Temporary speed limits on long term roadworks

[wackydo]

In North Bristol we have some road works on the dual carriageway ring road.

This ring road was NSL, but for a few years now, it has been brought down to 50mph

They are performing various repairs to the road but it is the speed limit which is frustrating me and many other road users.

During non-rush hour day time, the road is coned down to a single lane each way, during rush hour and nighttime the cones are pulled up out of the road onto the verge and the road is available for full use.

The issue is that the speed limit has been brought down to 30mph, with large temporary signs. It seems that these should apply when it is coned down to a single lane, but when the cones are moved out of the way (everyday), this low speed limit still remains. It is very difficult to drive along this dual carriageway - when all of the hazards are removed to the verge - at 30mph, when normally (ie prior to the roadworks) 50mph feels slow.

The problem is people are confused, especially during rush hour about what speed to do. The 30mph actually applies all of the time, but with the cones removed it feels like it shouldn't.

It would be better to have speed limit signs that can be changed easily during the course of a day, so would can have 30mph for the single lane situation and a faster speed when the cones are not there. But, I guess this would be spending money on helping the motorist rather than inconveniencing them.

[Dwight VanDriver]

The Temporary Traffic Regulation Order will set out just exactly what the limit is and its duration. No knowledge of it but could it be that the 30 is timed for working day but that would mean the restrictions signs would have to be taken down along with the cones etc.

dvd

[wackydo]

Thanks DVD, The cones go away, but the speed limit signs stay out, this is quite a reasonably frequent occurrence on the Bristol ring roads.

Where can I get details of the temporary traffic regulation order, from the council?

[7db]

I drove a temp 30 limit on a dual carriageway in North Bristol a fortnight ago -- I'm not sure if it's the same one as the one you refer to, but it was improperly signed so there was no enforceable limit on that section regardless of any TRO.

[wackydo]

I spoke to the man at the council's highways department, and he said that the 30mph limit applies 24hours a day, regardless of whether it is coned down to a single lane or if it is completely free of hazards.

They had consulted with the traffic department who apparently said that this was appropriate.

I said that some people were obeying the limit, and others were ignoring it completely and that this difference of speed created a danger. The highways chappie agreed that this was a problem.

He said that they had expected more people to phone up and query the situation, but I was the first !!

He also said that he was not aware of any traffic speed monitoring that was going to take place along that section of road in the near future(!!)

Tony

>> Edited by wackydo on Tuesday 9th May 15:58