Warnings over more city centre traffic problems (From Daily Echo)

I remember hearing the same about the last two lots of flyover repairs. Am very surprised that they should be doing more so quickly but then again I'm not an engineer. However, the mismanagement of these works is incredible. People were advised to avoid the MF so they've also gridlocked Shirley as well as a result which means local shops suffer as there are less people coming in their 'cars' to shop as you can't get there. and before people start about walking, yes that's all well and good unless you're doing a week's family shop, picking up a tumble drier, or are infirm or disabled.

Shambles doesn't even begin to cover it!

Went past this yesterday, horrendous tailbacks at snail pace or stand still - failed to see a single workman anywhere and no work happening at all.

Like most roadworks; poorly managed. There has to be a better way of maintaining and repairing our roads.

The only way to get east from the city centre yesterday afternoon was to go north-west to the airport via Thomas Lewis Way and then east around the city on the M27 and the M271. Millbrook Road jammed, as was Shirley Road, Hill Lane and The Avenue.

Correction to my note (I read the map upside-down)
The only way to get WEST from the city centre yesterday afternoon was to go north-EAST to the airport via Thomas Lewis Way and then WEST around the city on the M27 and SOUTH on the M271. Millbrook Road jammed, as was Shirley Road, Hill Lane and The Avenue.

freemantlegirl2 wrote:
I remember hearing the same about the last two lots of flyover repairs. Am very surprised that they should be doing more so quickly but then again I'm not an engineer. However, the mismanagement of these works is incredible. People were advised to avoid the MF so they've also gridlocked Shirley as well as a result which means local shops suffer as there are less people coming in their 'cars' to shop as you can't get there. and before people start about walking, yes that's all well and good unless you're doing a week's family shop, picking up a tumble drier, or are infirm or disabled.

Shambles doesn't even begin to cover it!

You plonker, do you even bother to read the articles before you spout your nonsense on here. Safety repairs! If you actually knew anything about your local area you would know the central crash barrier has long been in need of repair, in some places it sticks out into the road. There were signs put up before the work started so people need to change their driving habits. People can walk or use public transport, not everyone is going to Shirley to buy a tumble drier in a wheel chair, what a daft comment!

It may well be essential work, but it's being done in the most utterly incompetent way.

Yesterday lunchtime there were westbound queues all the back along West Quay, past Red Funnel and back to Dock Gate 4. When I ran in-ActionLine they said they had cameras and could see it was tailed back to the West Quay junction (i.e. by the new police station). They must have fantastic cameras that don't pick up another mile of traffic jams.

Complete shambles. I've been told it's "24 hour" work that means you can't stop and start it. In that case do small sections overnight, don't reduce to 1 lane hundreds of metres before needed (and especially just before a junction which people may want to use).

This is so appalling, whoever organised it in the council should be summarily dismissed. Only thing is, the council doesn't really care about disruption - they're not exactly an efficient, responsive organisation...

Oh, by the way, we must be exaggerating the traffic disruption. On the council's roadworks web page, the Millbrook Road roadworks are listed as causing "moderate" disruption (and this hasn't changed over the last few days). I'd hate to see the council's idea of serious disruption...

I can totally understand visitors to the area being caught up in traffic jams, but locals should surely avoid the area using local knowledge and find an alternative route. As I said on the previous article I needed to get to the New Forest from Ocean Village, so simply went to J5 of the M27 and went that way, no jams SIMPLES!

BenjiWinsor wrote:
Went past this yesterday, horrendous tailbacks at snail pace or stand still - failed to see a single workman anywhere and no work happening at all.

Buses in Southampton were running over an hour late, my son rang me (I was in West Quay) to tell me he was on his way to meet me on the bus from Totton. An hour and a half later I was still waiting for him. He finally arrived to relieve me of some of my money before I caught the bus home, where I endured a ridiculously long journey, and you are right, not one workman to be seen. These roadworks are a flipping joke.

solomum wrote:

BenjiWinsor wrote:
Went past this yesterday, horrendous tailbacks at snail pace or stand still - failed to see a single workman anywhere and no work happening at all.

Buses in Southampton were running over an hour late, my son rang me (I was in West Quay) to tell me he was on his way to meet me on the bus from Totton. An hour and a half later I was still waiting for him. He finally arrived to relieve me of some of my money before I caught the bus home, where I endured a ridiculously long journey, and you are right, not one workman to be seen. These roadworks are a flipping joke.

