Forum Topic

Chiswick gridlocked once again

Thanks once again to the closure of Chiswick bridge, Chiswick Roundabout, Chiswick high round and surrounding areas are gridlocked again.The traffic is also backed up along the slip road and it's now blocking the A/M4.Why don't Tfl suspend the bus lanes along the high road when Chiswick bridge is closed.It is infuriating to be sat in stationary traffic with an unused lane alongside.

Andy Pease ● 3350d71 Comments

As they were expecting the bridge to be repaired do wonder what theirthoughts would be now.

Janice Evans ● 534d

"You're not entitled to your own facts in order to fit some narrative about some public body you want to have a go at."Well done Ed for giving us a chance to read or reread Thomas Barry's very relevant words! Thomas would have felt happy to think his thoughts could get a second wind.

Tom Pike ● 534d

Crikey, who else on this thread has died  so no one inadvertently puts their foot in it again?

Claire Moran ● 534d

Indeed, Mark. It's good to reread the always cogent views of Thomas Barry, who died far too young. There is no doubt which side of the argument he would have been on with C9.The same people who demanded that the bus lane be suspended due to the closure of Chiswick Bridge did not feel it even worth a mention when a chunk of the bus lane was removed between Linden Gdns and Duke Rd a few months later. But when a shorter length was removed in front of the old police station with the construction of C9, that 80m length of bus lane was suddenly regarded as critical.

Tom Pike ● 534d

That was a nice thing to write Janice, hope it brings a smile to people who knew Andy.

Andrew Jones ● 534d

Whatever the reason for the recent post, it keeps Andy with us, he is missed.

Janice Evans ● 534d

My outrage is far from faux. To drag up such an old post proves a weird determination to prove their point. As I posted recently.  To know that Chiswick suffers when there’s a hold up, such as an accident. What genius thinks making things worse is a genuine solution ?

Maggie Dodge ● 535d

Your little outburst won't see high tide tonight. The lefty councils will never listen to the public voice and your best bet is, don't go out unless it's extremely necessary; well, in Chiswick anyway. My weekends are usually in the rural parts of Lincolnshire and traffic here albeit farm and the odd resident traffic it is almost 0 here. Come Tuesday that'll change as I'll be back in W4 50 mins plus from Metro-bank to Chiswick roundabout.

Carl Johns ● 535d

"Ed was probably unaware of Andy's passing"Yes Ed is unaware of lots of issues facing motorists. He is no doubt unaware of Andy's campaigning on access for motorists, like him, to have easy access to drive regularly to hospital for his dialysis treatment. The pro cycling and anti car brigade on this forum have NO empathy for those who simply cannot use cycles or buses. Well done to Ed for hi-lighting yet again this lack of empathy and smugness.

Steve Taylor ● 535d

Once more Maggie Dodge is introducing the unpleasant nastiness of social media culture wars to this forum. Ed was probably unaware of Andy's passing and even if he was, there is little chance he would have objected to his contribution being revived. Sadly, he is not the only person posting on this thread that is no longer with us and that will include friends which are much missed by many of us. I think they would all have seen through your faux outrage.

Mark Evans ● 535d

A new low Ed!

Maggie Dodge ● 535d

Insensitive to say the least

Maggie Dodge ● 535d

Clearly a dull night for the cycling types to resort to digging up this stuff. All it shows is that they are rather desperate to bolster their fragile egos.

Simon Hayes ● 535d

Bit of a surprise to suddenly see a contribution from Andy Pease who died a while back.

Susan Kelly ● 535d

The CW4 forums were full of car vs bus threads, so it is nothing short of brilliant for the great minds of OneChiswick to rebrand themselves from the anti bus / pro car lobby to the pro bus and car / anti cycling lobby!Of course they don't want any new bus lanes, want to limit and remove the existing ones - especially Fishers Lane, and take out the bus gates.  But the reason your bus is trapped behind all those cars?  That's down to the cyclists. There'll be a lot of that at the upcoming Chiswick Area Forum.

