Colin James Posted March 30, 2014 Report Posted March 30, 2014 I always though that the junction at the top of King Street where it meets Bridge Street was bad and totally the wrong priority since they changed it several years ago, hence all of the accidents and the local traders campaigning to get this changed. It was better when the give way junction was at the top of Bridge Street, it made more sense in my opinion. Today I drove through town and could not believe how NARROW they have made this! Is it me or is this WORSE THAN EVER?
Colin James Posted March 30, 2014 Author Report Posted March 30, 2014 You can see how narrow it is this van had to drive onto the kerb!
dippyhippy Posted March 30, 2014 Report Posted March 30, 2014 Blimey! When did they do this? I knew something was being planned, it was announced after that bus accident...this actually looks MORE dangerous than before...particularly for pedestrians if vehicles are mounting the curb! Has any real thought gone into this...?? I think not!
Colin James Posted March 30, 2014 Author Report Posted March 30, 2014 Wait until you drive the route, you will not believe how bad it really is.
Pete.g Posted March 30, 2014 Report Posted March 30, 2014 Hi The van in the photo is so far over to the left i.e over the kerb that there is enough room on its right to park a smart car there comfortably ! Again another case of extremely poor driving at road junctions in Hereford. The new junction completely does away with the previous blind spot and gives the motorist travelling from the cathedral end of King street a perfect view of both Bridge street and king street towards St Nicholas. I have gone through this junction in a large LCV this week and managed to traverse the curve without a wheel of the tarmac. I realise that it is not very fashionable or trendy to praise the powers that be on forums , but I have to say that this has to be a great improvement and applaud the fact also that Balfour Beatty have used a local subcontractor to carry out the work. Well done to all concerned. Pete
Colin James Posted March 30, 2014 Author Report Posted March 30, 2014 Hi The van in the photo is so far over to the left i.e over the kerb that there is enough room on its right to park a smart car there comfortably ! Again another case of extremely poor driving at road junctions in Hereford. The new junction completely does away with the previous blind spot and gives the motorist travelling from the cathedral end of King street a perfect view of both Bridge street and king street towards St Nicholas. I have gone through this junction in a large LCV this week and managed to traverse the curve without a wheel of the tarmac. I realise that it is not very fashionable or trendy to praise the powers that be on forums , but I have to say that this has to be a great improvement and applaud the fact also that Balfour Beatty have used a local subcontractor to carry out the work. Well done to all concerned. Pete Sorry Pete but I don't agree, yes this van may be a little over to the left but I drove through this junction earlier in my Mercedes Vito van and I caught the kerb on the right and scuffed my alloys (not happy) and for your information it is not Balfour Beatty carrying out the work it is Joseph Building Contractors. I also witnessed a bus struggling to negotiate the junction , mounting the kerb also and in the process of concentrating so hard almost knocked over a cyclist.
K.Butt Posted March 30, 2014 Report Posted March 30, 2014 This junction is far too narrow, its a joke, I never said anything before because I was going to make sure that I was actually looking at the finished article first and I can now see this is how it's going to be.
Pete.g Posted March 30, 2014 Report Posted March 30, 2014 Hi Colin I drove an Iveco 7 tonne LCV through the other day no problem . Yes Joseph's are the sub contractors that are working for Balfour Beatty, they are local and employ local men. Regards Pete
dippyhippy Posted March 30, 2014 Report Posted March 30, 2014 Soooo.....I haven't been along here yet, is the black strip of tarmac to the right of the van a cycle path? I'll reserve judgement on how narrow this is until we've negotiated it in Morrison - our camper van!
jay1990 Posted March 30, 2014 Report Posted March 30, 2014 I have been through this junction on my bike and it is now worse for a cyclist turning left because some ignorant drivers think as they have a clearer view down bridge street they can pass cyclists on the bend which isn't possible to do safely!
