News

View gallery (total of 2 images)
advertisement

Drivers rap 'over-the-top' Winnersh traffic lights

By Victoria Corbett
March 08, 2010

Dozens of new traffic lights have sprung up within a few yards of each other in Winnersh Triangle, prompting drivers to label the new system a “laughing stock”.

Drivers turning off the A329M or coming from Earley, Winnersh or Woodley face a minimum of three new sets of traffic lights before they can continue their journey.

The new lights have been placed at three roundabouts in Wharfedale Road, Eskdale Road and Bader Way as part of a £5 million investment in roads by SEGRO, the firm behind the multi-million pound development at Winnersh Triangle business park.

Winnersh Triangle traffic lights cause chaos

One commuter reckons there are now 60 lights around Winnersh Triangle, including at the Showcase Cinema roundabout.

TC, from Woodley, wrote of the lights: “Not only did I get caught at each of the three new sets of traffic lights at Winnersh Triangle, but it was 2.30am and there wasn’t another car in sight.

“Why, I might ask, are they on all night, and why for goodness’ sake can’t they change on demand rather than be on timers?”

Dozens of people have complained about the new lights on this website, with one commentator saying the lights are Wokingham’s way of annoying Reading drivers.

Dave Wright, sports editor-at-large for the Reading Post, travels from Woodley to Reading for work each day.

He 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 was 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.”

PR consultant Phil Boardman, 63, from Earley, said he queued for more than half an hour from the M4 to Winnersh Triangle on Monday at 6.30pm.

He said: “It is money that has been ill advisedly spent and wasted. The lights are well over the top.”

JPC, from Tilehurst, wrote on getwokingham the lights are “completely incomprehensible”.

They said: “It was clear that I wasn’t alone in my confusion with cars being hesitant as to where they should be going.”

Councillor Keith Baker, executive member for highways and transport at Wokingham Borough Council, said the changes were needed to improve existing traffic problems at the A329M junction and to prepare for an increase in traffic.

The new Winnersh Triangle business park is expected to create thousands of new jobs, but this will lead to an estimated 15 per cent increase in traffic in the area.

The development is due for completion in the spring and will create office, leisure and retail space, including a new hotel as part of a £100 million investment in the area.

Cllr Baker said the council is monitoring the new traffic lights and may consider changing their sequence based on travel data or turning off the lights during off-peak times.

Cllr Baker added: “When you change a road layout there will be a few people who will lose out and people who will gain. There are now four lanes coming up from Showcase Cinema roundabout, that is an extra lane and that is a lot more capacity. Going up to the next roundabout there are three lanes and one is a filter lane going to Woodley.”

Paul Watters, head of roads policy for the AA, said: “[SEGRO] could have had the lights ready for when they they needed them rather than going ahead now. You need drivers to respect signals and the last thing we want is for drivers to lose respect for traffic measures.”

A spokesperson for SEGRO said: “Working in partnership with Wokingham Borough Council, the contribution that has been made by SEGRO to highway works around Winnersh Triangle is an important investment for the future.

“The works have been undertaken to increase the capacity of this junction, and to ensure that it is able to accommodate anticipated traffic flow in the years to come for the current and future phases, whilst avoiding the disruption of recurring roadworks.

“We are aware that the council is looking at the precise phasing of these traffic lights, which they control, to ensure the best traffic flows.”

| Submit Comments | View Comments (32)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

Most recent user comments 15 of 32

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

keep them off while on weekdays and non peak hours.. it saves times.. else its all mess up

Seanmiller, London
24/05/2010 at 12:11

Firstly, i'm fairly confident that there are some dramatically more serious issues in life than being held up by a few seconds at some traffic lights. If it bothers you that much, perhaps you should count how many seconds you are held up for at each set of lights, then bill the council (as it's obviously their fault, isn't everything?) for loss of earnings?

And to those commenting about barriers on the A329(M), firstly, isn't it the responsibility of the Highways Agency to manage and maintain motorways not individual borough councils? And secondly to that, try having a drive to this section of road, you will indeed find there are new barriers now on both carriageways. How's about that for a response? No doubt there will be something wrong with it mind you.....

Mr P, Berkshire
09/03/2010 at 20:22

As globbits hasn't answered, I will ask Howard why is it up to Segro to install crash barriers on the A329M when it isn't their responsibility.

