The NEW Saxondale roundabout

[Phooey]

fk me if there isn't a smash on it every fking day! I nearly got wiped out by some slag in a Peugeot CC bag-of-crap thing yesterday - stupid bh tried to undertake me as i was exiting off, this was after already seeing 2 bumps on the r'bout. The tt thought it was my fault and kept flashing her lights and tooting her bell.

Just been to get fuel (Shell station - Saxondale), and there's another crash!

I thought my mate was joking when he said there's an accident *every* day on the new roundabout. He wasn't joking! It's a free-for-all!

It would be bd safer driving through a minefield

rant over.

[thehappyotter]

I live just down the road from it, it's a nightmare!

Hopefully it'll be better once everything's up and running properly. I came down the 6097 yesterday for the first time in ages yesterday and got confused by the new Bingham Island that's appeared too!

[Phooey]

It's not as if it isn't sign-posted correctly either. I think the problem lies in the fact that it is a large fast roundabout which sees a massive amount of traffic - and a large number of these users are unfamiliar with the new layout and in turn - panic! I am not exaggerating by saying that, in all, i think since Xmas, there must of been 20-30 crashes/bumps/shunts that i know of!

It's like playing dodgeball. But with cars

[Fun Bus]

Thanks for making me aware - I'll be certain to avoid it despite my Mum living in Radcliffe and friends in Bingham!

[TimJMS]

Yep, it's a proper tt. Massively confusing for occasional users and you've got to keep your eyes everywhere.

[pikeyboy]

thanks for letting us know, hopefully it'll improve when the A46 is fully sorted as I'm moving to sibthorpe soon (all being well)and will need to use that route into nottingham everyday.

[B.J.W]

I lived in South Notts for many years, and recently returned for a spell. The old A46 from Kinoulton to Saxondale (and beyond to Newark) was a dreadful bottleneck and needed extending as a dual track. However, whilst the Saxondale roundabout also needed upgrading I didn't think there was anything fundamentally wrong with the layout of the old system - certainly not enough to warrant the expense which was no doubt allocated to the new roundabout. I would like to meet the 'expert' who came up with the design of the new roundabout system. Over complication is a understatement of biblical proportions.

I wonder if the same person was also involved in the 'improvements' that were made to the A606/A52 roundabout at Wheatcrofts. Practically every day (and I really do mean every day) I have used that roundabout I have almost had someone drive into me from the inside lane (coming from Tollerton to the roundabout). The reason? The inside lane requires a sharp move to the left upon exiting the roundabout, a move that seems to beyond a large proportion of motorists as they drift over to the outside lane. The problem is that the driver in the wrong (i.e. the one in the inside lane) thinks they have done nothing wrong and assume that you are the idiot.

I was road raged and spat at by a middle aged gentlemen in a Toyota Avensis who drifted over and almost hit me. Unfortunately, given the abuse coming from his mouth, I was unable to politely put my point across that he should take a look at the road layout the next time he used the roundabout - at which point he would realise that it was he who was in the wrong.

[Phooey]

B.J.W said:

I lived in South Notts for many years, and recently returned for a spell. The old A46 from Kinoulton to Saxondale (and beyond to Newark) was a dreadful bottleneck and needed extending as a dual track. However, whilst the Saxondale roundabout also needed upgrading I didn't think there was anything fundamentally wrong with the layout of the old system - certainly not enough to warrant the expense which was no doubt allocated to the new roundabout. I would like to meet the 'expert' who came up with the design of the new roundabout system. Over complication is a understatement of biblical proportions.

I wonder if the same person was also involved in the 'improvements' that were made to the A606/A52 roundabout at Wheatcrofts. Practically every day (and I really do mean every day) I have used that roundabout I have almost had someone drive into me from the inside lane (coming from Tollerton to the roundabout). The reason? The inside lane requires a sharp move to the left upon exiting the roundabout, a move that seems to beyond a large proportion of motorists as they drift over to the outside lane. The problem is that the driver in the wrong (i.e. the one in the inside lane) thinks they have done nothing wrong and assume that you are the idiot.

I was road raged and spat at by a middle aged gentlemen in a Toyota Avensis who drifted over and almost hit me. Unfortunately, given the abuse coming from his mouth, I was unable to politely put my point across that he should take a look at the road layout the next time he used the roundabout - at which point he would realise that it was he who was in the wrong.

I DREAD that roundabout too, for EXACTLY the same reason you have explained. You do honestly have to not only look ahead, but to the left for drifters, and the right for fools in the West Bridgford lane cutting in at the last minute because they want to continue on the A52 towards the Nottingham Night r/bout. I think you are right. The same idiot *must* of designed them both!


I tend to cut through Gamston/Edwalton to avoid the tts.


And while we are on the subject. I wounder if the same fool gave us the 10 yards of filter lane coming onto the Nottingham Night r/bout (heading towards the Clifton flyover) for an even higher chance of getting side-swiped if you managed to escape unscathed at the Wheatcrofts r/bout.

Keep safe

[Zip106]

Phooey - you just need a faster car to get ahead in the right filter lane

Wheatcrofts is always a dodgy one, especially by non locals who seem to think the left lane merges into the middle (heading to Nottm Knight).
And then we have the 'Traffic Survey' OAP's - they've been monitoring the massive tailbacks to Plumtree for years but still nothing's done to slow the traffic flow from the other junctions.
How about ripping the island out and installing traffic lights?

