Tarpots traffic turmoil seems to be at an end (From Echo)
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Tarpots traffic turmoil seems to be at an end
3:50pm Wednesday 27th June 2012 in Castle Point By Jacqueline McMillan
Running smoothly – there is no sign of congestion now the traffic lights are working
MOTORISTS and traders breathed a collective sigh of relief as traffic chaos at a busy Benfleet intersection now appears to be at an end.
Drivers suffered huge tailbacks last Friday as new traffic lights at Tarpots roundabout, linking London Road, High Road and Rushbottom Lane, in Benfleet, were finally bought online after weeks of delays.
The £120,000 roadworks scheme, which has seen the removal of the infamous double mini roundabouts, began in March and were due to last seven weeks, but did not become operational until last week. Queues extended as far back as Basildon on the Southend-bound A13 on Friday after the lights were switched on, and residents reported heavy congestion through the area all weekend.
However, traffic along London Road appeared to ease during yesterday morning’s rush hour.
One woman, who works at Tarpots Newsagents, but did not want to be named, said: “Everything seems to have been running fine today.
“It’s not been too bad at all. It was really clear all morning, which is good news for us because it has been really bad in the last few weeks.”
James Millard, 31, who works at JD Cycles, on the Tarpots junction, said: “It has been a bit quiet up here, everything appeared to be moving well enough, but you just don’t know if that is because people are still avoiding the area.”
However, motorists still experienced some queuing in High Road, claiming the traffic lights made it more difficult for drivers trying to turn left towards Sadlers Farm.
A 45-year-old motorist, of High Road, Benfleet, who did not want to be named, said: “Everything seems to be working alright along London Road, which is great for them, but if you live in High Road it’s still terrible. The queues were quite long this morning.
“Some people have even been using the Tesco car park as a cut through to avoid the traffic lights completely, which cannot be very safe. I suppose we just have to give them time to get the lights properly phased and timed, hopefully it will be better after that.”
Works at the junction overran due to a gas leak, a separate water leak and the knock-on effect after delays to the Sadlers Farm roadworks, which are being conducted by the same contractor, Birse.
Comments(19)
news4us
says...
4:15pm Wed 27 Jun 12
Kimmietee3
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4:24pm Wed 27 Jun 12
Kimmietee3
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4:24pm Wed 27 Jun 12
yellowfairy
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5:07pm Wed 27 Jun 12
it is reported that it might not be ready for the Olympics. Lie after lie after lie we have been told. Do they really think were as thick as they are, we knew months ago when councillors were spouting off and telling boasting that it would not be finished they are living in a land of make believe.They live under their title but wont help the ordinary man. The sufferance of motorists, business and the community mean nothing to them It proves what rubbish the Castle point "councillors" are they spend £50,000 on a crappy Olympic sculpture. But our roads are full of pot holes. They haven't got a clue.
yellowfairy
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5:12pm Wed 27 Jun 12
yellowfairy wrote:What i meant to have said was what a lot of nonsense THIS story is, because of the front page of this evenings echo.
What a load of nonsense on the front page of tonight's Echo 27/06.12
it is reported that it might not be ready for the Olympics. Lie after lie after lie we have been told. Do they really think were as thick as they are, we knew months ago when councillors were spouting off and telling boasting that it would not be finished they are living in a land of make believe.They live under their title but wont help the ordinary man. The sufferance of motorists, business and the community mean nothing to them It proves what rubbish the Castle point "councillors" are they spend £50,000 on a crappy Olympic sculpture. But our roads are full of pot holes. They haven't got a clue.
GentleGiant
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6:52pm Wed 27 Jun 12
Already the person in charge ran away because it was so bad.
There are still queues at Tarpots, so things are still no better.
Bear in mind that with the mini roundabouts there were rarely queues anyway.
Bosniavet
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9:44pm Wed 27 Jun 12
Dan223
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10:10pm Wed 27 Jun 12
It's just caused a nightmare for anyone using these roads while it was being completed, and now the roads are worse or no better than they were prior to the works.
mikepaterson
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10:14pm Wed 27 Jun 12
BMNO6
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10:33pm Wed 27 Jun 12
bob7
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12:57am Thu 28 Jun 12
Ian P
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7:21am Thu 28 Jun 12
In addition we still have two light controlled crossings within 50yds each side of the junction. These need to be phased with the main junction lights, rather than working independantly. In other words pedestrians should only be allowed to cross when the junction lights are on red. This would facilitate a smother traffic flow through the junction.
bob7
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8:26am Thu 28 Jun 12
Russ13
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9:08am Thu 28 Jun 12
It took a few weeks for the traffic lights to sync up and "learn" the best phasing but they seem to be working very well now.
I know the residents of Benfleet have had it very tough over the last couple of years with all the roadworks but I'm sure in a few weeks time I'm sure things will settle down.
Also, once Sadlers is resurfaced I'm sure they improve the road markings.
nicknows
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9:58am Thu 28 Jun 12
Going to Hornchurch tonight but think I will go home via Rayleigh Weir unless anyone knows of a quicker route!
Thecountrysgonetopot!
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12:07pm Thu 28 Jun 12
Russ13 wrote:I really am hoping the same thing, but i personally dont know how much more i can take. I am living with family in Benfleet and had been thinking about buying a house in the area next year but unfortunately this put me off. I am sure there are many other people who have felt the same.
Remember seeing very similar posts about Progress Road, Cookoo Corner and the Victoria Gateway when those junctions first opened. It took a few weeks for the traffic lights to sync up and "learn" the best phasing but they seem to be working very well now. I know the residents of Benfleet have had it very tough over the last couple of years with all the roadworks but I'm sure in a few weeks time I'm sure things will settle down. Also, once Sadlers is resurfaced I'm sure they improve the road markings.
If i could i would have moved away from the area months ago due to all this which is such a shame as i love Benfleet.
Barbara A
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4:42pm Thu 28 Jun 12
bob7 wrote:It took me three hours to get from Tesco to Tarpots last night!
Absolute chaos tonight around Sadlers. At one point I wasn't even allowed to go down London Road even though I live there! Police in the cones, three police Volvos parked up. Accident????? or something else. Didn't get home from work until nearly midnight, only 50 minutes late.
bob7
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6:20pm Thu 28 Jun 12
Barbara A wrote:I really sympathise with you. Makes you not want to go home some nights. According to the traffic report I saw about midnight, it was traffic light failure. I hope it is better tonight.
bob7 wrote:It took me three hours to get from Tesco to Tarpots last night!
Absolute chaos tonight around Sadlers. At one point I wasn't even allowed to go down London Road even though I live there! Police in the cones, three police Volvos parked up. Accident????? or something else. Didn't get home from work until nearly midnight, only 50 minutes late.
Thecountrysgonetopot! says...
4:00pm Wed 27 Jun 12