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Fears over road layout changes
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| All change: The roadworks at the southern end of Western Avenue. |
ANDOVER motorists fear a return to traffic jams and gridlock because of changes to the road layout caused by the new ASDA development in Anton Mill Road.
Much of the disquiet is due to the removal of the filter lane at the base of Western Road which helped ease congestion along the Weyhill and Salisbury Roads when it was introduced in 2002.
In a letter to the Andover Advertiser, Abbotts Ann resident Dickie Dawes who has lived in the area since 1961, wrote: "The person responsible for this either never experienced the aforementioned jams, or he or she is intent on engineering congestion.
"The traffic has further increased since 2002 and I predict gridlock, road rage and asphyxiation for the inhabitants of the immediate area."
But David Wilson, principal engineer for transportation at Test Valley Borough Council, defended the new signal controlled junction as a good solution to the traffic flow problems which were unaffordable when the filter lane was constructed.
He said: "The consultants have provided modelling and demonstrated to the satisfaction of the county council that the junction will operate efficiently. There's a huge cost to it. I think when they put that little bit of slip lane in it was a low cost solution on a short term basis."
He added that the roundabout adjacent to the ASDA site will include a dedicated approach lane from the direction of Winchester Road for vehicles heading down Anton Mill Road.
The road works are expected to be completed during November.
5:53am Friday 5th October 2007
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CommentPosted by: John Wigg, Andover SP102HE on 1:55pm Fri 5 Oct 07
I was engaged in ground works for 40 years; and I would like to concratulate;
The designer and managment of the Asda/Sainsbury Roundabout and Junction project; for the design and managment of the Project; I am sure the finished layout will be an outstanding success.
I was engaged in ground works for 40 years; and I would like to concratulate;
The designer and managment of the Asda/Sainsbury Roundabout and Junction project; for the design and managment of the Project; I am sure the finished layout will be an outstanding success.
Posted by: Stephen Pope, Anna valley on 10:51pm Sat 6 Oct 07
It seems somewhat ridiculous that it is taking some 22 weeks to complete the roadworks - furthermore the new arrangements at the Salisbury Road / Bride Street intersection have made traffic flow worse.
It seems somewhat ridiculous that it is taking some 22 weeks to complete the roadworks - furthermore the new arrangements at the Salisbury Road / Bride Street intersection have made traffic flow worse.
Posted by: jimmy, andover on 7:57am Sat 15 Mar 08
If John could see the snarl-ups at the ASDA/Sainsburys roundabout at 1700 he would think twice about congratulating the designer of the road layout.
If John could see the snarl-ups at the ASDA/Sainsburys roundabout at 1700 he would think twice about congratulating the designer of the road layout.
Posted by: rhona, andover on 11:39am Tue 18 Mar 08
well said jimmy - spent 25mins trying to get out of the car park on saturday - with only ONE exit leading on to what must be the worst road plannning I have ever seen - my 12 year old daughter could of made a better job of planning the road
well said jimmy - spent 25mins trying to get out of the car park on saturday - with only ONE exit leading on to what must be the worst road plannning I have ever seen - my 12 year old daughter could of made a better job of planning the road
Posted by: sibs, andover on 1:25pm Wed 19 Mar 08
well said jimmy & rhona - I also spent a miserable 20mins stuck in the ASDA car park trying to get out, have road planners stopped using their grey cells when it comes to building roads????
well said jimmy & rhona - I also spent a miserable 20mins stuck in the ASDA car park trying to get out, have road planners stopped using their grey cells when it comes to building roads????
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