Just been on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire talking about the complete and utter horlicks that is the A142 roundabout works at Ely.
Massive traffic jams mean short journeys such as Witchford to Ely taking 45-50 minutes, at a time when people are trying to get to work, perhaps for the first time since lockdown in this currently fragile economy. Signage isn’t all it could be. And there’s been totally inadequate communication with residents or local communities—it’s no wonder people are livid.
I’ve written to the County Council’s Assistant Director to ask him to review working methods to try to relieve the jams; to look at better signage; and to communicate and engage properly with neighbours and communities, particularly those affected by unusual volumes of traffic cutting along rural roads to avoid the worst of the bottleneck.
I’ve also written to the relevant Director to ask him to review the communication and impacts of these works.
Surprisingly, absolutely no-one from the County Council’s administration was free to go on the radio and talk about it, not even those most enthusiastically promoting the scheme.
Hi Lorna, since the start of the roadworks a few days ago the roads around Coveney have become a rat run. Unfortunately most of the roads in and out of the village were built as farm access in WWII and are not suitable for the amount and type of traffic they are getting today.
Most have stretches that are single track with passing passes – a concept that many drivers who don’t use these road regularily, are not familiar with. So some just ignore them and expect other drivers coming towards them to move over.
The situation will only get worse once harvest starts and even more farm vehicles, some of them being huge, will have to use the local roads.
Can I therefore suggest that CCC Highways places some signs at the A10 and A142 ends of the roads leading to Coveney pointing this out ? Something like “Single track road with passing places” – “Please make use of passing places”.
“Drive carefully. Uneven Road” with bumpy road sign might also be useful.
Thanks
Doris
In addition the number of drivers speeding through the village has shot up – I flagged 2 down this morning within 5 minutes of each other !
Would it be possible to have some temporary speed cameras put up ? There are young children about and animals, it’s an accident waiting to happen !
Doris, I’ve been in contact with the County Council highways officers who are now (belatedly) in discussion with relevant parish councils about managing the cut-through traffic.
It has today taken me 50 minutes from Lancaster Way roundabout to the traffic lights at the BP roundabout. It is blatantly clear that the lights are set to favour traffic from each side of the A10 rather than from the A142 (bizarre as the works came about primarily to reduce congestion on this particular route) as during my return journey there was only a 3 minute delay at the lights coming from The Hive direction. I live in Witchford and Grunty Fen is getting ridiculously busy with Witchford now becoming a cut through, the junction of Grunty Fen with the A10 is now very busy and dangerous, turning right is nigh on impossible with the amount of traffic turning into Grunty Fen from Ely. I feel trapped in my village and cannot believe it is due to continue until November! When the schools go back it will be chaos! It’s quicker for me to go to Chatteris or St Ives for shopping or errands.
Typical council disaster. Nothing will be done about this shambles. Just have to avoid the area as much as possible.
Awful roads in the area which need repair go untouched, while a perfectly good roundabout causes major frustration for people.
Nothing new and will happen again!