Motorists to face another three months of traffic "hell"
This week's travel chaos is just the tip of the iceberg, drivers warned
IT’S been a week of travel chaos for frustrated motorists – and the bad news is there’s another three months of traffic “hell” to come.
The combination of the closure of Boundary Road and roadworks on the A339 has seen many parts of the town gridlocked over the past few days, but West Berkshire Council says there is little it can do to alleviate the problem.
This week disgruntled drivers described the delays as “horrendous” and told the Newbury Weekly News how it had taken them up to 40 minutes to make the 1.2-mile journey from St John’s Road to the Robin Hood roundabout.
The A339 roadworks and the three-month closure of Boundary Road until October 31 – to allow Network Rail to carry out works to the railway bridge ahead of electrification – will both be in place for this weekend’s Party in the Paddock at Newbury Racecourse.
Boundary Road will also be closed for two key meetings at Newbury Racecourse: Ladies Day on August 16 and the Dubai Duty Free meeting featuring music legends Madness on September 19, the same weekend as the Royal County of Berkshire Show.
One driver caught up in the delays was Yvonne Soulby, who said: “I am so fed up with the traffic.
“It took me more than 40 minutes to go from the St John’s roundabout to the other side of the Robin Hood roundabout down the A339 on Tuesday afternoon.”
Another, Nigel Whiston, said: “Today (Monday), I’ve had the misfortune to drive through Newbury three times. The traffic has been horrendous.”
Opposition spokesman for roads, Billy Drummond (Lib Dem, Grenham) said: “It’s going to be hell for the next three months, but unfortunately I think people are going to have to grin and bear it.
“I can’t see any way around it.
“I’m going to speak to highways next week and see if there’s anything at all that can be done about it.”
West Berkshire Council’s portfolio holder for highways and transport, Garth Simpson (Con, Cold Ash), said: “There is no pain without gain.
“We all want electrification and Boundary Road bridge has to be replaced.”
The current carriageway layout north of the bridge is too narrow for two-way traffic.
Network Rail hopes the new bridge will be wide enough to accommodate two-way traffic with a pedestrian footway on the east side.