Ed Saper ● 535d

Wow. Mostly the same people with the same views and ideologies. But interesting to see that Francis managed, for the only time I can remember, make an accurate prediction:"Next time I would be surprised if Hounslow didn't, in similar circumstances, make Strand on the Green/Thames Road local access only"Also the years have had quite the deleterious effect on Russell who seems to have actually been a bit sensible and rational in 2015.No surprise to see Loraine as massively anti-cycling as always.There must be some more of these gems to dig up.

Paul Campbell ● 535d

Chiswick gridlock isn't a new phenomenon - it also happened way back in 2015! (And every other year BC9)When Chiswick Bridge closed, the car lobby blamed bus lanes for traffic congestion, which also discriminate against disabled people, increase pollution and are actually just a scam to generate revenue from car drivers.So nothing much changes!  Let's get rid of unused bus lanes:"Why don't Tfl suspend the bus lanes along the high road when Chiswick bridge is closed.It is infuriating to be sat in stationary traffic with an unused lane alongside."Bus lanes increase pollution: "Bus lanes are not necessary at the weekend.Not very many people need to use buses to get to work and sitting with the engine running is just adding to polution"Loraine makes the case that bus lanes discriminate:"The trouble is you've made an inaccurate assumption that all drivers are capable of using a bus, what about people who are disabled - should they get on a bus too or should they stay at home for the weekend?"Ian Wylie published some photos of the bridge closure and traffic:https://www.flickr.com/photos/ianwylie/sets/72157650805996469/

Ed Saper ● 535d

"I think you are wrong to characterise this debate as one of 'sides'. If you exclude the dogmatic positions of people like Andy Pease and Thomas Barry you'll find most simply want to be assured that as much as possible was done to reduce disruption over the last two weekends."Fair point Andrew and thanks for your other comments. I think I should retire from this debate now.

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 3346d

Chris it is good to hear from you again and I'm very confident that were you still around the situation over the last two weekends would have been tackled more effectively. Part of that may be down to reduced resources for your successors but we all know that you genuinely cared about the area and that guided your actions.I think you are wrong to characterise this debate as one of 'sides'. If you exclude the dogmatic positions of people like Andy Pease and Thomas Barry you'll find most simply want to be assured that as much as possible was done to reduce disruption over the last two weekends. The bus lanes on Chiswick High Road that you were largely responsible for introducing seem to work well and local hostility towards them is not down to any delays they cause in traffic under normal circumstances but the opportunistic way they have been exploited for revenue collection. It is generally understood that you had nothing to do with the over-zealous enforcement on what has become Britain's most fined road.

Andrew OSullivan ● 3346d

Ah, a fun thread to read on my day off here in seldom-congested Wellington.I could guess the content and thrust of just about all the posts just by reading the posters' names.  No proves for guessing which "side" I support, having been responsible for many of the CHR bus lanes and making little apology for doing so.Even on a weekend, CHR is likely to carry more people by bus than by car.  There seems little to be gained in destroying the reliability of the bus service in these circumstances, thereby "driving" people (NPI) back into their cars.  And the bus lanes, while not pretending to be segregated cycle lanes do provide a level of comfort and encouragement for those who can and are willing to cycle, thus reducing pressure on road space.I do get annoyed when those for whom a disability makes cycling, walking or bus use impossible, use this as an argument for the unfettered right of everyone to expect to use their cars at all times and in all circumstances without the acceptance that the roads simply won't cope.  I don't think the rights of a small number of people with disabilities should outweigh a much much larger number of public transport users to also go about their business - although I do understand the frustrations and everyday challenges faced by those with limited mobility.As for conspiracy theories regrading parking fines and CCTV lane enforcement, I can say that in my time in Hounslow I never let the revenue issue influence my attempts to do what I considered appropriate in helping to plan for special issues such as the Hammersmith flyover closures, although a certain senior officer thankfully no longer with LBH certainly didn't help.  If there is any lack of forward planning, intervention or interagency cooperation nowadays, it's more likely to be simply the outcome of the cost-driven reduction in relevant professional resources within the council, although TfL never seems to be similarly affected.Cheers to allCCF

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 3346d

Andy, thanks for the useful tip on the lack of a bus lane camera at this spot.Adam, apologies if my post upset you. It was meant to be a bit of light-hearted teasing at your slightly pompous message and not a personal attack.Thomas, I couldn't really understand what you were getting at in your last post other than it was another attempt to persuade us that the service providers are infallible and the service users (i.e. the general public) should do what they are told and shut up.

