A few decades back, Ron Oatham was involving in some surveying work for a third lane for the A127, all the way from the M25.
Of course , it never happened, it’s a prime example of how the infrastructure of South Essex has been neglected. There have been improvements, notably the A1245 and the greatly improved A13. But anyone going from the A13 to Thundersley or Canvey in the evening rush hour now faces massive queues where Sadler Farms used to be.
The last couple of weeks have been bad for anyone from our area commuting by car along the A13 or A127. Lots of accidents, lots of delays. So this article in the Echo is particularly depressing:
The official responsible for Essex?s roads has admitted drivers will face years more A127 traffic misery because the road is too busy and councils can?t afford to do much about it.Paul Bird, Essex County Council?s director of commissioning for transport and infrastructure, made the frank admission in response to recent Echo coverage of problems with the main road in and out of Southend.
After winning ?25million of Government cash to improve four key A127 junctions County Hall has admitted this will only address short and medium-term issues with the road.
About ?17million of that money will go to improve the Fairglen Interchange ? where the A127, the A130 and the former A130 meet. More than 70,000 vehicles a day are using it and the scheme is considered a priority.
However, work is not due to start there for four years, because the project will require planning permission, a public inquiry, land acquisition and public consultations.
Mr Bird said the road had ?a number of issues?, including: ! The need for major structural maintenance ! Day-to-day delays caused every time an accident happens ! An inability to cope with any extra traffic ! Delays related to problems at key junctions where traffic joins from Southend, Basildon and Chelmsford….
A little bit of light relief, how about from the High Street down Crown Hill to Rayleigh Station..Chris, could be a vote winner…????
There’s A 1,000 Ft Water Slide Coming To A City Near You
http://www.slidethecity.com/
AND AGAIN! On Saturday it took me the best part of half an hour to get from the Carpenters Arms roundabout to the junction with the A127.
The cause? A burst water main at the Fairglen Interchange!
It would be intersting to know how many times in a week we suffer some sort of traffic congestion in & around Rayleigh, & BEFORE local development plans are implemented & Michelins Farm becomes a Travellers/Industrial site.
It is a cause of concern from many aspects, not least the frustration of drivers trying to get to & from work, children to school, & access for Emergency vehicles. Remember the fire a few weeks ago when the A1245 was closed for 2/3 days?
“They” talk about the cost of road improvements, but that needs to be weighed against loss of business revenue etc.
Someone needs to get a grip, otherwise Rayleigh will either become isolated or a no-go area. People will drive round us instead of coming into the town. That would be a disaster! Perhaps we should declare Independance, govern ourselves & make our own decisions? Hey ho! Will probably still be moaning in another 5 years! having said all that I love Rayleigh, rarely go into Rochford & never to Southend. Onward & upwards my friends, Nil Desperandum!
Janet, I saw the queue of traffic Saturday and decided to go London Road way. London Road/Crown Hill was completely clear, no jam at all, just the usual slow moving traffic as you got near the top of Crown Hill. Was into Rayleigh from Rawreth in around 15 minutes.
In the main though you are right, the traffic round here is getting worse and worse on a weekly basis, there always seems to be something holding it up, accidents, roadworks, loose horses, the list is almost endless, and the roads generally really can’t take any more, let alone the around 1000 car that a 500 house development is bound to produce no matter how optimistic the developers are about cycling and public transport use. It’s got to the stage that if I have an appointment somewhere I always allow at least 15 minutes extra driving time, sometimes more depending on the time of day.
Like you I love Rayleigh, I never go into Wickford – nothing there really, or Southend or Basildon and I can’t remember the last time I went near Rochford. Lets hope the forthcoming election sends our council a message they can no longer ignore.
Thanks Christine. Unfortunately I had no choice on Saturday, as I had approached the Carpenters Arms roundabout on the inside lane, from London Road, & had just got round the corner when the queue started.My intention was to avoid traffic heading into Southend for the football!
This week has been the same old story. Do the “Powers that be”, have any idea of the reality of the situation?
We need to elect some pro Rayleigh Councillors on May 7th, otherwise heaven help us! It will be permanant gridlock!
ECC are responsible for Highways – just which (Parish/Town/District ) Councillors represent us ( Rayleigh/Rawreth ) on the ECC ? , seems to me they should be the vehicle for reporting the local issues…….
Ladies, I feel your pain, all that traffic, I don’t blame you for complaining, just like the drivers queuing behind you…..it’s not me, it’s everybody else….
It’s not so much the queues Oz, it’s the fact that the road system is not robust enough to cope with even minor incidents. It hasn’t been upgraded in Lord knows how Nancy years. This morning I had a 9.10 appointment at the Wellesley Hospital. Left home 8.30, parked in the hospital at 9.05. Just the usual delay at Progress Road, otherwise no delays at all. Another morning I could have been stuck in a slow or non moving line of traffic for ages. The roads just can’t cope with the amount if traffic and even a minor incident
Jim. District and Parish councillors can get involved in the really local highways stuff – for example Ron , Bruce and myself are all looking at one or two speeding issues at the moment.
But the real responsibility lies with County Councillors – for Rayleigh we currently have Malcolm Maddocks (Tory) and Keith Gibbs (UKIP)
OK thank you CHRIS – think I will do an open letter ( via the ECHO letters page ) and
ask what they are doing at present in respect of existing problems and how that will be impacted by mass Construction Traffic for 10-15 years , in pursuit of the Core Plan.