RESIDENTS on a busy Southampton road say the 'thunder-like' sound of traffic is making their houses tremble.
Residents of Bitterne Road West are fed up of feeling their homes vibrate as lorries drive past.
Bus lanes were removed in May 2021 due to more than 400 people objecting.
However, since then, traffic has reportedly worsened and so has the noise and air pollution.
READ MORE: Traffic chaos near Costco leaves residents considering moving house
Andrew Tyrie, 45, has lived beside the main road for eight years and has seen an increase in noise as a result of cars and large vehicles driving past his house.
He said: “[The bus lane] did make a difference but then after the pandemic, when the bus lanes went, the change was very noticeable.
“The weight of the traffic has grown in terms of the HGVs and more buses which certainly appear to drive by more often."
Mr Tyrie often experiences the house shaking as large vehicles drive past at speed.
He said: “I wake up during the night because the bed vibrates.
“Everyone knows that the actual speed camera is right up the top of the road past the houses, so everyone knows to slow down there but not back here."
He added: “More speed enforcement would certainly help.”
Dave Puckett, who has lived by the main road for 30 years, has similar concerns.
The 74-year-old said: “It does get very loud, and it does vibrate an awful lot.
“I mean, sometimes we've had stuff in the house rattling when you get the big lorries driving out.”
One resident, who chose to remain anonymous, described the sound of the cars driving past as “like guns going off, or thunder right outside one's door”.
Some neighbours say the return of the cycle lane would improve the situation while others say speed enforcement cameras would prevent drivers from going over the speed limit.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Southampton City Council said: “Bitterne Road West is a major road into the city, currently there are no funded proposals for Bitterne Road West but the council’s long-term plan is to improve walking, cycling and public transport links from Bitterne to the city centre that would seek to improve air quality and noise pollution for residents through reduced traffic levels.”
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