). Consequently there would be an expected increase in the volume of traffic using Whittlesey Road.
I would have expected the effects to have been more tidal; with the inbound flow increasing during the morning peak and correspondingly an increase in the flow toward Whittlesey in the evening peak.
The only reason I could think why the right turn manoeuvre takes longer is if there is an increase in traffic flowing towards Stanground during the evening as a result of the closure but I am unable to quantify this.
In terms of solutions there is insufficient road width to provide a right turn lane into the Pondersbridge Road which would have been relatively straightforward to implement.
One other potential solution would be to further investigate the provision of a mini-roundabout at this junction as the Pondersbridge Road has a wide entrance to it. This would give priority to the right turning traffic over that from Whittlesey and thus alleviate the tailbacks towards the bypass.
However the cost of this scheme would likely require capital funding, the level of which has already been reduced this year due to the government’s cutbacks.
Should the problem continue to exist once the North Bank re-opens then such a solution could be considered alongside other requests for next years capital program of works.
One other suggestion forwarded by a member of the public was to realign the road to Pondersbridge to join at the new roundabout at the end of the bypass. This however would not be feasible or possible because there is not sufficient space for a fourth arm to come off that roundabout on the southeast side.
Peter Tebb Network Team Manager Bridge House Tel 01733 453519Chris Harper on reading the above said... This is the reply I received to my concerns regarding the same issue.
The bypass and works in Stanham Way and at Junction 3A are being carried out by Persimmon Homes East Midlands as part of their obligation under S106 of the Town & Country Planning Act.
The works are being carried under a Section 278/38 (of the Highways Act 1980) Agreement with both PCC and CCC (as it affects both areas). The responsibility of all areas of work under this Agreement lays with Persimmon Homes East Midlands at present and will do so until the "provisional certificate" is issued by PCC.
At present the bypass, whilst looking virtually complete to most road users, is far from complete with an extensive snagging list. The Council has not issued the "provisional certificate" as the works are not yet complete.
Whilst the bypass has been open since November 2009, the external signage (directing vehicles via the bypass rather than via the old route) was installed relatively recently. This is likely to be one of the reasons that vehicles are still not using the bypass.
Another reason drivers (in particular non-local HGV's) may not be using the bypass is that it is not on SATNAV systems yet.
At present there is no restriction on HGV's using Whittlesey Road through Stanground, therefore no enforcement action can be taken against them. PCC carried out a traffic survey (HGV's) in Whittlesey Road prior to the opening of the bypass. Another will be carried out post completion of the bypass to establish whether a 7.5 tonne weight restriction needs to be implemented along Whittlesey Road.
This is likely to be sometime yet given the extensive snagging works required and the fact that the Stage 3 Safety Audit is yet to be completed. My view on this is that HGV's will still be found using the old route and therefore a weight restriction will be necessary. If this is the case then PCC will carry out a public consultation and implement if no objections received. (If objections are received then these will have to be considered by our Head of Service and decision made).
Looking forward, we will carry out another traffic survey (on HGV's) once the bypass is considered fully complete. Following this, if it is found that a weight restriction is necessary along Whittlesey Road, then we will carry out a public consultation for the Traffic Regulation Order and implement it.
This will then be monitored (normally by the amount of complaints followed by some site visits) to ensure HGV's are obeying the restriction. If HGV's are found to be ignoring the restriction then enforcement action will be taken.
The suggestion made regarding moving the access road to Pondersbridge to join at the new roundabout would not be feasible or possible (there is not sufficient space for a fourth arm to come off that roundabout on the southeast side). However, if the inland port came forward it is likely that a roundabout junction would be required which would need to include the access road to Pondersbridge.
The officers also wished me to stress that they sympathise with you and the other residents of Stanground. Whilst we appreciate the frustration, we hope that in the not too distant future Stanground Bypass will be completed, Northbank will re-open, Stanground will be put on SATNAV and a weight restriction will be installed on Whittlesey Road (if found necessary). All of this should decrease the traffic using Whittlesey Road through Stanground in the long run, improving the quality of life for residents living there. END
(C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Peterborough UK Tel: 01733 345581 Broadcasters direct call ISDN 'down the line' 01733 555319 Codecs G722 & APT All Press Enquiries Julian Bray 01733 345581
This is the reply I received to my concerns regarding the same issue.
ReplyDeleteThe bypass and works in Stanham Way and at Junction 3A are being carried out by Persimmon Homes East Midlands as part of their obligation under S106 of the Town & Country Planning Act. The works are being carried under a Section 278/38 (of the Highways Act 1980) Agreement with both PCC and CCC (as it affects both areas). The responsibility of all areas of work under this Agreement lays with Persimmon Homes East Midlands at present and will do so until the "provisional certificate" is issued by PCC.
At present the bypass, whilst looking virtually complete to most road users, is far from complete with an extensive snagging list. The Council has not issued the "provisional certificate" as the works are not yet complete.
Whilst the bypass has been open since November 2009, the external signage (directing vehicles via the bypass rather than via the old route) was installed relatively recently. This is likely to be one of the reasons that vehicles are still not using the bypass.
Another reason drivers (in particular non-local HGV's) may not be using the bypass is that it is not on SATNAV systems yet.
At present there is no restriction on HGV's using Whittlesey Road through Stanground, therefore no enforcement action can be taken against them.
PCC carried out a traffic survey (HGV's) in Whittlesey Road prior to the opening of the bypass. Another will be carried out post completion of the bypass to establish whether a 7.5 tonne weight restriction needs to be implemented along Whittlesey Road. This is likely to be sometime yet given the extensive snagging works required and the fact that the Stage 3 Safety Audit is yet to be completed. My view on this is that HGV's will still be found using the old route and therefore a weight restriction will be necessary. If this is the case then PCC will carry out a public consultation and implement if no objections received. (If objections are received then these will have to be considered by our Head of Service and decision made).
Looking forward, we will carry out another traffic survey (on HGV's) once the bypass is considered fully complete. Following this, if it is found that a weight restriction is necessary along Whittlesey Road, then we will carry out a public consultation for the Traffic Regulation Order and implement it. This will then be monitored (normally by the amount of complaints followed by some site visits) to ensure HGV's are obeying the restriction. If HGV's are found to be ignoring the restriction then enforcement action will be taken.
The suggestion made regarding moving the access road to Pondersbridge to join at the new roundabout would not be feasible or possible (there is not sufficient space for a fourth arm to come off that roundabout on the southeast side). However, if the inland port came forward it is likely that a roundabout junction would be required which would need to include the access road to Pondersbridge.
The officers also wished me to stress that they sympathise with you and the other residents of Stanground. Whilst we appreciate the frustration, we hope that in the not too distant future Stanground Bypass will be completed, Northbank will re-open, Stanground will be put on SATNAV and a weight restriction will be installed on Whittlesey Road (if found necessary). All of this should decrease the traffic using Whittlesey Road through Stanground in the long run, improving the quality of life for residents living there.