Driving nightmare

Dec 3 2007 by Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post

IF THE rocket scientists who launched Liverpool’s new road systems had been in charge of space exploration the moon would still be unconquered.

They have been busy spearheading Operation Gridlock, the multi-million pound plan designed to ensure we become as un-car friendly as other big cities.

Motorists have faced months – or is it years? – of turmoil along Edge Lane. If they had been widening one of the busiest routes into the centre, it may have been worthwhile. Instead, they planted saplings and put up new lamps and generally dolled up the area. At least there is a better street ambience as you sit in your car listening to Radio 3.

In the city centre, they have been slapping so-called super-crossings everywhere as though they are on special offer from Halfords.

These crossings switch all traffic lights – in every direction – to red and pedestrian lights to green. The theory is good at times, but the lights go through the sequences even when there are no pedestrians. Maybe we have become the headquarters of the Invisible Man Appreciation Society, and that could explain the mystery of the way the green man glows when there are no visible people.

They have just pulled down The Strand pedestrian bridge – a remnant of another folly by experts of an earlier generation with their walkways in the sky campaign. Never fear, the bridge has been replaced not by one, but two super crossings.

It’s a similar story along Tithe- barn Street. The traffic roads have been narrowed, and pavements widened – ensuring pedestrians can breathe in fumes from the bumper-to-bumper traffic queues. I am told “they” are revisiting these junctions to see if there’s a chance of improving things.

Just along The Strand they have allowed a right hand turn – hidden in a forest of traffic cones – into the Albert Dock. The knock-on effect are lines of standing traffic as far as Great Howard Street. The dock exit should have been closed until the work is finished. The slightly longer diversion for dock-bound traffic along Sefton Street would have reduced the queues, and still allowed people to get to the dock much quicker. Then they close St John’s Lane to all but buses – a nice little pin-money earner for the courts – making traffic go on an incredibly long detour.

The consequence of these improvements is a string of constant queues when previously there were none, dirtier air because of extra traffic fumes, more vehicles than ever jumping red lights because once stopped at a super crossing (to allow the Invisible Man to cross) you are there for an eternity, and fed-up drivers using bus lanes. Seems like Liverpool’s contribution to global warming – except “they” think they are supposed to add to it not reduce it.

The response will be that the problems are caused by extra traffic. Legions of taxi drivers and veteran commuters will testify otherwise. Pity those rocket scientists responsible did not fly themselves to the moon, where at least they would do less harm.