Remember Kamikaze Island (Ring Road/A610)? That was appalling until it was made into a proper junction with lights.

Anyway, I'll be using the Saxondale island for the next two weeks...sounds like fun.

[Phooey]

Zip106 said:

I'll be using the Saxondale island for the next two weeks

Thanks for the warning Zip! I'll be sure to avoid it then.

Please let me know when you have finished with it

[Zip106]

It's safe now - I've finished with it after one day!
To be honest it wasn't that bad - the fking massive queue off the A46 was.
Therefore, my route for the next two weeks will now take in Grotcave, Radcliffe and Shelton.

[16v_paddy]

Zip106 said:

Grotcave

Genuine from me at that

[ninjadave]

I agree that it is a bit of a shambles. I'm 'one of the muppets building the new road' and since i drive the whole route a number of times each day I see and have nearly been in many accidents each day. The signs are a bit confusing but it's mostly down to muppets getting half way around the roadabout, getting confused and then going where they want without signalling. It will be so much better once it is finished but if anyone has any complaints in the meantime then the people to complain to are Balfour Beatty who run the project. They have a department set up solely for public interface issues.
The works definitely need doing as it is a very dangerous road and where I am based (flintham area) there have been at least 2 fatalities in the last 12months. Bear with us guys and it'll be ok eventually.

[Zip106]

ninjadave said:

I agree that it is a bit of a shambles. I'm 'one of the muppets building the new road' and since i drive the whole route a number of times each day I see and have nearly been in many accidents each day. The signs are a bit confusing but it's mostly down to muppets getting half way around the roadabout, getting confused and then going where they want without signalling. It will be so much better once it is finished but if anyone has any complaints in the meantime then the people to complain to are Balfour Beatty who run the project. They have a department set up solely for public interface issues.
The works definitely need doing as it is a very dangerous road and where I am based (flintham area) there have been at least 2 fatalities in the last 12months. Bear with us guys and it'll be ok eventually.

Is the whole project running to time, or will it be finished any earlier?

(I know - still over a year to go, but just wondered...)

[ninjadave]

I don't work for the main contractor but we are pretty confident of hitting the deadline. It all comes down to if the weather is kind to us this year so we can get the last few chunks of muckshifting done. We already have large parts of the south section half opened and I think the plan is to get the northbound side of the carriageway open to 2 way traffic as soon as possible, now the railway is done there are only rally 2 chunks to sort which are Flintham and Eden Hall spa regarding plugs if you are familiar with the area.

[Zip106]

I use the Widmerpool - Stragglethorpe quite a bit and I'm impressed with the speed the north bound was done.
Will be nice when both sides are opened up properly.

Would you happen to know if there are plans afoot for installing revenue cameras anywhere along it?

[ninjadave]

Ha, it's not something that I get involved with as I only do services and small civil engineering items and I guess would be at the request of the local authority but it's likely that if there were then I'd be asked to put a price in to build the bases for them. Will keep you updated if we get asked.

[Phooey]

ninjadave said:

Will keep you updated if we get asked.

Yes please mate. Apologies, i didn't really mean to call you a muppet :grovel:

Thanks for taking time to reply - i am confident it will be a mahoosive improvement once finished.




Erm, Dave... any chance you could let me and Zip have a blast on it before it *officially* opens? Just a 2 or 3 mile stretch will be fab thanks. Just the one way will suffice

I want to batter Zip in a drag

[ninjadave]

Hey don't worry about it. I used to shut railways as a living to replace bridges and thought I'd start to cause delay misery to road users instead. I understand everyone's frustration and I can see some truth in what everyone says about some of the signage at these junctions.

On a serious note, if anyone is interested in the work then I will try my best to answer any questions and if anyone has serious cause for concern over anything that is happening due to this project then I shall post the public helpline number as we don't want to cause accidents or upset anyone. Can I please ask that if anyone does consult with any of the contractors than do not quote me or mention my name (or username) as some companies can get a bit touchy, not that I'm exactly telling you anything you couldn't find out from the helpline anyway. Also please be patient through the works, I know the 40mph speed limit is a pain in the arse but I work close to the road and have seen many accidents plus it is very scary to be mere feet away from cars blasting past at just 40mph let alone faster. since working on roads I have gained a new found respect for road works speed limits.

Can't promise to get any part open for drag racing but will see what I can do I work at Flintham and drive past the airfield there everyday and it pains me to see it being wasted on gliders and planes. It's crying out for a few VMax runs surely.

[Zip106]

Phooey said:

ninjadave said:

Will keep you updated if we get asked.

Yes please mate. Apologies, i didn't really mean to call you a muppet :grovel:

Thanks for taking time to reply - i am confident it will be a mahoosive improvement once finished.




Erm, Dave... any chance you could let me and Zip have a blast on it before it *officially* opens? Just a 2 or 3 mile stretch will be fab thanks. Just the one way will suffice

I want to batter Zip in drag

Firstly, I don't care if you dress in wimmins clothing and secondly, if you mean what I think you do - how do you propose to do it seeing as you're lacking a couple of turbo's and have a car that goes sideways at the mere hint of someone's throat oyster on the road...


Oh, thanks Dave!