Wightman Road Closure Causing Chaos In Surrounding Roads

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ruth on March 29, 2016 at 19:21

I walked to Crouch End today and saw gridlock along Ferme Park Road into Crouch End and CE also stuck. The pollution was awful, fumes just getting trapped in the slow moving traffic.

I was meeting a friend driving from Palmers green- she was very late arriving and it took her an hour to get out of Crouch End.... nothing moving. I walked back as didn't have much hope of a W5 coming along, those I did see were being terminated. 

This road closure is clearly having that north London wide impact that people have been warning about. Once schools reopen and people return from hols, it will be worse. I'm used to walking but many people cannot do that. I felt sorry for the older people waiting for buses that were just stuck. I know the bridge needs to be fixed but 5 months of gridlock like today will have consequences beyond the roads and traffic jams. I don't have any answers I'm afraid I'm just adding my experiences to the pot. 

Permalink Reply by Anna Maria Dipino on March 29, 2016 at 17:12

I had to walk from Priory Park (after a two hour gym session)to Beresford Road as there was no way that I was going to wait 15 minutes for the 144 and then to sit on the bus to be stuck in traffic I don't think so I walked home instead.
Is it to be a constant thing for several months now?

Permalink Reply by Gordon T on March 29, 2016 at 17:13

Yes, till September, and we haven't experienced the school runs yet.....

Permalink Reply by Hugh on March 29, 2016 at 17:29

The Haringey traffic marshall I was speaking to earlier said that this situation is normal when traffic flows change. He said that the traffic would quite quickly find other routes. So the congestion seen over the next few days should quickly become much better.

Permalink Reply by Jimbo on March 29, 2016 at 17:48

It's mental out there. Been nose to tail all day as far as I can see. Six months of this??? AND the drivers are cracking up, pulling some seriously dangerous moves.

Permalink Reply by Rory on March 29, 2016 at 17:50

No-one tought any kind of signage might be a good thing? Fair enough. 

Permalink Reply by AnnieH on March 29, 2016 at 18:14

I've been cycling around Harringay today doing my chores. I cycled to the supermarket on Arena Retail Park, loaded up my backpack with groceries, then visited Homebase to buy paint samples. I picked-up my dry cleaning and bought a paper from Green Lanes. Traffic no heavier than normal. I headed to Stoke Newington to visit a curtain shop and DIY store to again collect paint, and fabric samples. I then headed over to Hornsey and stopped to take photos of the gas holders in the sunshine.

I did all this on two wheels. I could've driven, but due to notification months ago Wightman Road would be closed due to bridge repairs starting today, I planned to cycle instead.

After nearly 11 years living in Harringay I had the most joyous experience riding the length of Wightman Road vehicle free - the freedom of not having to look over my shoulder every couple of seconds and be on my guard constantly, gave a real sense of pleasure.

Believe it or not, residents were out talking to one another, mostly about how quiet and pleasant their road was for the first time (ever!). One lady came out of her house next to the bridge and thanked the workman for closing the road she lived on because it was usually so noisy and she would enjoy the peace,and quiet.

Yes, for vehicles it is going to take getting used to for this set period, and it will impact on journies however, I believe with the timely notification we are able to comfortably adjust for a relatively short period of time (given the amount of work taking place on the bridge).

I for one will continue to embrace the bike for the next 6 months and leave the car in it's parking place. I'll be fitter, healthier and more knowledgable about my area as a result.

Thanks Haringey Council!

Permalink Reply by Laura on March 29, 2016 at 18:33

Yes, I had the same experience. People chatting and looking, open mouthed, at a vision of a different future. Smiling.

Permalink Reply by redbluetwenty2 on March 30, 2016 at 1:17

I do not understand the comment about justice? 

Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on March 30, 2016 at 11:10

And meanwhile may we hope that Souvarine and everyone else has the undistracted leisure to learn that the phrase, Wightman Road and the Ladder roads, is an egregious form of pleonastic tautology, up with which we will not put. Wightman Road, as I may have remarked once or twice in the past eight years or so, is the Ladder Road par excellence from which all mere rung roads derive their tenuous existence.

Permalink Reply by EMC2 on March 30, 2016 at 11:15

 I learned a new word today OAE! (ex-Wightman Road Resident)

Permalink Reply by EMC2 on March 30, 2016 at 14:33

This is for you OAE.

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