Satch
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2003
- Messages
- 3,508
- Location
- Surrey
- Car
- S211 E320Cdi Avantgarde Estate & Toyota Land Cruiser
Row over 'detour from hell'
By Bo Wilson, Evening Standard
9 December 2004
A row erupted today over the traffic diversion being dubbed "the detour from hell".
Drivers approaching roadworks on Holland Road, south of the Holland Park roundabout in west London are being taken an astonishing 12.2 miles out of their way.
Without it they would travel about 300 yards
Motorists driving north up Holland Road towards the roundabout are forced to turn back on themselves and negotiate a meandering circuit devised by Transport for London.
Today, Councillor Greg Hands, Conservative group spokesman for Hammersmith and Fulham, described the epic diversion as "potty".
He said: "I have had many complaints about this. The scale of the diversion is ludicrous and TfL knows that the A4 - the central London to Heathrow route - is officially London's busiest road. And I have been told Hammersmith Broadway roundabout (which the diversion crosses) is one of the busiest road junctions in Europe.
"This is a potty scheme by TfL to divert yet more traffic this way."
Northbound motorists are stopped on Holland Road at Addison Gardens. With the road blocked off, they are turned back on their tracks to follow Warwick Road south, then sent west on to the busy A4 all the way to the start of the M4.
Next, the diversion signs send them north up the A406 to the Hanger Lane gyratory system before redirecting them back towards central London down the A40 Western Avenue and Westway.
Finally, drivers must veer south down the West Cross Route - to find themselves on the north side of the Holland Park Roundabout - 300 yards from where they started from.
Paul Watters, head of road policy at the AA, said: " Diverting London's traffic is always a contentious issue because the A-roads are the main routes and any diversion has to take account of the vast volumes of traffic.
"Alternative routes are unsuitable for heavy traffic, hence the length of a diversion like this one. Locals know shortcuts but strangers face the whole length of the diversion."
The diversion has been in place since 24 November and will remain until tomorrow.
A spokesman for TfL said: "London is a crowded and often congested city and when necessary works have to be done, the short-term diversions can be difficult with road space at an absolute premium.
"A balance needs to be struck between the travelling public and local residents and in this instance, although the signposted diversion is a long one, it is the only route which can successfully accommodate the volume of traffic which uses the Holland Park roundabout."
By Bo Wilson, Evening Standard
9 December 2004
A row erupted today over the traffic diversion being dubbed "the detour from hell".
Drivers approaching roadworks on Holland Road, south of the Holland Park roundabout in west London are being taken an astonishing 12.2 miles out of their way.
Without it they would travel about 300 yards
Motorists driving north up Holland Road towards the roundabout are forced to turn back on themselves and negotiate a meandering circuit devised by Transport for London.
Today, Councillor Greg Hands, Conservative group spokesman for Hammersmith and Fulham, described the epic diversion as "potty".
He said: "I have had many complaints about this. The scale of the diversion is ludicrous and TfL knows that the A4 - the central London to Heathrow route - is officially London's busiest road. And I have been told Hammersmith Broadway roundabout (which the diversion crosses) is one of the busiest road junctions in Europe.
"This is a potty scheme by TfL to divert yet more traffic this way."
Northbound motorists are stopped on Holland Road at Addison Gardens. With the road blocked off, they are turned back on their tracks to follow Warwick Road south, then sent west on to the busy A4 all the way to the start of the M4.
Next, the diversion signs send them north up the A406 to the Hanger Lane gyratory system before redirecting them back towards central London down the A40 Western Avenue and Westway.
Finally, drivers must veer south down the West Cross Route - to find themselves on the north side of the Holland Park Roundabout - 300 yards from where they started from.
Paul Watters, head of road policy at the AA, said: " Diverting London's traffic is always a contentious issue because the A-roads are the main routes and any diversion has to take account of the vast volumes of traffic.
"Alternative routes are unsuitable for heavy traffic, hence the length of a diversion like this one. Locals know shortcuts but strangers face the whole length of the diversion."
The diversion has been in place since 24 November and will remain until tomorrow.
A spokesman for TfL said: "London is a crowded and often congested city and when necessary works have to be done, the short-term diversions can be difficult with road space at an absolute premium.
"A balance needs to be struck between the travelling public and local residents and in this instance, although the signposted diversion is a long one, it is the only route which can successfully accommodate the volume of traffic which uses the Holland Park roundabout."
