Hopes that road nightmare over
RESIDENTS in Clifton Village say they hope the nightmare they have endured for the past 18 months has come to an end after Bridge Valley Road reopened yesterday.
The road – one of Bristol's busiest commuter routes – was shut last March due to concerns about safety.
Instead of costing around £500,000 and being shut for several weeks, the road has reopened 18 months later at a cost of £2.7 million.
The problem developed as a disused railway tunnel had begun to cave in due to movement in the Avon Thrust Fault – a geological phenomenon unique to the gorge.
Dyson DC50i - Bagless upright vacuum cleaner - BALL Technology -...
View detailsThisi is Dyson's smallest upright vacuum cleaner with the performance of a full size upright machine. The DC50i has Dyson's most advanced cleaner head technology and 2 Tier RadialTM cyclones.
Terms: LIMITED STOCK OFFER. FREE delivery to most UK postcodes - Next working day dispatch.
Contact: 01664 491439
Valid until: Monday, May 27 2013
Worst affected by the prolonged closure was Granby Hill, which became a congested rat-run.
Residents complained of damage to their vehicles, regular road rage incidents and selfish motorists – all of which have blighted their otherwise peaceful neighbourhood.
Colin Mann, 32, lived on the hill and now rents out a property there.
He said: "My tenant parks his car here and it has been hit three times.
"This road is just used as a commuter rat-run. I have seen drivers get very frustrated and there has been some argy-bargy.
"It definitely got worse when Bridge Valley Road closed.
"Fingers crossed, now the road has opened again it should get better."
A man living on the hill who asked not to be named said: "Granby Hill became a rat-run and I have witnessed road rage on several occasions.
"I was disgusted and have reported motorists on occasion. I have even had my car damaged through no fault of my own. I'm not sure now the road has opened things will get better because some people think it's quicker."
Jackie Noel, the administrator for Hope Community Church on Hope Chapel Hill, off Granby Hill, said: "The gridlock on Granby Hill is very bad and the traffic has been a lot heavier over the past 18 months.
"The really dangerous thing is that everybody seems to make a bolt for it – it's like a race track."
Other roads badly affected include Joy Hill and Clifton Vale.
Not everybody is happy the road has re-opened. Commenting on our website thisisbristol.co.uk Chicken Jo said: "My journey time was doubled this morning with the queue back to Sea Mills. We managed perfectly well without it for 18 months – is this road really necessary?"
Kris Litchfield wrote: "Whilst I fully understand the need to re-open the road, please look to get the traffic light timing correct to try to give motorists in the main flow of traffic down the Portway a fighting chance of getting to work on time."
Spigget simply commented: "Congestion Hell – close it!"
Comments
by MWright3
Tuesday, September 27 2011, 9:38PM
“Massive increase in journey time in on Portway, as amply demonstrated by the photo in the article. Traffic generally now queued back to Roman Way when used to flow freely. Close Bridge Valley.”
by falsegods
Tuesday, September 27 2011, 3:33PM
“Awww, poor Clifton with cars and stuff on the roads. S'not fair.
I, for one, will always ignore (and will always encourage others to do the same) 'Don't drive up here if you are here because you've been diverted from elsewhere' signs. How dare anyone tell me where I can or cannot drive on roads that I pay so handsomely to use. It seems that, so long as you are living in Clifton, you can pick and choose who uses the roads in your area. Balls.
Same goes for roads 'Closed' because a TV show is filming. Balls.
wezers has the right of it.”
by wezers
Tuesday, September 27 2011, 2:44PM
“havening lived just of granby road and I use it daily, I have not noticed any difference in traffic. It has always been busy at peek times. Having hotwells primary school right there brings in a lot of mums and dads by car causing just as many problems.
More of an issue I would think with the portway now backing up due to traffic lights, when it has run very well for the last 18 months.”
by acjboyle
Tuesday, September 27 2011, 2:04PM
“Top post mikeykay!”
by REHughes
Tuesday, September 27 2011, 1:39PM
“You must understand, the engineers are bragging and drinking their hot drinks, "I designed that road," and the workmen are at the pub saying, "I helped build that road."
No matter that it is good or bad, it is there and must be lived with.
Costing more than expected is to be expected and the fact that it is dangerous is part of the expectation.
People will get used to the dangers, some will be injured or killed and some people will avoid it.
In our area of Colorado, we waited nearly a year for a 17 mile stretch of road to be widened between our town and the next. After the wait, we had a wide roadway and 15 miles of "Do not pass." Access and egress lanes had been added and, being a very backward population, no one knew how to use them, so they became 'passing lanes (for undertaking), and drivers crossed them and forced their way into the main line of traffic.
Look on the bright side at the Bridge Valley Road, men had work for a time and there are some who will enjoy using the road.”
by Mikeykay
Tuesday, September 27 2011, 1:08PM
“night·mare (ntmâr)
n.
1. A dream arousing feelings of intense fear, horror, and distress.
2. An event or experience that is intensely distressing.
3. A demon or spirit once thought to plague sleeping people.
Thank God the darkness is leaving and you can now start to rebuild your shattered lives. The people of Haiti have been touched by your nightmare and have organised a fun run in your aid this Sunday.”
by jumin
Tuesday, September 27 2011, 12:54PM
“I witness road rage on my road quite often, this situation occurs in a lot of areas in Bristol due to a combination of congestion and bad tempered and impatient motorists.”
by sprintstar
Tuesday, September 27 2011, 11:52AM
“road nightmare?”
by cornwallis23
Tuesday, September 27 2011, 11:46AM
“If they made both Clifton Vale and Granby hill one way all these problems would be solved overnight. Clifton Vale should be for traffic heading up hill while Granby Hill and Hope Chapel Hill should be reserved for traffic travelling downhill. Problem solved.”
by NotTheCouncil
Tuesday, September 27 2011, 11:43AM
“You mean if you close off a road, the cars that previously used that road don't suddenly disappear into thin air?
News to us.
Maybe a CONsultation on the timing of the traffic lights needs to be run?”