Roadworks Diversions 101
Roadworks Diversions 101
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MustangGT

Original Poster:

13,788 posts

308 months

Sunday 21st June
quotequote all
What a farce!

Heading south down the A1 Thursday night, road closure for roadworks.

They took us off at the exit just before where they want to do the roadworks. Diversion route takes us round a short loop, and back onto the A1 heading NORTH. Takes us 2 junctions north then off onto the diversion route.

Why not take us off at the earlier junction in the first place?

The extra 2 junctions was around 12 miles extra, then an additional 8 miles of genuine diversion.

Overall 20 miles and 30 minutes, rather than 8 miles and 15-18 minutes.

Bunch of incompetent *****.

Riley Blue

23,205 posts

254 months

Monday 22nd June
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A diversion for all vehicle classes presumably, bikes to HGVs.

MustangGT

Original Poster:

13,788 posts

308 months

Friday 26th June
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Yes all classes.

PaulD86

1,840 posts

154 months

Thursday 9th July
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Such works must legally adhere to "The Red Book". https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7...

In this instance it is likely that risk assessment found that the shorter diversion route would not pass risk assessment for all the traffic which would be impacted by the works (e.g. paragraph 2 of page 70). The reasons for why a diversion route may fail risk assessment are not always immediately obvious especially to those outwith the industry.

It may have been a bad choice of route, but I think there being something which didn't pass risk assessment on the shorter option is most likely.

(I'm a roads engineer with traffic management qualifications btw).

s p a c e m a n

11,978 posts

176 months

Thursday 9th July
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My favorites are when the diversion sends you down a road with a different set of roadworks on that obviously wasn't set up for the extra traffic

Doesitdrive

1,887 posts

9 months

Thursday 9th July
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Or when they put road closed on another road to deter its use, and the diversion route is through narrow lanes that two vans cannot pass on, or maps takes everyone into them, in an area that only has 1 main road access,

As happened around Latchingdon Essex earlier this week, admittedly probably a quick set up for a burst water main judging by the vans flying around, but an almighty balls up.

I came out through the closed but open road, so did the water vans, ridiculous situation.

vikingaero

13,085 posts

197 months

Thursday 9th July
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When I become Minister for Transport under Count Binface, my first act will be to change the law so that any Road Closed signs are invalid without a freaking arrow.

If you put out a Road Closed sign put a left or right arrow to signal that a side road is closed, otherwise it looks like the main road is closed ahead. If you don't have the magical arrow then the road closure is not valid and people are allowed to move your cones and drive through.

Doesitdrive

1,887 posts

9 months

Thursday 9th July
quotequote all
vikingaero said:
When I become Minister for Transport under Count Binface, my first act will be to change the law so that any Road Closed signs are invalid without a freaking arrow.

If you put out a Road Closed sign put a left or right arrow to signal that a side road is closed, otherwise it looks like the main road is closed ahead. If you don't have the magical arrow then the road closure is not valid and people are allowed to move your cones and drive through.
One problem with that, if there is a reason for closure, what's the point of driving down to find out, ?

vikingaero

13,085 posts

197 months

Thursday 9th July
quotequote all
Doesitdrive said:
One problem with that, if there is a reason for closure, what's the point of driving down to find out, ?
That's the whole issue. Many a time I see Road Closed signs and the road these signs are on aren't closed, but a side road. But at others times the main road really is closed! Left or right arrow to signify a side road, an up arrow to signify the road you are currently on.

I imagine many of you don't drive that much as I see them everywhere, and it must cause chaos for HGVs.

Sheepshanks

40,695 posts

147 months

Thursday 9th July
quotequote all
s p a c e m a n said:
My favorites are when the diversion sends you down a road with a different set of roadworks on that obviously wasn't set up for the extra traffic
That been a nightmare around us with a combination of trunk A road resurfacing and minor roads being closed intermittently for long-term water main replacements.

Granddaughter’s school bus (full size coach) took 30 mins to reverse back around a double bend from one road closure (on its normal route) and another day ended up in a farm drive as both parallel roads on an alternative route were closed.