THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset
27th July 2022
Issue 740
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Danger as “extreme heat’ knocks out traffic lights at throughabout The hot weather has been blamed for the traffic lights on
signals at the throughabout on the A4174, which
the throughabout on the Ring Road at Warmley failing.
has been caused by the extreme heat we’ve
One of our readers has highlighted his “frightening”
experienced over the past two days.
experience at the Wraxall Road junction last Tuesday - where
“The lights are now operational, but we will be
there are 26 traffic lights - and how it could have led to
monitoring them closely to ensure the issue
fatalities.
does not return.”
Chris Durant said: “At around 2.50am (19th July) I was
The problem with the lights has since been a
bringing my son back from Bristol Airport and came across
topic for discussion on social media. Someone
the throughabout with the traffic lights not working, needing
who also used it when the lights were out said:
to turn right (i.e., filter off left to then go around and across
“This was dangerous, so many directions and
six lanes of road) to take him to Warmley.
lanes to look out when going round.”
“Both experienced drivers but we both felt it was pretty
Other observations included: “Seems like all the
frightening to cross. After dropping him off, I came back onto
other traffic lights were working on the Ring
it, turning left thank goodness as a car flew along the dual
Road though, seems strange.” Another said:
carriageway at around 70mph straight through it. I couldn't
“Makes you wonder how all those other
really blame them as if they are not from around here then to
countries cope that have much hotter weather than this.”
funding to make changes to five other Ring Road
them, they are just continuing on a dual carriageway, not
One critic of the throughabout commented that “it causes
roundabouts, including turning the Siston Hill, Deanery Road
knowing there are supposed to be lights.
more congestion than the roundabout they replaced with this
and Kingsfield junctions into throughabouts.
“If it was a roundabout it wouldn't matter if there were lights
bloody thing” while another admitted: “I avoid this
Close to 900 people took part and almost three-quarters were
or not. I can't believe South Gloucestershire Council could
nightmare roundabout like the plague; on rare occasions I
strongly opposed to any more throughabouts so the council
be so negligent as it could have led to a multi-car accident
have to go Kingswood, it's via Hanham.”
said it would wait a year to assess the Wraxall Road junction
and many deaths.”
The throughabout, which cost almost £7m to build, opened
before considering a new funding application.
A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council told us
last October with the aim of improving traffic flow. Shortly
Earlier this month police renewed their appeal for
last Tuesday: “Highways engineers from our StreetCare team
after it opened, the council published a report following a
information or dashcam footage after a teenage moped rider
have been working to resolve an issue affecting the traffic
public consultation about its bid for £30m Government
from Hanham died following a collision with a car at the throughabout on Easter Sunday.
Also in this week’s issue
Council announces changes to controversial cycle lane . . . page 2
Community meetings planned to discuss buses . . . page 3
Seven weeks of traffic disruption in Keynsham . . . page 4
Kingswood church set to close . . . page 7