Portishead lights switch-off success
By Portishead People | Wednesday, September 16, 2009, 07:00
An experiment to shut off the Cabstand traffic lights at Portishead appears to be a success following its first two days of operation.
Officials turned off the lights on Monday morning, leaving the traffic a free-for-all as part of a four-week trial.
The lights were hooded over and signs installed to warn drivers they are not working, along with the pedestrian crossings.
In addition, a 20 mph speed limit was put in force along Wyndham Way, the High Street and The Cabstand.
It is hoped the move will minimise hold-ups in the town, which have been a major problem since the lights were installed at a cost of £800,000 in 2004.
Both the first day and second day of the trial went by without any major problems, including no delays when expected, such as school pick-up times and evening rush hour.
Keith Firth, director of traffic engineering at Colin Buchanan, the firm monitoring the road, said: "It is always difficult to comment after just the first day but there have been no problems whatsoever.
"In the morning we did close the access to the pedestrian crossings with barriers but throughout the day people were not clear why this had been done and many suggested taking them away, and by the end of the day this action was taken.
"We have received a lot of positive comments from people using the junction and even in the evening rush hour I went down there and there were no problems at all.
"I think the traffic levels may have been lower than anticipated, I would have said less than 1,200, so if that is the traffic flow we see over the next four weeks then that's great and means a scheme like this can work without too much of a problem."
Residents said the trial ran without any problems.
Bob Warrick, 61, a retired company director of Hill Crest Road, said: "Yesterday there was a blind man who struggled but he was helped across the road; other than that I have not seen any problems."
Councillor David Pasley, chairman of Portishead Town Council, said if the trial is a success the lights would go and the road layout examined. This could see changes such as mini roundabouts put in place instead.
Comments
I have never been to Portishead but your town junction has become very important for the rest of us who are suffering inappropriate road design.
I have sent friend requests to a number of you as there is a site, amberlight.ning.org dedicated to freeing up of public space and your experience is pretty unique. If you are interested in sharing your experience of the Cabstand junction before and after I for one would be most interested.
By djinnorg at 16:15 on 19/03/10
ReportWith due respect , having lived here since 1975, there were minor accidents from time-to-time at the Cabstand junction. Without the lights they might return but the new arrangement is less confusing than the previous lay out. On the whole the switch off is a success. We must remain vigilant about the position of people who use wheelchairs or are otherwise limited in their mobility.
The lights were not paid for out of tax payers money. The developers were required to pay to undo the damage that their additional traffic caused . They paid £800,000 by adding £800 to the cost of the first 1000 homes built on the power station site, Port Marine as we must learn to call it.
By bornonafarm at 20:09 on 05/11/09
ReportThere has only ever been a problem since the lights were installed. A mini roundabout would not work here, as many people still don't know how to use them properly, it would only take one inept person to cause a queue again. What’s the problem with a simple 't' junction?
By dan83590 at 21:50 on 04/11/09
ReportThere has only ever been a problem since the lights were installed. A mini roundabout would not work here, as many people still don't know how to use them properly, it would only take one inept person to cause a queue again. What’s the problem with a simple 't' junction?
By dan83590 at 21:50 on 04/11/09
ReportI have just joined and found this debate.
I would like to say what a sucess turning the lights off has been. I've only lived in Portishead since May and I always avoided the lights and took an alternative route.
From what I have seen the majority of people in Portishead have common sense and are courteous. This has now dramatically reduced the traffic flow during rush hours.
I think a mini roundabout is needed then this would iliminate any issues with impatient/forceful drivers.
By PaulaBlaney83 at 20:51 on 04/11/09
ReportShow all Comments