The Racing Snake
09/03/2010 at 18:49

Can we have some average speed cameras aswell

Brock O'Lee
09/03/2010 at 10:58

There was almost another bumper bashing this morning when the lights changed, all the traffic started moving (whilst waiting for nothing I might add!) only to suddenly stop mid-roundabout at yet another set of lights.

I now regularly have to stop and wait for non-existent cars at off peak times.

Before it was plain sailing through to the 329M, now it's stop/start all the way.

The only winners here are the contractors.

What a complete mess!! Only put these lights on at peak times - keep them off at all other times of day and weekends.

dcr, Reading
09/03/2010 at 07:50

I'm so glad this has been reported on, it's really ridiculous. It's the same as the new junction down the road from PC World on the way to the Madj Stad. The roundabout did what it was supposed to, and more to the point didn't stop people if there was no traffic. These lights no doubt cost a fortune and are slowing my journey down at all times of the day. For me this is the sort of thing I base my vote on, and the council's record in managing traffic flow and related matters has been ABYSMAL. Whoever offers to to get rid of 30% of Reading's unnecessary lights would get my vote, no question.

JFK
09/03/2010 at 06:52

Looking on the bright side, they have had the sense to re-jig the lanes for traffic coming up from lower earley to the M4 to re-assign a bit more priority to that traffic rather than winnersh triangle as it originally was when all the new lights first started

A Wellwisher
09/03/2010 at 03:33

Globbits.......you have it exactly right..........£5million would have installed the barriers on the A329....something that is actually needed urgently before someone else dies needlessly!

Howard Thomas Common Sense party
09/03/2010 at 00:39

I've yet to sample the new lights, and I'll be doing my best to steer well clear. From reading the comments though, it sounds like the usual problem of completely unintelligent programming and control of lights.

With computing and sensors, traffic lights everywhere could and should be so much more responsive. There is no excuse for drivers to having to wait at red lights when there is no traffic to give way to. This is a universal problem, and still the highway engineers keep putting in these lights that trudge along on timed phasing.

It also sounds as though the lights are causing back-up along the A329M and possibly onto the M4. Queuing cars on motorway-standard roads is not a good idea due to the speed of traffic. It seems to me that it should be an URGENT priority to stop the lights causing these tail-backs.

Zippedy Doo Daa, Reading
08/03/2010 at 22:24

The world has gone mad! Hear we have a real issue and Cllr Baker misses the point completely. I am not interested in the new lanes and the extra capacity - I am interested in what HE is doing to rectify the problem. In 5 years of commuting down Bader Way I have been delayed less times since the installation of the new lights. This morning at 07:40 I sat in a queue to join the M329 where historically I would have driven happily onto the motorway - and on the way home I navigate three roundabouts, other drivers hesitantly lane swapping and further queuing while waiting for invisible traffic!!!. OK, we need progress and OK traffic will increase by 15%, but lets all be realistic - this is a complete mess and a complete waste of energy. Plus in this 'green' era I doubt my static car is doing much for the environment. The other frustration is that the council seems oblivious to the issue. Try phoning the council and be told that you need to put your complaint in writing!! Nobody seems accountable, nobody will talk to you - and unfortunately I doubt much will change. They may well semi-master the synchronisation, but at off-peak times we will still be inconvenienced. SEGRO may have paid for it, but we have all indirectly paid for it. This excessive waste of money could have funded enhancements to the park and ride, or even contributed to local amenities - instead we inherit Blackpool illuminations! Sorry about the rant - I feel better now!!!

Mr V Angry
08/03/2010 at 20:39

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 19:59

I went to Winnersh Triangle today - and all the lights were green!...however I was on the train at the time.

dodger, south oxfordshire
08/03/2010 at 19:26

The blame lies firmly with WBC. They can try and point the finger at Segro, but the bottom line is WBC are responsible for roads, and will have had the final sign off on this design.

Fred Bloggs
08/03/2010 at 17:49

living in woodley i think the lights are a complete waste of money and not so energy efficient!!!! I got stuck a 5 red lights from bader way to showcase at 9pm in the evening, really unreasonable. I'm sorry the person that designed traffic lights on a small roundabout is stupid!

claire brady
08/03/2010 at 17:03

Globbits ... exactly what logic are you using to suggest a private company like SEGRO should be responsible for installing crash barriers on the motorway ... or did I miss something??