How much has this cost us all?

In March, when the first markings appeared, I put a comment on Warwick County Council’s website pointing out that there was no right turn indicated from Princes’ Drive onto Myton Road and that there were two straight on lanes from Old Warwick Road to Myton Road which was asking for trouble considering the short distance on Myton Road before the turning into the retail area.

The response I received from Richard Bailey of the design services quoted from the standard design documents pointing out that the new road markings were in accordance with current design standards and he said it was just “a question of traffic getting used to the new layout”, adding: “Right turn arrows are best avoided on the approach lanes to a roundabout, other than a mini-roundabout, particularly as they can mislead overseas drivers used to driving on the right. Where a right hand lane is dedicated to a specific destination, this should be associated with an ahead arrow until the vehicle is in the circulatory carriageway. If lane direction markings have been, or are to be, used on the approaches of a particular arm, then the direction markings within the entry lanes should be an extension of those markings in a logical and consistent manner, using the same designation system as those upstream.”

He then went on to explain that the roadworks are to be subject to a safety audit carried out by WCC at the completion stage. This is to be a fully independent check and will highlight any safety issues arising from the new layout, traffic signing and road markings, etc - and that generally, any recommendations made in the audit report are implemented where possible.

Funny how there still seems to be lanes blocked off daily whilst work is still being carried out and yet a right arrow has been added to the straight on arrow on Princes’ Drive and the right hand lane straight on arrow on Old Warwick Road has been replaced with a right only arrow.

So, how much extra has this cost to put right what should have been done correctly in the first place? In theory and on paper the standard design documents may be correct but in practice surely common sense should prevail and the individual situation be assessed on its own merits.

Louise Kalus, The Malins, Warwick