Paul Corcoran ● 3347d

Andrew, the drivers that strayed into the bus lane will be safe.There are no bus lane cameras along the stretch of Chiswick high approaching Acton Lane.The only stretch of road that is covered by camera is from Gunnerbury station to Chiswick roundabout.This stretch is covered by a small covert camera hidden behind a tree.Even when you know where it is, it's very difficult to see.I would not be surprised if this is Hounslows "golden egg"I am sure this camera must be the councils greatest revenue raiser.The stretch of road from Gunnersbury is virtually always congested, so motorists have to sit in traffic crawling along that single track.Very often as they approach the end of the single track, drivers clip off the end of the bus lane where the road becomes dual track again, and those few metres will cost them £120 thank you very much.Time and time again I see cars crossing the end of the bus lane.It is obvious this camera is purely a revenue raiser.It is a small round camera about the size of 2 coke cans.It's sole purpose is to add to Hounslows coffers.It's despicable

Andy Pease ● 3347d

Responding to anti-bus rhetoric with anti-car rhetoric might help some people pass the time of day at the expense of their employer but it doesn't really get us anywhere.The points I made about how some selected bus lane suspensions might have significantly helped seemed to have been completely ignored by those who believe that traffic is the fault of people in the traffic and who should therefore be punished for the impertinence of driving at the wrong time.The eastbound stretch of Chiswick High Road to the west of Acton Lane has a bus lane along one side until about 200m before the lights at the junction. The left hand lane then becomes a filter for traffic turning left into Acton Lane. My observations at the weekend were that a significant proportion of the vehicles queueing to get through the lights at this junction wished to turn left but were constrained from doing so because of the bus lane. This caused extra delays for all the traffic in this lane INCLUDING BUSES none of which turn left at this point so are forced to join the queue.It was traffic backing up from this set of lights that seemed to cause most of the delays going back to Chiswick Roundabout. Beyond the lights traffic was relatively light. The tailbacks appear to have interfered with the flow of vehicles off the north circular as well because it was difficult for drivers to get off Chiswick Roundabout onto CHR.A suspension of the bus lane either from Wickes or Halfords would have substantially improved the flow of traffic at this junction. Any extension of journey time for buses by the loss of the short stretch of bus lane would have been outweighed many times over by the reduced delays at the traffic lights.When I was observing this section a small number of vehicles did pull out into the bus lane to join the left hand filter. If there is a camera at this point - which I suspect there will be - they will be fined. Ironically the manoeuvre was one that would have helped reduce bus journey times although I doubt this would be considered during any appeal.Why did Hounslow Council not consider suspending the bus lane at this point? Well, it is certainly not crazy to suggest that on the road in the country that raises the most fines from motorists that they may have been putting revenue considerations before those of road users. They responded with alacrity to the closure of Hammersmith flyover by introducing a range of measures that were highly revenue positive and if anything made the traffic problems worse so it is notable that nothing was done in this instance. Although protection of revenue was probably a factor I'm inclined to think that this had more to do with Hounslow and TfL being unable to come to an agreement about how costs would be shared and therefore doing nothing became the comfortable option. Whatever you believe it seems clear to me that this isn't a situation where the service providers deserve the unequivocal support that some people seem to unthinkingly give them.

