News

Council apology after roadworks mix-up causes gridlock

August 16, 2012

Council bosses have apologised to irate drivers who were stuck in tailbacks after a mix-up over roadworks at a major roundabout.

Bracknell Forest Council has been carrying out resurfacing work around the Hanworth roundabout in Mill Lane.

The roundabout has been closed during off-peak hours for the work to be carried out and then re-opened at 4pm to reduce disruption to rush hour traffic.

But on Wednesday, August 8, the contractors carrying out the work received a late delivery of materials, forcing resurfacing work to be delayed.

The council explained because the road surface is heated to temperatures of more than 100 degrees Celsius, the surface has to cool down before cars can drive on it.

As a result the road did not re-open until around 6pm – in the middle of the rush hour.

Drivers took to Facebook and Twitter to complain about the delayed reopening after they were stuck around Bracknell town centre for ‘hours’

The work has now finished but Anthony Radford-Foley, head of highways asset management, said: “We would like to apologise to drivers who were caught in the traffic in Bracknell for any delays experienced and any inconvenience it may have caused them.”

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Most recent user comments 6 of 6

I was glared at by two middle aged Ladies and a Salesman driving a BMW whilst attempting to jump to the front of the queue via the hard shoulder...still made it though ;¬)

Timothy Jefferies
16/08/2012 at 16:04

Norwegian Driver Hits Bear While Trying To Avoid Moose http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/16/norwegian-driver-hits-bear-moose

Sus - what kind of communication would you have liked seen implemented? Bracknell WI performing a representative mime of Morse code?

#WILF

Winstanley, Bracknell
16/08/2012 at 14:25

I complained to the Council about this - not about the fact that the road had remained closed, anyone can appreciate that delays in such work can occur, but about the appaling lack of communication. As soon as it was realised that the road would have to remain closed during the rush-hour far more should have been done to detour drivers (by use of correctly placed road signs) away from the area and to provide proper detour routes. I was caught up in a giant circular loop throughout the Great Hollands housing estate, which I managed to escape from through knowing the area well - but others were being taken into the estate on one road and then were having to queue endlessly to exit from the same road about 40 minutes later - LUDICROUS. I'm still waiting for a reply to the email I sent to the Council - perhaps I'll just have to be content with Mr Radford-Foley's apology to all that appears in the article.

Sus, Sandhurst
16/08/2012 at 13:48

#watermains-scuppers-early-tea-time

Winstanley, Bracknell
16/08/2012 at 11:56

That was irritating that day, but they're going a bit OTT. Coming from Reading it took me an extra 20 minutes, my spaghetti hoops were still luke warm ;) Happy to have to the road done, finally! Last night was irritating too though, what was happening on the Jennets Park roundabout? I don't remember seeing any warnings... not saying there weren't any though

Bruce Wayne
16/08/2012 at 11:08

"Drivers took to Facebook and Twitter to complain about the delayed reopening"

The impotent fury of Bracknell's commuters late home for spaghetti hoops on toast - 'I'm so cross I'm going to curse and denounce the very gods in no more than 140 characters'