Wightman Road was closed today around midday for works to repair a gas main.
Very inadequate signposting of the road closure, along with drivers ignoring the one sign eventually put in the right place, is causing chaos on the Ladder.
Initially, there was no sign on Wightman southbound before Warham warning of the closure. This led to hundreds of vehicles including a large articulated lorry getting stuck on Wightman near the top of Warham Road. Whilst vans and cars could execute a three point turn, the lorry got well and truly stuck. In a twist to the normal story, the lorry driver tried to drive in to Warham from Wightman to execute a turn. He was failing at the point I left.
Eventually, signs were moved to forewarn drivers and indicate an escape route. Of course probably the majority of drivers are ignoring them and there's been a chaos of turning on Wightman between Seymour and Warham.
Who is responsible for ensuring the correct signage? Even of its the contractors who have to do it, surly the Council should supervise to ensure effective execution.
Works have to happen. But they needn't lead to chaos.
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He eventually reversed back to Seymour (after the vehicles behind did various shuffles and U turns) and then down.
Still causing confusion now, though not on this scale. A few drivers are copying the bikes and motorbikes and trying to squeeze through.
It's incredible how few motorists take any notice of the, now, two 'Road Closed' signs on Wightman. I'd say only a small minority take the signposted diversion after the second 'Road Closed'. It seems like it really is only the certainty of a fine that ensures any reasonable level of compliance.
Apparently the works are due to last until 29th.
I should think tomorrow morning's rush-hour will be utter chaos.
Don't 'cha know? "It's the highway, & it's my way," cos I'm KING CAR!
I hope that those responsible for ensuring diversions etc., have notified the relevant council offices and Wednesday will be more settled. It might be prudent to have some officers of the law on hand ready to check for licences, insurance & MOTs at the same time. They'd more than likely pay for themselves.
I think there are some who simply drive their normal route on automatic pilot and take no notice of signage, and others who think they’ll “chance it” And then some who simply lack any common sense
https://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topics/hgvs-on-warham-road
I see that overnight, the barriers just south of Warham were pushed aside and so the u-turn chaos moved up to the top of Pemberton.
I have been amused by cars going in both directions (sometimes in reverse) on our one way street. Possibly one of the least guilty forms of schadenfreude, second only to people getting parking tickets...
I was in touch with a cabinet member yesterday who told me that it is the contractors who are responsible for all signage where emergency works are concerned. Nonetheless, she had an officer meet the contractors on site at around 4:30 yesterday and a second 'Road Closed' sign appeared shortly after - not of course that many motorists take heed.
I think the other issue is that google maps, etc don't update instantly so people will see the sign but just follow what the sat-nav says anyway.
My sense is that most of the through traffic are regular users who are less likely to be using sat nav. Nonetheless the closure was reported to both Waze and Google Maps yesterday.
I think a lot of people still have it on for traffic, road closures, etc.
I know the Endymion closure took a few days to show up which made me wonder whether the road was actually open (it clearly wasn't when I walked down there) and Wightman is showing as fully open for cars on google maps at the moment.
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