Huw's winter blog 8. Coulsdon South Bypass II

[huw williams]

It's fully open. I know its fully open cos I just rode down there and it's chaos. There's a solid line of traffic all the way from the Little Chef down over the new bypass and up the main road into Purley. Then there's 20 yards of clear road and its chaos again into South Croydon.

The traffic lights at the new junction by the CSS cafe are biased in favour of the new road but even when green the solid line of traffic accross the junction means that traffic on the old road can't join the road to Purley. Result? A solid line of traffic backed up all the way through Coulsdon South past the station to where the bypass starts (which is precicely what the Bypass was supposed to alleviate.

As there is a solid line of traffic all the way through Coulsdon South, traffic from the Chipstead Valley road can't get out onto the main road. Result? A solid line of traffic all the way up the Chipstead Valley road as far as the Banstead road junction.

This was all at about 11.30 this morning - not rush hour, not lunchtime, not a busy weekend of xmas shoppers.

To recap then:
solid line of traffic through Chipstead
solid line of traffic through Coulsdon South
solid line of traffic along the new bypass

Warning: I'm going to swear in the next sentence!

Absolutely roger incredible don't you think?

A lovely new bypass open for only a few days and already worse traffic congestion than I have ever seen in that area.

We should all remonstrate quite forcibly with our MPs or something but you've just gotta laugh haven't you?

[huw williams]

Damn! my swearing was 'rogered' out

[adrian]

It's what happens. Build more roads, and they just fill up, without easing congestion on the already-existing ones. Apparently it's 'the release of suppressed demand' that does it.

[Andrew G]

Sounds like it's all gone completely hatstand!

[Marek]

I believe it cost a snip at £33m (probably a lot more) and I also believe that it has taken about a year extra to complete than planned.

Now it sounds like it does not work, I am not too surprised, when they started it to me it just looked like they were going to be moving the problem up into Purley.

I wonder what the local councillor has got to say for it. I believe it is Richard Ottaway the MP for Croydon South, maybe we should write to him and ask him what he thinks of the finished article.

Cheers

Marek....

[John Czernobay]

Yes, seems a little sticky down there . Oh well; I know lets build some more roads . What's that I hear you say, lets establish a Sustainable Integrated Transport Policy for the next twenty-five years with a gauranteed minimum private/public expenditure per annum based upon the GDP of the UK; why that's a great idea .......so, er when do we start the road building

Great "posts" Huw. See you this Saturday on the CR if your going, if not have a great Christmass and keep on writing.

John..

[Marek]

http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/l ... bypass.php

Huw, maybe you can post your thoughts on the guardian website, see link.

Cheers

Marek...

[huw williams]

Good man - I'll send them a copy by email

[Marek]

If it does not work do you reckon they could close it down and put a cone at each end and use it as a closed road bike circuit, this could be the Eastway replacement.

Cheers

Marek...