Replacement of HLR / Seafield / Portobello Rd Roundabout

[Porty]

Good letter in the EN today:

Where to now for diverted drivers?

A SIGN at the Milton Road roundabout warns of major roadworks at the King's Road junction and implores drivers to seek an alternative route.

Given the ongoing roadworks at Fort Kinnaird, Sheriffhall and Milton Road, all presumably scheduled by qualified experts, could they perhaps advise which route drivers should now use?

Ian L M Walker, Abbey Toll Cottage, Haddington

[Epykat]

[Eck]

This is going to be a categorical nightmare. The lights at Milton Road/ Duddingston Park South and Duddingston Park have proven that this system does not work. Previously (all times referred to at tea time rush hour), when the roundabout was in place, traffic at Duddingston Park went around 100m metres North towards Portobello. The queuing traffic on Milton Road went as far West as just short of Mountcastle Drive South and going East it was very short. The traffic on Duddingston Park South only went as far as around 50 metres South from the roundabout.

Since the inception of the traffic lights, queues on Duddingston Park South have more than tripled and can often be seen tailing back almost to the Jewel Miners Club. Traffic on Milton Road has also had a similar effect. There is also the stupid encounter that you have later on at night when you are left waiting at a junction when there is an empty junction to cross. I believed that the queue would disappear after the roadworks had finished. This is not the case, and I can't see any other experiences with the Sir Harry Lauder Road roundabout.

Roundabouts work. I noticed a letter to the Evening News recently that stated that the lights a Hermiston Gate had been out of order for an hour and a half and that the traffic was freely flowing and there were no accidents.

[Epykat]

I agree with you Eck. Since the lights were put at the Asda junction it's a nightmare getting out of Asda. Before the lights it was only on the odd occasion that you had to queue to get out of the Asda junction, now it's every single time. The night time thing really gets up my nose too. You sit there in the middle of the night waiting on stupid lights to change and there's not another soul on the road

[Eck]

It's ridiculous, there was no need for a roundabout to be uprooted and replaced with traffic lights. Putting aside the issue that they have made the flow of traffic worse, look at the issue of the amount of energy that is used to complete this work and also to maintain it. You have to take into consideration all the petrol costs for the the vehicles and the generators to keep the machinery working. Then, after the work is complete you have to keep the traffic lights working. This certainly wouldn't appear to be a 'green' choice for development and all the while petrol costs and gas/ maintenance bills increase, whilst people in rural East Lothian are being robbed of their steal and petrol which the rely on when living in such areas.

It would seem that the council are intent to restore us to a traditional way of Scottish life, even if that does mean pillaging the neighbours to get some wood for the fire. Someone should maybe point out to them that there will be no need for traffic lights in 10 years time or so as there will be so few people able to finance a car due to inflation and job losses.

[seanie]

My understanding is that there have been a number of serious accidents, including fatalities, at the roundabout in the last few years. Whilst roundabouts "work" they generate more accidents than traffic light junctions. The accidents tend to be at low speed but even an accident at low speed can be serious, particularly for cyclists.

The work isn't expected to reduce or aggravate congestion. But it may save a few lives.

Annoying though it may be.

[Grunk]

[Eck]

[Maria]

[seanie]

I was at a Community Council meeting where council officials gave a briefing on the roundabout works and they explicitly said the main reason for the works was safety and the poor accident record of the roundabout.

On the subject of congestion they were less commital but basically said they didn't expect the changes to improve things for traffic in general, but that the prioritisation should help the buses.

[seanie]

[Eck]

[seanie]

[Eck]

[seanie]

[Epykat]

[Grunk]

[tom nimmo]

[Sandra]

[Grunk]

[portyallmydays]

Heard a rumour on Wednesday (from a local Posty!) that they are having problems with the drains at the "roundabout" site (something about getting them deep enough) and that there is talks about having to still have a roundabout there. (might explain the hill still in the middle even after resurfacing, or is this normal?) Anyone heard similar? Oh, and don't shoot the messenger!

[wangi]

[BeachBum]

[Maria]

[Epykat]

[Porty]

[BeachBum]

[Epykat]

[wangi]

[BeachBum]

[Epykat]

[wangi]

[Porty]

[wangi]

[Pal of Porty]