Stupid junction

[oniznorb]

I frequently drive past this Junction in Coventry and get stopped by the lights unnecessarily.

There is surely no need for traffic lights here, although that would need the slip roads to be a little longer.

Also, what is the straight ahead route with its own traffic lights for. - why wouldn't you just continue along the main road?

And no, it isn't a bus stop. - And even if it was, where would you catch the bus in the opposite direction ??

[hardcorehobbit]

It's a bit odd, but I've seen worse.

Could the separate straight lane be a bus by-pass type thing for when the two main lanes get busy? Wouldn't need to be there at all if there were no lights, like you said.

[Jw Vw]

I cannot understand why there are traffic lights there. Seems badly planned. Very odd

[chrisispringles]

[tinfoil hat]

I'm going to disagree with you there. That is a 50mph road and there is no way you could get a car up to 50 and merge in safely in steady traffic flowing along at the speed limit, let alone a truck, even if there were space for a slip road to extend all the way to the start of the cutting for the bridge. The traffic lights appear to be there to help people coming out of that estate merge in safely.

[/tinfoil hat]

That little bit off to the side is daft though.

[oniznorb]

Of course it would have been possible to gain entry to this industrial estate from the back without disrupting traffic on the dual carriageway. This would also significantly shorten the distance traveled to visit.

chrisispringles said:

That is a 50mph road and there is no way you could get a car up to 50 and merge in safely in steady traffic flowing along at the speed limit.

There would have been plenty of room to build a longer slip road.

Adequate slip roads seem to be a thing of the past anyway :

Exhibit 1

Try joining the m6 toll northbound at the national speed limit here in a moderately powered car. No chance - and teh average traffic speed here is usually much higher.



Exhibit 2

Here on the M40 we can see the new short curved slip roads and the remains of the nice long straight ones which they replaced.

[trackerjack]

I have seen junctions made by stupid people but never knew a junction could itself be stupid!

I have given up on the ridiculous road changes that pass for improvements these days.