Traffic chaos in roadwork lunacy

Jan 17 2008 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

RESIDENTS on Europe’s biggest housing estate are being left stranded in traffic jams for more than an hour after utility companies closed the main exit from the estate.

Councillors for the Croxteth ward last night said they had been inundated with scores of complaints from furious residents who had been late for work as a result of the disruption.

They warned that not only had the work carried out by Enterprise Liverpool, under the auspices of National Grid, thrown the estate into chaos but would prevent emergency services accessing the estate.

They said drivers’ frustrations were escalating and had already reached boiling point with cases of road rage and the potential for “fists to fly”.

Cllr Rose Bailey said: “It took me over 40 minutes to get off the estate this morning and for many delays were longer.

“There are 3,500 homes on the estate and most homes have two cars.

“If you can imagine all those people trying to get off the estate down one road – it was utter chaos.”

She added: “Fir Tree Drive was totally gridlocked and the temporary traffic lights were only letting out three cars at a time.

“I have asked the Highways Agency to do something immediately to get the traffic moving for rush hour but they don’t seem to be doing anything.

“This is just another example of a lack of co-ordination between the Highways Agency and utility companies. Again residents have been left in the dark.

“I want to know why the traffic lights were not changed to prioritise exit from the estate and also at Deysbrook Lane and Storrington Avenue.”

Cllr Phil Moffatt added: “It has been an absolute nightmare.

“You have around 7,000 cars trying to get off the estate and have been unable to do so.

“I have called for a meeting for all parties concerned to see what can be done to minimise this disruption.

“While we realise this work is unavoidable, the level of disruption it has cause is not sustainable. Something needs to be done.

“The Electricity Alliance have failed in their duty to keep to the timetable of completing the work on time and as a result I am informed they have been penalised and have had to pay a £20,000 fine.

“The area in Norris Green looks like a battlefield and the traders are down in business by over 70% with two businesses already closing.

“The residents of Croxteth Park have no idea how long this work will last.”

carolineinnes