Replacement of HLR / Seafield / Portobello Rd Roundabout

Grunk · Post by **Grunk** » 31 Mar 2009, 11:33

As opposed to the more pliable instructions issued so far?

I bet all the easter weekend beach goers are going to enjoy the "testing" of the new signals.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 31 Mar 2009, 12:10

Grunk wrote:I bet all the easter weekend beach goers are going to enjoy the "testing" of the new signals.

Yes, timing brilliant eh? Obviously you test busy junction lights on a very busy holiday weekend. Makes perfect sense. Be interesting to see what happens if they don't work

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 31 Mar 2009, 12:56

we got a note through the door which states

The work will appear to be complete around the 10 April but temporary traffic signals will remain in place on Portobello Road, Sir Harry Lauder road and Seafield Road East until all of the permanent traffic signals work at the junction has been completed and fully tested.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 31 Mar 2009, 13:06

Epykat wrote:..Yes, timing brilliant eh? Obviously you test busy junction lights on a very busy holiday weekend. Makes perfect sense. Be interesting to see what happens if they don't work

How else can you get triple time!

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 31 Mar 2009, 17:09

Pal of Porty wrote:
Epykat wrote:..Yes, timing brilliant eh? Obviously you test busy junction lights on a very busy holiday weekend. Makes perfect sense. Be interesting to see what happens if they don't work
How else can you get triple time!

By that you're implying there will be workies there? Surely not?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 04 Apr 2009, 12:06

From today's EN:

Council 'taking the Mickey' as workers scrub up traffic cones

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 04 Apr 2009, 12:27

I think its a total disgrace that the CEC or its contractors have decided to clean the traffic cones at the site of the former roundabout.

They should have got Kim & Aggie in to do it instead.

Very small print: I support every decision made by CEC in relation to the roundabout. And dont give a shit that the cones are being cleaned. Surely there are far better things to moan about..

Grunk · Post by **Grunk** » 06 Apr 2009, 12:51

Only one week till Porto-Traffic-Meltdown day.

On a side note, I noticed when travelling past the junction, that to cross HLR (one road) pedestrians will have to negotiate 4 traffic islands, with 5 individual partial crossings

I wonder what the average time to cross the road will be?

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 06 Apr 2009, 12:59

The whole thing has been a joke - installing the underpass as per the original suggestion way back would have saved loads of money and given a solution that is safer and more efficient for everyone.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 06 Apr 2009, 13:15

Grunk wrote:Only one week till Porto-Traffic-Meltdown day.

On a side note, I noticed when travelling past the junction, that to cross HLR (one road) pedestrians will have to negotiate 4 traffic islands, with 5 individual partial crossings

I wonder what the average time to cross the road will be?

I agree Grunk. People get fed up waiting and take risks to get across quicker - especially teenagers! I noticed this at the Bath Street crossing when they changed the sequence. Pedestrians now have to wait a ridiculous time for the lights to change and when the kids come down from school they are taking risks with the traffic - I'm afraid the same will happen here.

magbagpuss · Post by **magbagpuss** » 13 Apr 2009, 09:29

Guess wot ??? Monday 13th April , is the road open .....................No .
Wot a surprize !! Wonder when now .

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 13 Apr 2009, 09:42

Has anybody tried counting the phenominal amount of sets of traffic lights

. It'll be like Las Vegas for those poor souls living on the corner of King's Road. How eco friendly.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 13 Apr 2009, 12:38

magbagpuss wrote:Guess wot ??? Monday 13th April , is the road open .....................No .
Wot a surprize !! Wonder when now .

Ach, what can you do. Its a pity the deadline has been missed.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 13 Apr 2009, 16:44

The letter we got says week commencing 13th April for opening of the road, so that could be upto midnight on Sunday!

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 13 Apr 2009, 17:23

SoupDragon wrote:The letter we got says week commencing 13th April for opening of the road, so that could be upto midnight on Sunday!

Ach well. Another few days is no hardship.

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 13 Apr 2009, 21:55

BeachBum wrote:
magbagpuss wrote:Guess wot ??? Monday 13th April , is the road open .....................No .
Wot a surprize !! Wonder when now .
Ach, what can you do. Its a pity the deadline has been missed.

What can you do? Well for starters you could complain, complain , complain. Its a joke. The impact on people's lives and traders has been phenominal. Given the real deadline for the completion was six weeks after work commenced last May then by my account they have overun by nearly 9 months give or take. (Sherrifhall works started at the same time and were completed on time but then thats Amey and not the Cooncil so what can you expect).

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 14 Apr 2009, 06:54

Puerto bella wrote: What can you do? Well for starters you could complain, complain , complain. Its a joke. The impact on people's lives and traders has been phenominal. Given the real deadline for the completion was six weeks after work commenced last May then by my account they have overun by nearly 9 months give or take. (Sherrifhall works started at the same time and were completed on time but then thats Amey and not the Cooncil so what can you expect).

I personally dont care enough to complain because it isnt causing me any real concern. I just plan ahead so that I allow extra time for bus journeys which is no real hardship. Yeah its had 'phenominal effects' for some people that work is still not finished but works are in the closing stages at present so thats a good thing.

Works are to be completed week starting the 13th April apparently. Lets give them a few more days to finish up. At this late stage, another few days isnt really going to make that much of a difference when people have had to 'suffer' for such a long period of time.

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 14 Apr 2009, 10:13

Puerto bella wrote:
BeachBum wrote:
magbagpuss wrote:Guess wot ??? Monday 13th April , is the road open .....................No .
Wot a surprize !! Wonder when now .
Ach, what can you do. Its a pity the deadline has been missed.
What can you do? Well for starters you could complain, complain , complain. Its a joke. The impact on people's lives and traders has been phenominal. Given the real deadline for the completion was six weeks after work commenced last May then by my account they have overun by nearly 9 months give or take. (Sherrifhall works started at the same time and were completed on time but then thats Amey and not the Cooncil so what can you expect).