Concrete takes time to dry, should the workmen just hang around polishing the barriers whilst waiting?

The traffic yesterday was horrendous, we were parked in floor 10 of the marlands car park and were blocked in because nothing could leave the car park.... 2hours we spent trying to occupy our 3 boys twins of 6 and an 8 yr old. those outside the car park that did move were not allowing anyone out from the little lane out of the car park had some ppl been a bit more considerate we could have moved out slowly.. i got back to my car at 3.43 after finishing my big asda shop and due to the traffic I stayed in my parking spot until 5.57 when i eventually managed to be unblocked. Surely someone could hav come and help direct the flow of traffic out.. maybe by using a stop and go sign. People had been charged twice early into the congestion beginning, we were later told we would not be recharged to get out. 1hr30 later we were told they had finally decided to stop letting cars in to the car park as they were not able to park either due to all the cars already blocking the levels tryin to follow the one way system to get out. Surely this could have been managed better by car park wardens. !!!

IronLady2010 wrote:

solomum wrote:

BenjiWinsor wrote:
Went past this yesterday, horrendous tailbacks at snail pace or stand still - failed to see a single workman anywhere and no work happening at all.

Buses in Southampton were running over an hour late, my son rang me (I was in West Quay) to tell me he was on his way to meet me on the bus from Totton. An hour and a half later I was still waiting for him. He finally arrived to relieve me of some of my money before I caught the bus home, where I endured a ridiculously long journey, and you are right, not one workman to be seen. These roadworks are a flipping joke.

Concrete takes time to dry, should the workmen just hang around polishing the barriers whilst waiting?

Iron Lady, that is no excuse for not one workman to be seen over several days. I get the bus to and from Southampton every week day for work and have seen no workmen during that time, although the traffic has not been anywhere near as bad as it was yesterday. I can only presume they must be 21st century invisible workmen

The Salv wrote:

freemantlegirl2 wrote:
I remember hearing the same about the last two lots of flyover repairs. Am very surprised that they should be doing more so quickly but then again I'm not an engineer. However, the mismanagement of these works is incredible. People were advised to avoid the MF so they've also gridlocked Shirley as well as a result which means local shops suffer as there are less people coming in their 'cars' to shop as you can't get there. and before people start about walking, yes that's all well and good unless you're doing a week's family shop, picking up a tumble drier, or are infirm or disabled.

Shambles doesn't even begin to cover it!

You plonker, do you even bother to read the articles before you spout your nonsense on here. Safety repairs! If you actually knew anything about your local area you would know the central crash barrier has long been in need of repair, in some places it sticks out into the road. There were signs put up before the work started so people need to change their driving habits. People can walk or use public transport, not everyone is going to Shirley to buy a tumble drier in a wheel chair, what a daft comment!

Get of her case will you Salv, not every one has an easy life so don't have any worries. Your the Plonker and are spouting nonsence you been poting on this site long enough to know that FM2 has a disabled child, what would you suggest that she leaves her child alone at home, start having concederation for others insted of that I am all right jack attitude that you got.

The congestion shows how essential Milbrook Road is and how vital it is to repair it regularly. Southampton must be about the only city that has a 50mph dual carriageway right into the heart of the city centre. Its well worth putting up with repairs now and again. When repairs are on-going, the single file traffic is no different from the approaches that other cities are stuck with all the time.

solomum wrote:

IronLady2010 wrote:

solomum wrote:

BenjiWinsor wrote:
Went past this yesterday, horrendous tailbacks at snail pace or stand still - failed to see a single workman anywhere and no work happening at all.

Buses in Southampton were running over an hour late, my son rang me (I was in West Quay) to tell me he was on his way to meet me on the bus from Totton. An hour and a half later I was still waiting for him. He finally arrived to relieve me of some of my money before I caught the bus home, where I endured a ridiculously long journey, and you are right, not one workman to be seen. These roadworks are a flipping joke.

Concrete takes time to dry, should the workmen just hang around polishing the barriers whilst waiting?

Iron Lady, that is no excuse for not one workman to be seen over several days. I get the bus to and from Southampton every week day for work and have seen no workmen during that time, although the traffic has not been anywhere near as bad as it was yesterday. I can only presume they must be 21st century invisible workmen

IronLady, there's no need to close two lanes just to allow concrete to dry.