Would the contractors consider opening a two-lane road either heading into town or out of town, depending on the time of day? I believe this would help a lot. Even if it lengthened the whole process I would prefer this to the nightmare we are enduring now.

Bit of a pattern emerging here, last year Central Bridge, this year Northam Bridge. Next year Cobden Bridge?

M LLOYD, address supplied.

What sense Paul Wood talks in his letter of Janury 21 concerning traffic management in Southampton. As a cyclist I would like Jacqui Rayment to explain to me an existing perilous situation.

At the far end of the recently repaired railway bridge, if I wish to go towards Holy Rood I have to turn left and then right. The cycle path however remains firmly on the left hand side of the road.

A few days ago I received aggressive verbal abuse from a car driver as I had the temerity to try to turn right. Can anyone from the highways department explain how this has improved safety?

In the morning rush hour a huge queue backs over the Itchen Bridge, through Woolston and beyond. When one arrives at the town side of the bridge there is rarely a queue at any of the other three legs of the junction.

Surely, Mr Highway Engineer, more ‘green time’ should be given to traffic coming from Woolston.

Perhaps Paul Wood should apply for a position in the highways department!

ED FISHER, Woolston, Southampton.

A possible way to solve the traffic issues and problems in Southampton is for the city to invest in park and ride schemes.

I know this has been mentioned several times.

However, if there was a park and ride scheme with car parks in the following places, it may alleviate some of the congestion: 1. Stoneham (possible the old Ford factory car park – which could accommodate traffic from the M27 east and M3).

2. Redbridge (accommodating traffic from the New Forest/Bournemouth M27 west).

3. Woolston (accommodating traffic from the east side of the city).

Adding to which, if the council operates traffic lights in the city centre which worked in unison (especially around the Civic Centre) it may solve some of the congestion.

Some of the traffic lights in the city centre are more of a hindrance.

MRS J BOORMAN, address supplied.

I have noticed in the Daily Echo that any mention of traffic problems in Southampton prompts a large picture of Councillor Jacqui Rayment with an accompanying denigration of her abilities as a Southampton Cabinet member for environment and transport.

I do not know the lady and I have no political affiliations. However I find the constant pillorying of her unfair, as the roadworks that currently plague the city are nevertheless necessary, and to suggest that there are simple remedies to overcome them is naïve to say the least.

With regard to the Northam Bridge works, you have reported yourself that to make the Itchen Bridge toll-free for the interim would be fraught with legal and time constraints, but still you persist with the sensationalist headlines tied in with the councillor’s photo.

I can understand the daily frustration of commuters battling in and out of the city, but the constant unthinking scapegoating of one individual smacks of lazy journalism.

DAVID RISEBOROUGH, West End.

This morning, once again, I endured a 40-minute delay crossing the Itchen Bridge.

As a cab driver I make this crossing daily on a school contract job. Since the traffic lights were installed at the city end of the bridge the delays have been significantly worse as they delay traffic leaving the bridge.

When Central Bridge was closed and traffic was prevented from performing conflicting movements there were hardly any delays. Now cars can approach the bridge from the southern end of Terminus Terrace, why not close entry to the bridge from Saltmarsh Road and ban right turns into Albert Road North from the bridge to allow the traffic to flow uninterrupted?

Given the problems caused by the repairs to Northam Bridge, this simple option would improve traffic flow for the benefit of all.

STEVE JARVIS, Totton.

 

I HAVE been using the Itchen Bridge as a car driver since November 1988 and as a local at that time in Woolston, welcomed the speedy link into town for my work.

Now a local in Netley Abbey, I still use the bridge for access to work in town.

I understand what the council officers are saying about the charges, and to that end am pleased they have not decided to convert Northam Bridge into a toll bridge.
However they are missing the point about the queuing traffic using the Itchen Bridge.

During the last refurbishment to Central Bridge it was closed for access and prior to 08:00, when I was using the Itchen Bridge, access to the bridge from the junction of Royal Crescent Road to the B3039 was blocked.

Also the traffic lights at the end of the Itchen Bridge, A3025, town end were switched off and this sped up traffic flow.

I was happy with this arrangement until the reopening of the Central Bridge.
Since then the traffic has backed up along the Portsmouth Road down to The Swan public house, Sholing.

Now, with the refurbishment of Northam Bridge, the queue I am in starts at the top of Wright’s Hill, Sholing.

It takes 40 minutes to get to the roundabout approach to the Itchen Bridge, then you have jostling and queuing for the tolls and then over the Itchen Bridge to the traffic lights.

The annoying thing is, when the lights are in your favour the traffic flows return to normal levels but this is no help if you are late for work already.

The easiest way to solve this problem for the 20-week duration is to return to the previous format, ie. the re-introduction of blocking the access to the bridge, from the junction of Royal Crescent Road to the B3039.

It is obvious that the team of planners have not returned to monitor their creation and the havoc/misery it is causing.

I have now reverted to cycling to work as it is quicker and cheaper. I assume none of the planners cycle any of the routes. If they did they may well find that there could have been better improvements in place for cyclists.
 

DAVID COLLINGWOOD,
Netley Abbey.