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Roadworks contractors say sorry for Lakeland jams
CONTRACTORS have apologised to hundreds of motorists delayed by roadworks for hours on one of the Lake District's main tourist routes.
United Utilities said they were sorry after roadworks caused "horrendous" traffic jams on A591 between Windermere and Grasmere.
The delays were triggered because the contractors relied on automatic traffic lights instead of controlling them manually, which meant that traffic flows could not be managed to prevent an excess build up of southbound vehicles from Ambleside to Windermere.
A United Utilities spokeswoman apologised for the delays and asked people to bear with UU while essential work to improve the road surface was completed
Cumbria Highways area manager Nick Raymond admitted the impact on motorists was totally unacceptable. With the benefit of hindsight, he said his authority could perhaps have insisted on night-time working. He had now insisted the remaining work should be carried out at night to avoid any repeat of the long delays that occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, when some southbound motorists took one and a half hours to travel little more than a mile.
For full story, see the May 9 Westmorland Gazette.
9:37am Friday 9th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Pete Sanders, Cork, Ireland on 10:44am Fri 9 May 08
United Utilities...Is this not the same company (maybe different name) who did the pipe works on exactally the same piece of road with exactally the same effects a few years back......Its a shame these people only seem to have short term memories.
United Utilities...Is this not the same company (maybe different name) who did the pipe works on exactally the same piece of road with exactally the same effects a few years back......Its a shame these people only seem to have short term memories.
Posted by: The master, earth on 3:33pm Fri 9 May 08
What a load of [bold]****![/bold] The usual cutting edge journalism from the stale Westmorland Gazette. Its supposed to be a [bold]NEWS[/bold] paper!
What a load of
****! The usual cutting edge journalism from the stale Westmorland Gazette. Its supposed to be a
NEWS paper!
Posted by: Lisa, Kendal on 3:44pm Fri 9 May 08
I for one was pleased to see the front page apology as the 90 minute wait was a joke. I knew we were in for trouble when I noted the contractors were not the usual suspects and instead looked like a bunch of cowboys! I especially enjoyed seeing them race alongside the standing traffic in their wagons and still fail to do anything about the lights - not very bright!
I for one was pleased to see the front page apology as the 90 minute wait was a joke. I knew we were in for trouble when I noted the contractors were not the usual suspects and instead looked like a bunch of cowboys! I especially enjoyed seeing them race alongside the standing traffic in their wagons and still fail to do anything about the lights - not very bright!
Posted by: G H Wright, Arnside on 12:23pm Mon 12 May 08
When will the traffic planners get some foresight? They must by now have plenty of hindsight to realise that traffic must flow freely to ensure safety and minimise polution. Having given authority to work they should get out of their cosy offices and see the effect of their decision then do something at the time. Flow of traffic through Kendal is restricted by having two pedestrian actuated crossings on a main through route. At least monitor and control those with respect to traffic volumes pending installation of elevated pedestrian bridges.
When will the traffic planners get some foresight? They must by now have plenty of hindsight to realise that traffic must flow freely to ensure safety and minimise polution. Having given authority to work they should get out of their cosy offices and see the effect of their decision then do something at the time. Flow of traffic through Kendal is restricted by having two pedestrian actuated crossings on a main through route. At least monitor and control those with respect to traffic volumes pending installation of elevated pedestrian bridges.
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