Andrew OSullivan ● 3347d

Thomas, you do realise you have become the mirror image of Jeremy Clarkson in matters of transport with your dogmatic arguments present without a hint of nuance. There have been some well-reasoned and sensible suggestions on this forum as to how things might have been ameliorated over the last two weekends. Next time I would be surprised if Hounslow didn't, in similar circumstances, make Strand on the Green/Thames Road local access only and the argument for a partial suspension of the bus lane near the junction with Acton Lane is a compelling one. That such moves might contradict your dearly held principles is not a reason for them to be discounted.You have misunderstood Paul's point about publicity for the closure. There will always be people, who through no fault of their own, are unaware of upcoming road closures so it is entirely predictable that there will be traffic problems. Given this more could have been done to improve matters.You can't really sensibly dismiss the idea that Hounslow Council have a conflict of interest in this case. Chiswick High Road is the top earning street in the country raising £1.36 million per annum for Hounslow Council. The experience of the Hammersmith Flyover shows they get a substantial boost in revenue when there is a problem like this. You are very naive to assume that any proposal that might have helped the flow of traffic but reduced their revenue would have been side-lined very quickly.

Francis Rowe ● 3347d

On Saturday there were signs on the M25 at the approach to the junction with the M3 advising motorists that the A316 was closed at Chiswick Bridge.

Karen Foster ● 3347d

While many people living or working in West London may have been aware of the closure, those from further afield intending to use the A316 as a trunk route to the M3 might not. In an ideal world TfL would have put signs up well into Central London advising alternative routes. On the motorway network it is not uncommon to see the fixed roadside signs being used to advise of road problems on a different motorway over fifty miles away, and something similar might have helped in this instance.

Richard Greenhough ● 3347d

Andy - it would be wrong of me to say I appreciate your personal situation because I'm not in the same situation and I can only imagine it, so I wouldn't ever pretend to fully appreciate.However, in terms of traffic issues like this, to me there isn't really an answer which could address the genuine needs of a small minority.Paul - no need for the sarcasm re. me being 'frightfully clever' (never understand the need for personal attacks when the thread is about a general issue).  I'm not convinced about people having no choice or being unaware, in my view too many people travel by car regardless of choice or awareness, and whilst there's no doubt some people either have to travel by car or weren't aware, I certainly don't think such people would be in the majority.As for your latter points, to me the issue of the effectiveness of diversions and mitigation is a non-starter, because of the reliance most people have on their cars the reality is that any closure of a major route will cause the type of disruption we've seen over recent weekends.  To me the only difference would be that  better signage might deter/prevent people from trying to use back roads/residential streets as a short-cut, which would of course helps residents of Thames Road, but arguably this would only increase the delays on the main road network.

Adam Beamish ● 3347d

"People who live in the area are the best qualified to assess whether these measures would actually work"On the evidence of this thread that's exactly 100% wrong."either had no choice but to travel on the roads at the time of the closure or didn't know the closure was taking place."So what you're saying is that despite months of notice and widespread communications by TfL the fault is theirs for not ensuring, personally, that everyone with a car in the south east of England was paying attention and by the way it's all Hounslow's fault for being greedy?  Not a very coherent argument, there."suspicion raised elsewhere that Hounslow sees these traffic problems as a revenue opportunity"Oh really? We get enough conspiracy nonsense from Michael Brown, thanks.Facts: - TfL chose to close the bridge at the same time as the District/Overground were cut, for some reason I'd quite like to know (Boat Race and rugby, for my money, but only an FoI or an approach from an MP will tease it out) - There isn't enough capacity on any diversion route if you close one of the west London Thames bridges, no matter what you do you'll get a jam caused by too many cars on the remaining links - Quite a lot of people decided to drive either without realising there was going to be a jam regardless of route or being happy to sit in it or trusting to luck - There were plenty of signs up, but some people still ignored them (mind you 'local traffic only' is open to wide interpretation - 'AVOID CHISWICK' might have been better). - You're not entitled to your own facts in order to fit some narrative about some public body you want to have a go at.  Sorry.

