Another Update!
I have recieved a reply to this e-mail:
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have noticed that you have recently carried out improvement works on
the
A39 Barnstaple bypass, which includes new turning lanes and a quieter
surface - and on the whole a very good job has been done.
However, there is one particular stretch that gives me great concern.
This
is the A39 between the A377 at Bishops Tawton and the A361 at Portmore
Roundabout. The old eastbound overtaking lane has been hatched out to
accomodate a new turning lane approaching the A377 roundabout. Not only
this, but new hazard warning bollards have been installed.
The old overtaking lane apparently, according to yourselves, "had a
history
of accidents related to overtaking". However, in my opinion, the new
bollards will create far bigger dangers than before. Here are a series
of
"What If" scenarios for you:
What if a vehicle such as a lorry broke down in this section?
What if two cars shunted in heavy traffic?
What if roadworks affecting one lane needed to be carried out?
What if an emergency vehicle on a call was stuck behind, say, a tractor
or
other slow moving vehicle?
What if a motorcyclist came of his vehicle for whatever reason, ans
skidded
along the road surface?
Before the "improvements", all these situations could be easily dealt
with.
Traffic could be diverted around any breakdown or accident, a simple
lane
closure could enable roadworks to take place safely, emergency vehicles
could overtake slower vehicles and the motocyclists leathers (presuming
they
were wearing any, as they should) would protect them from the road
surface
and serious injury.
But now, any breakdown, accident or roadworks would force a complete
road
closure in at least one direction, so all traffic would have to be sent
through Barnstaple Town Centre.
Any emergency vehicle would have to wait for the end of the bollards
before
they could pass, wasting vital seconds and possibly costing lives. And
the
motorcyclist would slam into a bollard at 60mph, causing almost certain
serious, if not fatal injuries.
I also note that new signs warning of queuing traffic were installed on
this
stretch, and traffic will only get busier when the western bypass opens.
So
what is your solution for getting rid of congestion - by REDUCING the
road
space and capacity?! Wouldn't it have been a better idea, since this is
a
wide, open road, to have made it three lanes up to the Portmore
roundabout?
This would require no new tarmac, and added 50% to the roads capacity at
minimal cost.
I await your response with interest.
Yours faithfully,
David Brown.
This is their reply:
Dear Mr Brown,
Thank you for your recent email received at our offices in Exeter, on 8th December which has been forwarded to me to reply.
At the particular site to which you refer there is a history of injury accidents associated with overtaking and with vehicles travelling at speed over the brow and colliding with slower moving vehicles. One of the measures agreed to address the accident problem was to remove the overtaking lane whilst carrying out the major highway structural strengthening works.
At the same time, the opportunity has been taken to provide a longer right turn lane on the westbound approach to Bishops Tawton Roundabout. This is to improve the capacity of the approach once the new Bypass is opened when traffic levels on this approach are anticipated to significantly increase. This has been achieved within the existing road space without the need for widening.
I trust that the above explains the reasons for the recent changes. I would also add, for peace of mind, that the verge master posts placed within the centre lane can be removed within seconds, and can be knocked flat with very little effort. They therefore do not pose a problem for motorcycles or vehicle breakdowns.
Your sincerely
Simon Hill
So we have a proper name for the bollards - verge master posts.
I wouldn't exactly call it peace of mind, though. Yes, they can be removed in seconds, but it will take a lot more than 'seconds' for the police to get there so they can remove them in the event of breakdown/accident, and by the time they have got there long queues will have built up. It's also no good whatsoever for emergency vehicles on call.
And they can be knocked flat with very little effort? So can a big pile of bricks (not cemented together, of course), but that would still hurt a hell of a lot if hit at 60mph.
So, if these things are so easy to remove, how much do you dare me to carry on nicking them until they give up making any more!
