Fears that roundabout works will end in failure (From Worcester News)

Fears that roundabout works will end in failure

5:10pm Saturday 11th February 2012 in News By David Paine, @davidpaineWN #worcsnews

CONCERNS have been raised that an attempt to improve traffic flow at a roundabout on one of Worcester’s most congested roads will not work.

While transport chiefs are keen to get started on making changes at Whittington roundabout, including the introduction of a slip lane on to and off Crookbarrow Way, they still harbour ambitions of one day dualling at least part of the southern link road.

That will require millions of pounds funding from government and is a long way off in the future, which is why plans have been drawn up to tinker with the busy road’s roundabouts – improvements at Norton and the Ketch on the A38 are also in the pipeline – in the hope that will help traffic to flow better.

However, county councillor Alwyn Davies voiced a number of concerns about the £1.7 million work at Whittington especially in relation to the slip lane providing access onto the A4440 to traffic coming off the M5 at junction 7.

At a meeting of Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet he said: “I’m just worried that where you’ve got to feed out into the main road you are not going to be able to do it sufficiently and efficiently to stop the traffic feeding back at peak hours.”

John Hobbs, director of environmental services, said he believed the slip road will work based on the modelling his team had done.

Coun Davies urged the council to get on with works on the other roundabouts, especially the one at the Ketch, but they are not due to take place until next year.

“If you solve the Ketch you go a long way to solving the problems on the southern link road,” he said.

Coun Rob Adams said some villagers in Whittington fear they will have more problems getting out at the roundabout once the work is complete.

Coun Bob Bullock believes the only long-term solution to ease congestion is to complete the ring road around Worcester.

“If put your heads in the sands you will waste millions of pounds after millions of pounds and you still won’t solve the problem,” Coun Bullock said.

Coun Simon Geraghty, cabinet member for planning, economy and performance, said: “The long-term aim is to try and dual a section of the southern link road.

“But what we want to do with this is get on with some work that the public can see that will demonstrate our committment to unblocking barriers to growth and improving infrastructure.”

Mr Hobbs said that if future funds are to be drawn down from government then the council has to show its intent and willingness to improve the situation.

Speaking after the meeting Peter Blake, head of integrated transport, said some vegetation will now be cleared ready for the work to take place in the summer when there is less traffic on the roads.

More details will be released once a contractor has been appointed.