Alex Posted March 30, 2014 Report Posted March 30, 2014 Soooo.....I haven't been along here yet, is the black strip of tarmac to the right of the van a cycle path? I'll reserve judgement on how narrow this is until we've negotiated it in Morrison - our camper van! Its very narrow, I came through there about 2 hours ago and there is no way a bus or lorry will get through there without going up on the kerb NO WAY!
Biomech Posted March 30, 2014 Report Posted March 30, 2014 You can see better to the left so that is good, the down side being that most of the things blocking your view are the parked cars down bridge street and they are still there. So yeah, you get a better angle to see, but it seem's unnecessarily narrow and bendy. I'm sure you could get a tank through there, but I have seen buses struggle
Colin James Posted March 30, 2014 Author Report Posted March 30, 2014 Hi Colin I drove an Iveco 7 tonne LCV through the other day no problem . Yes Joseph's are the sub contractors that are working for Balfour Beatty, they are local and employ local men. Regards Pete Congratulations on your driving skills Pete, have a look at the black tyre marks on the brand new laid kerb stones in this photograph, seems that I am not the only driver that struggled to avoid the kerb...
SON OF GRIDKNOCKER Posted March 31, 2014 Report Posted March 31, 2014 I believe it's called 'shared space', peeps. Originates from Holland. At one time it was to have been inflicted along the entire length of Broad Street. Still, at least it finds employment for kerb layers.
Colin James Posted May 15, 2014 Author Report Posted May 15, 2014 Well well well...cough cough WORKMEN will return to a notorious Hereford junction to have another go at finishing the job. Changes were made earlier this year to the spot where King Street and Bridge Street meet in an attempt to prevent further accidents at the black spot. Businesses, many of whom have treated injured cyclists, pedestrians and motorists, welcomed the works which cost around £100,000. But, just weeks after the new junction was completed, Herefordshire Council has announced that there was a “tarmacking errorâ€. The local authority confirmed to theHereford Times that the contractor tasked with the work laid the wrong type of material, which will have to be scraped off before the correct material is applied. In a statement, the council said: “The contractor laid an inappropriate type of anti-skid material and as a result they are rectifying the error. “This is only related to the ‘buff ’ coloured surface treatment. The other materials used are as specified. “As with many road surface products, there are variations and it is important for the scheme for the right materials to be used. “The intention is to use a cold applied type of material which gives a finish that rides better than the surface treatment currently installed, lasts longer and looks better.†Along with other firms, estate agent Andrew Morris has held a number of talks with the council about the junction, dubbed “crash alley†due to the frequency of accidents. He said the new work will mean even “more disruption to businesses and the publicâ€. Mr Morris added: “How much money this work has already cost must be considerable. “Especially when there are numerous pot holes all over the city and county needing remedial work and grass cutting that has been so reduced that most areas of the city look very uncared for. “Many local businesses have long since been calling for a simple “stop sign†to be erected at the junction to slow traffic. “Surely this option could have been trialled before this very expensive, and now it seems incorrect work, had been carried out. “It would have saved the council a considerable amount of money that could have been put to good use elsewhere.†Rachel Davies, who is a spokeswoman for Balfour Beatty, the council’s highways contractors, said: “Our contractor laid an incorrect specification of anti-skid material – that’s the part of the road surface that is buff coloured. “All the other materials used were correct and according to specifications. “Our contractors have agreed to redo the anti-skid area at their own expense.†Taken from this HT Article
dippyhippy Posted May 15, 2014 Report Posted May 15, 2014 Tee Hee! I read this.....and I thought of you Colin!!
Roger Posted May 15, 2014 Report Posted May 15, 2014 How unsafe is the incorrect surface that has been applied? It's probably more safe than all the wrecked roads around the County. Leaving aside the criticism of the actual design of this new lay out ~ and narrowness. Seems like a technical moan that's been blown up possibly?
Colin James Posted May 21, 2014 Author Report Posted May 21, 2014 I forgot to post this photo when they were doing the roadworks, typical of Hereford traffic wardens. I could not believe it when I saw this, the guys were digging in the road!
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