First section of Friargate bridge deck opens to traffic

[dutchman]

Coventry’s multi-milion pound Friargate development reaches a key stage this weekend.



The first section of the Friargate bridge deck will be opening up to traffic on Sunday after more than 12 months of construction work and traffic diversions.

From Sunday, cars will be allowed to pass across the centre of junction six for the first time since its closure in March last year.

The approach to junction six from junction five and the exit slip road from junction six to junction seven will be available for the public to use from Sunday evening.

The slip roads have been opened to allow the final stages of the bridge deck to be completed.

The opening of the slip roads will also see a slight change to the entry point to the railway station from Junction 5.

Drivers are advised to continue along the new road, before turning left on Warwick Road and doing a ‘loop’ back into Eaton Road to enter the station.

This diversion will remain in place while a new dedicated left turn entry road is completed.

Coun Rachel Lancaster, Cabinet Member for Public Services said: “This is a really exciting stage of the project, as we can now finally see the first of the new roads opened up to traffic on the bridge deck, ahead of the full opening of the whole junction, which we have scheduled for May 28.

“We are now so close to the end of the project, with just a few more sections of the roads to be completed.

“The landscaped areas and the new pedestrian boulevard leading from the station into the city centre are almost done.

“Now that some of the roads are beginning to open up, it will give everyone a chance to see first-hand, just how much work has taken place - and on what is an enormous scale- to get us to the point we’re at now.

“We have achieved so much in the last 15 months.

“Once the bridge deck is fully opened, we will have a much cleaner, brighter landscaped link between the railway station and city centre, ahead of work beginning on our new building as part of the wider Friargate redevelopment.”

The current pedestrian routes to and from the city will remain in place until the full opening of the entire bridge deck occurs.

The completion of the bridge deck has been scheduled for May 28.

[dutchman]

£15m Junction Six is confusing, residents say



A £15m redevelopment of a section of Coventry's ring road has been branded "confusing" after an accident happened just four days after it opened.

The crash, at Junction Six on Monday, involved three vehicles in the "shared space", which has prompted complaints about lack of road markings and signs.

Resident Barry Handley, who lives nearby, said he complained to the council about the road's layout.

Coventry City Council said it was monitoring the road.

Mr Handley said: "I have seen people having problems. The new layout is very confusing for drivers.

"I saw one driver yesterday who realised he had made a mistake and reversed out on to the island.

"I haven't seen any accidents but I have seen quite a few near misses.

"It is not clear at all where people are meant to be driving. It's not working at all."

The work, which took 15 months to complete, was funded with European money and described by the council as creating a "park-like" entrance to Coventry from Junction Six.

"Like any new junction it will take a little time for drivers to get used to a new layout," the authority said.

"Since the new junction opened we have - and will continue - to monitor the operation of the roads and we have also arranged for additional signs to be put up to help drivers get used to the new layout.

"The area is a 20mph zone, and traffic should be approaching the junction at low speeds.

"We would urge all drivers to exercise a little more caution as they get used to how the new junction works."

[rebbonk]

And the muppets on the council wanted to put a pedestrian crossing further round the ring-road where the speed limit is higher! Cars and people do not mix!