Forum Topic

Kept awake all night again - this time by faulty temporary lights

The temporary lights at junction of CHR and Goldhawk Road are now faulty, hooting has been absolutely incredible all evening and into the night.Literally listened to bus drivers leaning on their horn for 10 full seconds at 1am, disgraceful behaviour but it doesn't help that the temporary lights are stuck on red, so traffic backs up, people realise there's a problem and start hooting angrily at the cars at the front of the queue. Not to mention the problem is coming from THREE directions.I've tried to call TfL's emergency number, after going through the menu system which take 2 mins they make you jump through hoops by repeatedly confirming it's definitely an emergency, then cut you off after you press hash to confirm. Done this now 4 times.It's literally like however hard you try to get through to TfL to explain what the problems at this junction are - and they have been problems for years but this temporary light situation is unbearable - they just don't want to help resolve them.What can I do?

Mat Smith ● 2144d18 Comments

Mat, that's not good. Not good at all.I have been in touch with TfL to ask them why there is no left filter there. Without it, traffic is backing up solidly  to and up Chiswick Lane.Drivers are being stuck on the yellow box there from both directions and the lights by the bus depot are held at red for far too long.Let's hope they get it right when the permanent lights go live.Don't get your house on it!

Adrian Irving ● 2144d

BET your house on it.Predictive text, how do you stop it?

Adrian Irving ● 2144d

It might be worth trying Hounslow Council. As far as I can work out they are effectively the sub-contractor for TfL and are day to day managing the project.This appears to have led to constant confusion particularly with issues like temporary lights probably because there are three links in the chain of communication - TfL tells Hounslow what to do and then Hounslow passes this on to the construction firm on site who may in turn be sub-contracting part of the job.That said, looking at the two dimensional Spagetthi Junction they seem to be planning at the King Street, CHR, Goldhawk Road junction I don't think you are going to get uninterruped sleep when the lights are fixed.

Mark Evans ● 2144d

The lights at CHR/Chiswick Lane are also stuck on red (again) with the predictable results ....

Mark Perry ● 2144d

Indeed the lights are stuck again at Chiswick Lane. We've seen a near head-on with a responding ambulance and a bus overtake traffic to get through the light.Surely, surely the contractor should have an emergency response/contingency mechanism in place. Given the four or five times this has happened in the past two weeks, it would appear not.

David Lesniak ● 2144d

I have just taken a look at the lights at the junction of CHR and Goldhawk Road.Although they are covered up and I can't tell for sure there appears no left turn filter which there was before.If this is not put in place it will be CHAOS along this stretch  FOREVER.I have pointed this out to TfL but had no response.I am alerting my local councillor who has a reputation for sorting out this sort of thing.

Adrian Irving ● 2143d

Does anyone else think there just might be a conspiracy between Hounslow Council and TFL.  The number of faulty lights and road works seems unprecedented.  It is all adding to the chaos.  Seems possible that it will all mysteriously disappear when the cycle lane goes live.I could just be being paranoid

Maggie Dodge ● 2143d

One would hope that, outside peak times and certainly overnight, the full frustration mode on all these traffic lights (when they're finally installed) will automatically change to something more forgiving. I doubt if anyone will see the point of waiting so long for their precious few seconds of green in the middle of the night.

Peter Evans ● 2143d

My understanding is there will be no left turn filter lane and no left filter signal. So the westbound capacity at this junction will fall sharply made worse by the loss of the bus lane. The green phase for traffic is also cut by the need to accomodate the separate cycle phase. This junction will create permanent queues back up Goldhawk and King St, and worsen those when heading north up Chiswick Lane from Hogarth. This means more noise and pollution for local residents and terrible for bus users, and all road users, trade and commercial as well as residents. It will be mirrored at the west end by queues formed by the new bus gate and on roads around Turnam Green

Paul Green ● 2143d

You couldn’t make it up.....are we really that incompetent sadly the answer is yes.......the chaos, madness will not change when the cycle lane is finished that’s down to poor design, no regard for any road users, bus islands and no bus lane go figure that one because I can’t, accidents waiting to happen. I thought public transport was a priority carrying thousands of passengers daily is it a good trade for a handful of cyclists 🧐🧐🧐 the amount of roadworks in Chiswick is just shocking, poorly planned. Poor traffic a management and no contingencies for anything that may go wrong 🥺🥺🥺🥺

Jayne Thorburn ● 2143d

The temporary problem seems fixed now.Police attended this morning to assist with children crossing the road. A friend of mine witnessed an Audi speeding across the road and had a near miss head-on with cyclist.NO emergency phone number left on the lights. Very difficult to get through to TfL which I attempted multiple times between the hours of 10pm and 4am when I finally managed to get to sleep.The behaviour of the bus drivers has been incredible.Apparently the sub-sub contractor who installed the lights have a “100% customer service satisfaction for emergency call out” on their website.The situation is now back to pre last night, and the pedestrian crossing beeping which can be heard from many streets away continues throughout the day and night, also a disturbance that never used to be there.

Mat Smith ● 2143d

The noise at a pedestrian crossing is for the benefit of the partially sighted and their needs will take precedence over a good night's sleep for you.

Mark Evans ● 2143d

If no pedestrians press the button, as in the middle of the night, there's surely no need for the lights to offer a pedestrian period, nor beep to celebrate it.

Peter Evans ● 2143d

With TFL though, don't forget - Every Journey Matters, or as I saw on twitter the day - Every Journey in Tatters - which is what is happening on Chiswick High Road. Got delayed on the bus again today. Bus lane still in operation down the Goldhawk Road and of course bus uses it, then when the bus turns West into CHR the bus lane disappears and so there are near misses as the bus and other traffic all trying to turn right into limited space.I suppose public transport users are not valued any more by TFL and Hounslow.

J Morse ● 2143d

Peter is correct. The lights have pedestrian crossing as part of the phase, with no button trigger. As far as I can tell there's no need for this.Of course I understand the need for safety / assistance for the hard of sight, it's not my point. The previous traffic light system had beeps but they were not audible 5 streets away.

Mat Smith ● 2143d

Real concern is the danger to pedestrian’s crossing with the bad tempered and confused driver’s. They appear to have removed the safety islands for pedestrians. Apart from a small bike lane one. So our children have to navigate a treacherous crossing. Hopefully when Hounslow reopen their      public roads traffic will lessen. Bring on an A4 cycle hi-way. What we already use

Caroline Carrington ● 2143d

As I have had no feedback from my enquiries I have visited the site and spoken to the head of the team.Good news! There is going to be a left filter from CHR into Goldhawk Rd.

Adrian Irving ● 2142d

Could they sneakily put one back on from CHR to Chiswick Lane too? Maybe draw some new paint on the tarmac overnight??

J Morse ● 2142d