Roadworks

Joined : 29 Aug 2007 Posts : 55

Anyone know what's happening on the A701 at Milton Bridge, I see the signs are up for roadworks as of the 3rd of Dec "long delays expected" ?

Joined : 22 Aug 2007 Posts : 10

Not sure, Musicman. Had a look at the council website - http://www.midlothian.gov.uk/Article.aspx?TopicID=0&ArticleID=16679 -
but there was no mention.

Admin Joined : 28 Apr 2007 Posts : 260

This seems to show that the roadworks will be from the A701 down towards Auchendinny http://www.roadworksscotland.org/LocationResults.aspx

Joined : 29 Aug 2007 Posts : 55

I see there are also roadwork signs at Straiton (just before the Ikea / Sainsbury roundabout) and one in Bilston- Here's hoping that there are not actually going to be 3 sets of works at the same time, also looks like Liberton Braes about to be blessed with more roadworks as well!!

Joined : 29 Aug 2007 Posts : 55

The roadworks are apparently all to do with bus priority lanes. I'll admit to having to read that twice, bus priority lanes on the A701 between Penicuik & Straiton - Why ? As a regular bus user in my own experience the buses tend to run along this section with little trouble and if there is any I doubt a few hundred yards of dedicated lane will make any difference. If it's getting buses into Edinburgh faster that is the desired effect then maybe the council need to ask a certain operator to re-introduce a bus service that remotely resembles an Express service at peak times. Tonight I got an X47 at the same time as I got a 37 last night and got home at the same time, the X47 and its X77 predicessor used to be an ideal way of getting people in and out of Edinburgh at speed but not now as it takes as long to stop at every pillar and post from Newington into the City Centre as it takes to get from Penicuik to Newington! Yet Lasswade and Bonnyrigg have an X31 which truely is an Express service, like the once X77. I know that something along this lines would not be overly suitable in terms of passenger numbers off peak but during peak times it would be an excellent way to travel. Idea

http://www.midlothian.gov.uk/Article.aspx?TopicID=0&ArticleID=16679

Admin Joined : 28 Apr 2007 Posts : 260

It will be interesting to see exactly where they propose to put these bus lanes. Apart from the dual carriageway at either end of that section of the road, I would not have thought that the road was wide enough to have bus lanes. If they do put them on the dual carriageway at Auchendinny then it will be interesting to see what happens at the end of the dualled part. The cars will be backed up because they cannot use the bus lane. The buses will then have to force themselves in front of the other vehicles to get out of the bus lane.
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Andy

Fear knocks at the door, knowledge answers and finds nothing.

Joined : 22 Aug 2007 Posts : 10

Has this got anything to do with the new park and ride at Straiton? If so, I can't understand the logic of putting in priority lanes before reaching Straiton (if you're travelling north)?

Joined : 29 Aug 2007 Posts : 55

This makes interesting reading, guess how many sets of traffic lights the cooncil are intending sticking on the A701 before you read it..

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewGazetteDocument.aspx?atdocid=4587294&GeoType=Edinburgh&categorydocids=112&lastissuecount=10

Admin Joined : 28 Apr 2007 Posts : 260

I can't help wondering if the proposals will help speed up the flow of traffic on this road or whether they are more likely to cause more pollution through congestion. Perhaps they have a surplus of money to spend and this is all they can think of.

b. New signals at Auchendinny junction - I hope that this is not going to be signals from the dual carriageway to Auchendinny as that will just mean more congestion.

f. Bus lanes to Bilston Roundabout - As I said earlier, I wouldn't have thought that the road was wide enough to include a bus lane on both sides of the road.

g. Bus lanes and signals at Nivensknowe junction - Is that the junction that goes into Loanhead or are they talking about the junction into the caravan park? There are already signals at the turn off into Loanhead so I doubt whether it could be that one.

h. New signals at Ikea Roundabout - Do we really need signals here? I wouldn't have thought that the amount of traffic coming from Ikea or Damhead would justify it.

j. Bus lanes between Damhead and Sainsbury’s Roundabout - This should be interesting as the road is narrow enough without trying to squeeze the motorists even more.
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Andy

Fear knocks at the door, knowledge answers and finds nothing.