Exactly. well said.
Sadly, it is not a surprise, given the Council's track record of ineptitude. After all, it's only a major artery into the City - no big deal. Especially when you look at what is happening in Princes Street.

Grunk · Post by **Grunk** » 14 Apr 2009, 11:57

The problem no is that even when they do open the junction, the local traders wont see a big increase in business.

People who used to stop and shop on the way to and from work, will now have found themselves a different butchers, or fishmongers or PC repair shop or whatever. It'll take a lot longer before business is the same again.

I wonder if testing new traffic lights at the same time as running temporary traffic lights right next to them will be at all confusing?

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 14 Apr 2009, 12:27

Grunk wrote:The problem no is that even when they do open the junction, the local traders wont see a big increase in business.

People who used to stop and shop on the way to and from work, will now have found themselves a different butchers, or fishmongers or PC repair shop or whatever. It'll take a lot longer before business is the same again.

I wonder if testing new traffic lights at the same time as running temporary traffic lights right next to them will be at all confusing?

Very true. And given the current economic climate, it was the last thing small businesses needed.
As for the traffic lights - sounds like complete madness. It willbe nice not to have to spend an extra 10 to 15 minutes on the bus and I just hope it wil be safe.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 14 Apr 2009, 17:48

Scott Manion emailed me today.

He appears confident that everything will be open on Friday evening, including the junction to Porty High Street.

I personally have full confidence in the team at CEC overseeing the works.

There are still some new signs to go, some new road markings still to be put down and some anti skid surfaces still needing doing but its all looking good.

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 15 Apr 2009, 09:07

BeachBum wrote:Scott Manion emailed me today.

He appears confident that everything will be open on Friday evening, including the junction to Porty High Street.

I personally have full confidence in the team at CEC overseeing the works.

There are still some new signs to go, some new road markings still to be put down and some anti skid surfaces still needing doing but its all looking good.

Have you ever thought of standing for the Council? Your attitude would be perfect.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 15 Apr 2009, 09:51

BeachBum wrote:I personally have full confidence in the team at CEC overseeing the works.

Just about sums this project up.

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 16 Apr 2009, 10:00

BeachBum wrote: I personally have full confidence in the team at CEC overseeing the works.

I don't. From the evidence (ie the roadworks and the length of time taken) they are incompetent

DG · Post by DG » 16 Apr 2009, 20:01

I personally have full confidence in the team at CEC overseeing the works.

I do hope you are joking...you are are you not?!?

DG · Post by DG » 16 Apr 2009, 20:03

I passed the site yesterday on the bus and there was no-one working, however 2 workmen in a van, one on his mobile and another texting.... is there any hope?
DG

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 16 Apr 2009, 20:17

DG wrote:I passed the site yesterday on the bus and there was no-one working, however 2 workmen in a van, one on his mobile and another texting.... is there any hope?
DG

They could have been on their break. Its already been stated before that a number of workmen on site were choosing to have their breaks in their diggers etc;

And it appears to apply to those working on the tram project too. Click here to see a sleeping workman getting a mention in the Evening News.

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 16 Apr 2009, 20:53

DG wrote:I passed the site yesterday on the bus and there was no-one working, however 2 workmen in a van, one on his mobile and another texting.... is there any hope?
DG

When we passed at about 3.30ish there were only two men in a van - right in the middle of what was the roundabout - one eating crisps and the other having a nap - not a great advert for them pulling out the stops to get it finished. It was quite a surreal message and seemed to sum up the whole project for me.

Just a question to BeachBum also - I don't know if its because this is all written and most of us don't get to see each other or speak but I find it really quaint that you are so protective of your employer. I also find it intriguing and a bit puzzling. Maybe you don't want to say but i am curious as to why you feel like that?

DG · Post by DG » 16 Apr 2009, 21:08

I passed around 5.30pm. Perhaps they have to have breaks every 2 hours

DG

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 16 Apr 2009, 21:15

DG wrote:I passed around 5.30pm. Perhaps they have to have breaks every 2 hours

DG

Since its such an issue for you, perhaps you should ask them or their company what the F&%k they were up to?

Still, not long till the evening of the 17th now.

Scott Mannion wrote:We are planning to switch on the signals on the evening of Friday 17th April. This will allow the signals to be operated over the weekend and give us the chance to carry out the inevitable adjustments when there is less traffic than during the week.

Grunk · Post by **Grunk** » 17 Apr 2009, 11:19

Not long now.

I still get the strangest feeling that they will configure the traffic lights at 3am on Saturday. Stick around for 5 minutes, see that there is no build up of traffic in any direction, pat themselves on the back and sign off on the job.

What they should be doing is monitoring the junction over the next three months and adjusting the timing of the lights accordingly, then revisiting it periodically.

Oh well, only a couple more days to go to see this fully operational death star in action.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 17 Apr 2009, 12:50

From today's EN :

Seafield roundabout finished six months late and up to £2m over budget

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 17 Apr 2009, 17:45

So when does Friday evening officially begin? Still closed a short time ago.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 17 Apr 2009, 18:00

Bob Jefferson wrote:So when does Friday evening officially begin?

Got a question?

Text any question to 63336 (UK) or 57275(Ireland)

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 17 Apr 2009, 19:05

Bob Jefferson wrote:So when does Friday evening officially begin? Still closed a short time ago.

Fancy a walk down later with some bunting? We could get (several) bottles of champagne and officially open the junction - sort of like we did with the Police Station clock. I'll do the sausages - again.........