Thomas Barry ● 3347d

Adam, we take your point that you are frightfully clever in not going out in your car for the last two weekends. However, the chances are that the vast majority of people stuck in jams either had no choice but to travel on the roads at the time of the closure or didn't know the closure was taking place.The almost universal opinion of people whose roads were clogged up by displaced traffic was that the signage was inadequate and the diversions were poorly thought out. There clearly is a lack of co-ordination between TfL and Hounslow during these closures and the suspicion raised elsewhere that Hounslow sees these traffic problems as a revenue opportunity as opposed to a problem they need to try to mitigate appears well founded. The first and easiest thing that Hounslow should do when closures of a similar nature are likely to cause disruption is consult properly with local residents and tell them in advance what diversions and traffic mitigation strategies are proposed. People who live in the area are the best qualified to assess whether these measures would actually work.

Paul Corcoran ● 3348d

Adam, I don't choose to be reliant on my car.I have to be reliant on my car.Without it I can't go out.Sure, it's great if you can cycle or walk to where you want to go to but unfortunately, I no longer have that option.I have severe arthritis in both knees.So severe in fact, I need knee replacements in both legs.I also have end stage kidney failure so I couldn't go through a knee replacement operation as the stress it would place on the kidneys would cause complete irreversible renal failure which would leave me needing dialysis for the rest of my life.My kidney function is so bad already, I was placed on the transplant list at the end of last year.So using my car is not a choice for me, it is a necessity

Andy Pease ● 3348d

I don't really understand the level of anger these works create, given they happen once in a blue moon.As much as we all like to criticise organisations like TfL and LBH in circumstances like this, saying that they should have planned for this eventuality and that eventuality, the same criticisms apply to us as individuals - we've known about these works for ages, so plan accordingly.On all of the affected weekends I've either not gone out in the car at all, or have made sure that whatever journey I needed to make by car was completed either early in the morning or later in the evening.In this day and age and in a city like London we really shouldn't be as reliant on private cars as we choose to be, and when we get stuck in gridlock that all us car drivers are directly contributing to, we really aren't in a position to complain.Same thing with parking in developments, so many people say there's not enough off-street parking provided, that's the whole point, less parking provision is the best way of reducing traffic/reliance on private car.Adam (car driver/owner, cyclist, oyster card holder, walker).

Adam Beamish ● 3348d

Handbags at twelve paces for you two.

Richard Greenhough ● 3348d

It's a quote from P. G. Wodehouse, you uneducated moron.

Thomas Barry ● 3348d

How many people driving along Chsiwick High Rd are disabled.?I assume you'd welcome measures to discourage people driving if they have alternatives in order to make life easier for people who genuinely have no other option.

Michael Robinson ● 3348d

Was this weekend (March 6th/7th) the last weekend of closures for the bridge?

Colin Jordan ● 3348d

>Why should they be further inconvenienced by losing half the usable road area.Andy, that "empty" bit of road is not empty.Think of a bus with 60 people on it.Now think of 60 people in 55 cars (most cars only have the driver in).That bus lane is transporting more people than your car lane.Why don't you take the bus?

Paul James ● 3349d

I take it that you are attempting a wind up?

Carl Wynne ● 3349d

"Not very often that the bridge needs repairing is it?"Exactly. Which is why I took the photos of what will soon be consigned to history. Spoke to the workers at both sets of traffic barriers on the approaches to Chiswick Bridge. They said the reaction from drivers had been 50-50. Half understanding that the work had to be done and half, at best, not being as understanding. The workers also made the point that most of those complaining had no idea just what a huge amount of work has been done to secure the bridge's future. And that the traffic problems would have been far worse in Chiswick had it not been carried out.I'm sure many people have heeded the closure warnings and while not a great experience for drivers, bus passengers and District Line customers to and from Richmond, this final closure will be over in a matter of hours.

Ian Wylie ● 3349d

So are you a cyclist or a car owner? But whatever your status is on that front, you clearly think that all disabled people can you public transport - a somewhat tunnel vision viewpoint.Also there's the small matter of 'freedom of choice' or should all car owners conform to you point of view?  There's a reason that shops have disabled parking bays near their doors.....

