A FRUSTRATED councillor has voiced concerns that motorists will be penalised if action isn’t taken to ease congestion at a “dangerous” roundabout.
Mile End councillor Martin Goss raised his worries about the North Station roundabout with Essex County Council’s highways boss Lee Scott.
Asking what the county council plans to do to ease congestion, Mr Goss also invited Mr Scott to join him at the roundabout, which connects Station Way, Bergholt Road, Mile End Road, Turner Road, and Petrolea Close, Colchester, to see for himself the conditions drivers are facing.
The city councillor said: “Those having to use North Station roundabout are experiencing unprecedented delays, especially on busy weekends and during rush hours.
“For many of us, myself included, there is no alternative choice but to spend sometimes hours sitting in static traffic.”
In his reply, Mr Scott confirmed schemes such as the rapid transit system will provide a faster route for buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.
He also stated there would be works at the nearby Essex Hall roundabout for “additional priority signal installations to improve public transport access through the roundabout” with the “current cycleway installation on Station Way made permanent”.
Aggrieved Mr Goss said while he welcomes new green initiatives, he fears they will have “little benefit for those who have no alternative but to drive”.
He said: “Whether people are driving to or from the hospital, rail station, the weekly shop, or work-related, they will be further penalised with longer delays that will only increase vehicle-related fumes.
“While I’m grateful to Mr Scott for his response, I remain concerned that while there are welcomed measures in encouraging safer walking and cycling, there remains for the many vehicles that will still have to use this roundabout very little relief to the current situation.”
The highways boss hinted some relief could be provided “through measures to provide additional capacity at the Colne Bank roundabout and widen the A134 Station Way link between the Essex Hall and Colne Bank roundabouts”, though the funding for such improvements is not guaranteed.
The Mile End councillor now hopes Mr Scott will meet with him to discuss potential solutions to protect road users.
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