News

Winnersh Triangle traffic lights cause chaos

March 02, 2010

New traffic lights at Winnersh Triangle's junction with the A329M have been dubbed a "laughing stock" by a commuter.

Around 10 new sets of lights have been introduced within just a few hundred yards near where a business park is being redeveloped to provide hundreds of new jobs.

The new lights have been funded by Winnersh Triangle business park owner Segro, however have proved unpopular with drivers.

Reading Post sports editor-at-large Dave Wright said: “Traffic lights have shot up all round the area, some just a few yards apart, where only two cars or one lorry or bus can cross from one green light before being stopped by a red.

“It has always been a busy junction particularly at rush hour but it has now become a whole lot worse.

“Traffic flowed much easier when it just roundabouts and even when construction work was being carried out it was easier to weave your way through the cones.

“But now cars, have to sit and wait on red, even though there are no other approaching vehicles to be seen.”

What do you think of the new traffic lights? Do you think there are too many? Let us know your thoughts.

| Submit Comments | View Comments (51)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

Most recent user comments 15 of 51

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Next Page Show 15 | 25 | 50 per page

I now prefer to drive through the housing estate down Baghdad road er sorry Colemansmoor road. I have ruined several tyres this winter in the pot holes caused by empty double decker buses. Thanks WBC!

al fresc0
18/03/2010 at 19:12

There are too many traffic lights I agree. I use ths route during rush hours and though it's made my journeys from Woodley to Bracknell longer, it's cut down some considerable time on the way back. The new road layout means I spend about 5-10 mins on the Bader way before turning into A329M. But there's no more queueing up on the way back on A329M while taking the Winnersh Triangle exit for Woodley.

m b
18/03/2010 at 14:24

I agree.I usually use this junction non rush hour,I have never had a problem until the new lights, whoever designed the layout is totally useless.I doubt that he /she uses them on a regular basis.

anne yousif, reading
09/03/2010 at 18:33

I agree with most of the other people here. I regularly use the junction at off-peak times and the new lights are a complete nightmare. They create congestion out of nowhere and cause the traffic to ‘bunch’ as it passes through the junction. Putting lights on the roundabout on the Woodley side is madness and I’m often left sitting at a red light at an empty roundabout. If, as Cllr Baker suggests, the lights will be needed some time in the future, why are they turned on now? They really need to be changed to peak time only, or (even better) turned off now.

neil berkshire, Berks
08/03/2010 at 20:03

These lights are a waste of cash, a waste of time, and have a severe impact on our carbon footprint .. just think of all the fumes we are burning being stuck in this traffic!

It took me, on the 1st March, 15 minutes from the M4 to A329 Winnersh junction and then another 40 minutes to navigate the 3 sets of lights, where no one knew which lane they should be in .. many people even went into the business park and did a u-turn to try and beat the traffic.

These lights should be PEAK TIME only, for an hour each day, and never on at weekends. They are just not needed. The traffic chaos is so much worse than before and I didn't think that could ever be possible.

Just think of the impact this is now having on other routes, the traffic going towards Wokingham Town Centre will now be increased and people find alternative routes to avoid this farce!

sleekpeek
08/03/2010 at 08:48

Those of you complaining how your tax money would have been better spent, read the article!

"The new lights have been funded by Winnersh Triangle business park owner Segro"

This means it hasn't cost the taxpayer anything!

CMA
05/03/2010 at 12:58

Lets hope some of this gets back to WBC and they start to think about the F*** *P they have made …………………oh look a pig flying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And we can sit watching it circle for ages, whilst stuck at these lights………….

OLDMAN!, Reading
05/03/2010 at 08:50

The new road layout and trafiic lights at Winnesh Triangle are an absolute waste of money. The money would have been better spent builiding flood defences at the park and ride! The new system has slowed everything down so how on earth will it cope with project increase in traffic volume. The layout seems to be designed more for traffic heading towards and from the Triange and not the M4 when surely at rush hours more traffic is using the M4 access lanes. It is an absolute disaster or maybe it was done to persuade traffic to avoid the junction!

Graham Clough
04/03/2010 at 12:10

There have been a number of serious, and occasionally fatal accidents on the A329M/Winnersh Triangle this winter. These have inevitably been caused by the sheer frustration, and ultimately impatience, of motorists being stuck in traffic jams, sometimes in excess of one hour, caused by the roadworks at Winnersh combined with works at the M4 Junction 11. Secondly, has anyone counted the cost to industry and commerce of these works, resulting in thousands of people arriving later for work, and leaving earlier in order to get home to meet family commitments. Whoever allowed the road works at Junction 11 and the Winnersh Triangle works to be carried out at the same time.....and now the M4 roadworks between J10 and J8/9..... and the ridiculous traffic lights...., should hang their heads in shame and need to be held accountable. Will the councillors tell the public who made the decisions that would cause so much traffic disruption, and who will attempt to defend them

Bill F
04/03/2010 at 11:02

Doug - You must have had time to count the traffic lights.

Rosebudd, Woodley
04/03/2010 at 08:13

I came along this route from Woodley at about 11.30pm and could not believe my eyes at the amount of traffic lights. With no cars in sight I sat at Red on one set of traffic lights at the first roundabout they eventually went to Green only for the next set, actually ON THE ROUNDABOUT to immediatel go to RED. This is not traffic management this is utter chaos. To have this amount of traffic lights on timed lights at night is madness.

Doug Eversley, Eversley
03/03/2010 at 17:13

i think the idiot or idiots that designed this layout should be named and shamed.i wonder how much this has cost the local taxpayer.

right said fred
03/03/2010 at 17:12

On Tuesday morning (8:15am).. it took me 45 minutes to get from the Woosehill Roundabout to the Winnersh (Sainsburys) crossroads... because of these stupid lights at Winnersh Triangle... I only wanted to turn right into Robin Hood to go to Twyford.. why should my journey suffer like this? These crazy lights have had a knock on effect not just to those that want to visit the buisness park, but also those people that want to get on the motorways, local schools, shops etc... Another pointless exercise in wasting huge amounts of money...

joe strummer
03/03/2010 at 15:15

I travel onto the A329 (M) to get to the M4 every morning at rush hour. I live in Woodley and the shortest distance is to use Bader Way. I was hoping that the restructuring would mean I could actually go the shortest route to work....but no! I travel under Loddon Bridge and past the cinema. It is quicker for me to drive a mile further. Due to poor road layouts, I pay to drive two extra miles a day. The lights are a farce and I am not getting home any quicker than I was before the whole redevelopment started. Meanwhile my road has a potential tyre-puncturing chasm in it (which has been reported several times), still unfilled. The council is a joke!

Chris B, Woodley
03/03/2010 at 14:38

I have to say im fairly convinced by the notion that this sort of thing is semi deliberate- block traffic flows so congestion zones can be brought in. Worth bearing in mind as more of these changes are brought about. Yet still hundreds of pot holes and poorly surfaced roads remain. Would be nice if the council fixed or MAINTAINED the things already in existance rather than endorse flashy new schemes all the time.