Loraine Pemberton ● 3349d

Not very often that the bridge needs repairing is it?

Russell Pearson ● 3349d

"Annual aquatic contest"?Boat race you berk

Madeleine Hazard ● 3349d

Paul, your point about Hounslow making a fortune out of this weekend is spot on.I hadn't considered the bonanza they would reap from bus lane fines.I think the £1.36 million Hounslow got from fines to motorists on Chiswick high road is about to be eclipsed.All thanks to the incredibly sneaky bus lane camera installed behind a tree at the end of the bus lane near Chiswick roundabout.This well hidden camera covers the entire length of the bus lane from Gunnersbury station to the roundabout.So, motorist are forced to sit in crawling traffic all along that section, and just as they get to the end of the bus lane they clip off the last few feet and bingo, another £120 into Hounslows coffers.What would Hounslow do without the £5 million pound contribution motorists made ?

Andy Pease ● 3349d

When people become either dogmatically pro-bus or pro-car these discussions start to become sterile and rather pointless.Two points need to be accepted by everyone: firstly the London bus network is a key part of our transport infrastructure particularly for those on lower incomes and bus lanes are critical in ensuring it operates efficiently. Secondly, given that the Chiswick Bridge closure was well-publicised the majority of people stuck in the traffic yesterday and who will be stuck today probably had a good reason to be on the road and no reasonable alternative.Andrew O'Sullivan seems to have made some constructive suggestions but I think we should remember that intra-agency rivalry probably precludes any serious consideration being given to measure that might reduce the disruption caused by the closure of Chiswick Bridge.It is TfL that have closed the bridge but Chiswick High Road is the responsibility of Hounslow Council. There is probably some provision for signage to be funded by TfL on Hounslow's roads but there is unlikely to be any compensation given for revenue lost if the bus lanes were closed.Frustrated drivers will be nipping into the bus lanes all day making this weekend a bonanza for Hounslow. It is therefore very unlikely that they would pursue proposals for temporary suspensions even if they could be shown to generally improve the flow of traffic.

Paul Pryce ● 3349d

"I do wonder why works were sanctioned this weekend closing both the District Line between Chiswick and Richmond and the Overground from South Acton and Gunnersbury? "The bridge work has to be completed by the time of an annual aquatic contest on the 11th April.  The Gunnersbury closure is down to Network Rail, who are not under TfL's control and would have notified TfL 12 weeks beforehand, as they do any other train operator.  That's about mid-December 2014. This site has a story from the 1st January from the TfL press release which I think is the first mention of a closure of the bridge this weekend, by which time TfL would have known about the rail closure and decided to go ahead anyway, presumably for Boat Race reasons.  It would be interesting to put in an FoI request about that.Also, as Ian says, that row of buses in the High Road is partly District Line replacement, so not only is Andy's bus lane carrying the normal routes but also supposedly the entire District Line between Turnham Green and Richmond.  I suggest that it's not exactly going to be 'unused'.  Assuming people haven't got off in disgust it's possibly carrying more people than those congested lanes full of cars.  It's one of the more tiresome aspects of car culture that people assume a stationary line of cars is better use of space than a moving (i.e. mostly empty) bus lane.  It just isn't.

Thomas Barry ● 3349d

"what about people who are disabled - should they get on a bus too"Given that all buses have to have disabled access and quite a lot of disabled people don't have access to cars, many have no choice.  You want to snarl them up in traffic by removing the priority given to a more efficient form of transport?  Seems an odd way to help them, but there you go.[yes, I know about Andy's condition, which is why my second point was general here - the weekend traffic problems are caused by too many people in cars trying to use roads with not enough space, not too many bus lanes.]