Admin Joined : 28 Apr 2007 Posts : 260

For anyone who hasn't seen it, here is the latest on the bus priority lanes. By the sounds of things it looks as if the idea was presented as a fait accompli Rolling Eyes

http://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/Buses-to-get-priority-on.3647111.jp

Joined : 26 Aug 2007 Posts : 54

'fait accomplit' Andy?

Isn't that what they were accused of over the closure of all the centres in Penicuik? You would have tought they might have learned from the backlash on that.

In terms of bus lanes down there - I think it's excellent. I have only been driving a couple of years but I drive everywhere else but I catch the bus into Edinburgh. In general it is faster and cheaper, and I have always been a pedestrian/bus user and would use public transport where I could. Moves to make it even more effective are positive in my view. (What they do with the state of the roads and the snarl up in getting through central Edinburgh is a whole other question.)

On the cycle lanes - I am terrified of them. No, I don't cycle, I drive there on my way to work. I work odd shifts, so I need to drive up the A701 to the bypass. Currently I seem to drive mostly in the dark. I have only ever seen cyclists along there in the dark - some unlit, some with flashing blinkers (which it is easy to miss) and a few with all the fluorescent stuff. I would forbid any of my loved ones from using those cycle lanes - they just seem too dangerous to me. I would like a little kerb between the cycle lane and the car lanes, just to feel a bit safer. It would slow down any cars attempting to drive in that bit and protect cyclists. If the council are really trying to help cyclists along there - good.

Very Happy

Admin Joined : 28 Apr 2007 Posts : 260

Joined : 26 Aug 2007 Posts : 54

I didn't mean to challenge your grammar, Andy. I was really meaning that after the closure of Town Hall/Ladywood/Jackson Street fait accompli(t) and non-consultation exercise and the debacle that followed, I would have thought that Midlothian Council might have learned that lesson. Clearly they have not.

I see that the Community Council are again pointing out that consultation might be helpful - and a consultation period before the work started might have answered a lot of the questions that you and I, and lots af others, are raising.

One day Midlothian Council might learn what consultation means. Let's hope!

Admin Joined : 28 Apr 2007 Posts : 260

Here is some more news about the proposed traffic lights on the A701 http://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/New-traffic-lights-planned-for.3671121.jp

I really do hope that they are not proposing to put bus lanes and a set of traffic lights on the dual carriageway between the Gowkley Moss roundabout and Milton bridge. If they put bus lanes there then that will leave only one lane for cars going to/from Penicuik. Drivers coming from Auchendinny will benefit by being able to cross over the 'dual carriageway'. However, every time the lights change it will hold up traffic, reduced from two lanes to one travelling to/from Penicuik which is already bad enough at the peak times.

Oh, and just to put some icing on the cake, they're proposing a pedestrian crossing at the roundabout which will no doubt cause more hold ups. I presume they will put it near to the bus stops which will help to stop the traffic again, just before it reaches the roundabout. On the other hand I wonder just how often that is likely to be used? Is it really necessary? Then there are all the other proposals that have still to be implemented, see my previous post.
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Andy

Fear knocks at the door, knowledge answers and finds nothing.

Joined : 29 Aug 2007 Posts : 55

I think that the lights at Milton Bridge are just an unfortunate side effect of making the junction safer for traffic coming up from Auchendinny, the crossing a Gowkley I also believe is a good thing as using the bus stops there must really a dangerous persuit for pedestrians especially during peak times. However to think on putting lights at Ploverhall and at the Ikea roundabout is just asking for traffic jams and will only serve to cancel out any advantage that bus lanes will give. Still we can always have a game of 'spot the traffic light'!

Sure Midlothian must be trying to keep up with Edinburgh in it's traffic management schemes Exclamation

On a plus note everyone travelling out of Penicuik at the moment in the mornings just sit in one long slow moving traffic jam anyway so at least we are getting prepared..