Thomas Barry ● 3349d

I walked past lines of traffic yesterday observed the flow of traffic for a while.In principle a suspension of bus lanes might help particularly as this is a weekend closure and bus loadings are much lower. However, the main problems are on the stretch between Chiswick Roundabout and the junction with Acton Lane which is squeezed down to one lane eastbound periodically any way. So generally a bus lane suspension wouldn't help.However, there could be something done to clear the problems at the Acton Lane junction which seemed to be the main contributor to tailbacks all the way to Chiswick Roundabout. After this point traffic was flowing a little better.One immediately apparent problem that lots of traffic wanted to enter the left filter lane but was constrained from doing so. This resulted in a much longer single file of traffic in the right hand lane than was necessary including buses. I would suggest that a suspension of the bus lane westward up to Halfords would have significantly reduced journey times for all vehicles including buses.

Andrew OSullivan ● 3349d

I am a person who chooses the appropriate mode for the journey at hand.  The world is not split neatly into 'car drivers' and 'cyclists', as you rather puzzlingly imply.For the record I have two cars, a bicycle, an Oyster card and two feet.

Thomas Barry ● 3349d

Hi Andy. You are right it would clear the amount of traffic coming back east but that isn't really going to solve anything for people trying to get onto the roundabout from the A4 and A406. If that westbound traffic locks everything up it doesn't really matter what is coming from the right as they are just going to run into the back of them and have to wait. Opening an exit up on a roundabout is all well and good but unless you can give an extra lane to get off on every arm without it then running into a bottle neck then letting more people onto an already failing roundabout just won't work. I actually design this stuff for a living and I'll tell you it is an absolute nightmare to try and make work as there are so many factors involved.

James Robinson ● 3349d

Looking at Ian's photographs the solution becomes blatantly obvious. On days when Chiswick bridge is closed, take all the buses off the roads.Problem solved

Andy Pease ● 3349d

IanYou're expecting logic and joined up thinking from a number of agencies. Good luck with that .....

Sarah Benson ● 3349d

A few of the photos from that walk. Click on the link below for the full set of images:Chiswick Bridge Final Closure Photos

Ian Wylie ● 3349d

Many apologies Andy if you can't walk very far,perhaps bus lanes could be opened up to people with disabled stickers when there are problems, this could be an answer

Jeni Evans ● 3349d

Someone else who obviously didn't believe the signs was the driver of a red London double decker bus who had to do a U-turn at the lights just before the bridge!

Derek Hill ● 3349d

I walked south this afternoon (Saturday) from South Parade to Chiswick Bridge via the High Road, Grove Park etc. Then across Chiswick Bridge to Chalker's Corner at Mortlake. Returning back over Chiswick Bridge, along the A316 and then east across the Hogarth Roundabout…taking photos as I walked, including of the signage for westbound traffic heading towards the Hogarth Roundabout. A steady stream of cars ignored the "Road Ahead Closed" / "Strictly Local Access" signs at Hogarth and headed towards Chiswick Bridge. It would appear unlikely all of those vehicles were "local". I assume some simply didn't believe the signs while others saw one car diving down the A136 towards Chiswick Bridge and probably thought the driver in front knew better. But I saw just one lorry head for Chiswick Bridge - a Sainsbury's vehicle - which then was turned around at the bridge barriers and headed back to the Hogarth. While most of the cars simply turned right into a rather peaceful Hartington Road. But guessing not so peaceful once they hit the bottleneck of Thames Road.What was clear was some intensive and detailed work going on across Chiswick Bridge itself - not just road resurfacing but what looked like deep new drains / gullies under the road and pavement. Plus a separate crew working on boats and a hoist floating under the central arch of the bridge, which is also closed this weekend.Leaving aside other arguments, I do wonder why works were sanctioned this weekend closing both the District Line between Chiswick and Richmond and the Overground from South Acton and Gunnersbury? A number of the buses trapped in the Chiswick High Road gridlock were rail replacement services. I know the TfL weekend upgrades are important but it does seem daft to schedule this particular closure at a time when Chiswick Bridge is also closed.

Ian Wylie ● 3349d

James, I appreciate what you say, but buses run in both directions.If you opened up the bus lanes running away from the roundabouts, you would clear twice the amount of traffic off the roundabout

Andy Pease ● 3349d

It's a nice idea in theory to use the bus lanes in such situation and it may well have even be considered. From the other side though all you are doing there is moving the storage and doubling the pressure on Chiswick Roundabout and that would have a huge impact on traffic trying to get on from the A4 and A406. Potentially that could gridlock the roundabout even more. Not saying this was the reason the bus lane was not opened but these things are generally looked at as how the whole network runs and often its a damned if you do damned if you don't.Am sure this thread would still be firing pelters if the roundabout was completely taken out of action as a result of sending hundreds more cars at it.You actually need to cut people off long before you even reach Chiswick Bridge. I don't know what signing etc there was at Hogarth today but sounds like there should have been some better communications.

James Robinson ● 3349d

JeniWhat a shortsighted and somewhat curt response!  The trouble is you've made an inaccurate assumption that all drivers are capable of using a bus, what about people who are disabled - should they get on a bus too or should they stay at home for the weekend?

Loraine Pemberton ● 3349d

Sure, that's fine if you can walk to the bus stop.Not everybody can so I suppose those people will just have to stay at home then

Andy Pease ● 3349d

Get on a bus then you can use the bus lanes,

Jeni Evans ● 3349d

Ah, that explains it. Just got back to my home 'oop norf' (that's Stoke Newington to you - the Chiswick of North London) after attending Miss Naysmith's funeral. I particularly noticed how bad the traffic was. I just thought that it was thhe way Chiswick had changed. Incidentally Mr Pease, are you the same Andy Pease that used to do youth work with a certain Mr Dollar back in the late 70's and early 80's?

Shaun Joynson ● 3349d

ThomasDo you own a car or are you a cyclist?

Loraine Pemberton ● 3349d

"Try reading the signs"Why ? It's 24 hours a day, 7 days a week along Chiswick high road from Gunnersbuy station to Chiswick roundabout, the area I said was congested

Andy Pease ● 3349d

Try reading the signs - certainly along the stretch of road from TGT to the Town Hall it's Monday to Friday only! I used it today.

Derek Hill ● 3349d

Thomas I get really fed up with your anti car preaching.Why don't you give it a rest.Whenever there is a post about cars/traffic, it's guaranteed you'll be on preaching the gospel about evil cars.For some people the car is the only way they can get around.Why should they be further inconvenienced by losing half the usable road area.I made a perfectly valid point.Bus lanes are not necessary at the weekend.Not very many people need to use buses to get to work and sitting with the engine running is just adding to polution.Do everyone a favour and stop your constant complaining about cars.

Andy Pease ● 3350d

OR Wait'til they close part of the A316 on match days.

Julian Pavey ● 3350d

"It is infuriating to be sat in stationary traffic with an unused lane alongside"1) You are not 'sat in traffic', you are the traffic2) Why should bus passengers be further inconvenienced because car drivers won't adjust to a well advertised significant loss of road capacity?

Thomas Barry ● 3350d

Wait 'til they close the A316 for up to eight hours during the Rugby World Cup, I dread to think how far that will impact!

Vanessa Smith ● 3350d

I'm sure Chiswick bridge needs this work doing, but it would be nice to think Tfl put a bit of thought into this closure instead of just taking it's normal 'sod you'attitude.They have had long enough to make preparations. The good people of Thames road have been complaining about the traffic chaos this work is causing from day one, so Tfl can't say they didn't know what was going on.Wouldn't it be nice to see some roadworks in Chiswick where someone had actually put some thought into how it will affect the local residents.Time after time these roadworks spring up, cause months of problems, and there's not even a 'sorry folks' from the people that cause the chaos

Andy Pease ● 3350d

Thames Road again taking the brunt of the chaos caused by the closure of Chiswick Bridge.

Samia Mirza ● 3350d

Thames Road is proper locked up right now

James Robinson ● 3350d

AndyTfL thinking practically and considerately - are you kidding? Yours is a brilliant idea but the chance of TfL implementing such a simple but effective solution are zero!

Loraine Pemberton ● 3350d