CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

CEC's road resurfacing priorities

(75 posts)

123

  1. Kenny
    Member

    Gogar Station Road carriageway works 17th & 18th July. Road closed to through traffic 9am - 4pm.

    I came on here to post about the signs I saw on this very road while out running last night. Oddly, I'm pretty sure that the signs had a different time on them; 8am to 6pm, AFAIR.

    The diversion isn't that bad, you just head west and go along Roddinglaw Road. However, I'd be surprised if bicycles can't continue to use Gogar Station Road, as they could just walk the short closed section on the pavement?

    And thus to the bad news - the section that was enclosed with their yellow signs was very, very short, so if that's all they are resurfacing, then it's not going to be as useful as it could be. Still, better than nothing, I suppose...

    /me fetches rose tinted spectacles

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. HankChief
    Member

    Apparently the 2 days complete closure will be followed by 2 weeks of traffic light contraflow, starting next week so we may get some more done.

    (Not entirely tongue in cheek), I have offered to check that the work has dealt with all the bad bits while the team are still on site. Not had a response though.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. Greenroofer
    Member

    Well they've made a start, and have certainly patched up all the really bad bits in the area they are working. It's by no means a full resurface: they've just cut out the dodgy tarmac and done a properly sealed and rolled repair.

    Judging by the bits that are spray-marked for tomorrow, this is going to make a real difference to that bit of road. With two more weeks of work to do, I think GSR is about to become really smoooooth.

    Well done Mr Chief.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. HankChief
    Member

    I was having a look at the cooncils attempt at patching Gogar Station Road - they've started at the North end and are working South - so far so good but much still to be done. Taking a strong primary on the unpatched segment, I noticed a taxi coming up behind me completely in the opposite carriageway. The problem was, I could also see round the corner that a couple of cars were approaching from the front. After a few quick double takes from me the taxi floored it and the cars approaching slowed, and we all made it through okay.

    When I caught up with him at the lights, I approached his open window...

    "Not a great place to overtake, that..." says me.

    "I know" says him. "It was alright until I could see round that corner..."

    Now, being a follower of the NWC, I decided that I would give him the benefit of the doubt (he did give me lots of room) and so I didn't point out that overtaking when you can't see round the corner isn't a clever idea. Instead we had a nice chat about how bad that road was. He agreed and acknowledged he sees bikes wiggling about to avoid the potholes, so gives them lots of room. Which was nice.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. HankChief
    Member

    Some great news for Gogar Station Road...

    The (incomplete) patching in July was just a temporary measure and CEC are going to resurface the whole stretch from railway bridge to the bridge by RBS's service entrance...

    We've got to wait until next financial year, but it will be worth the wait.

    Campaigning does work... if you are prepared to make a big fuss and write lots of letters...

    The next task is to see whether we can get something specific cycle measures to stop the smooth surface turning into a race track...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    "The next task is to see whether we can get something specific cycle measures to stop the smooth surface turning into a race track..."

    Any suggestions?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. HankChief
    Member

    For a start some warning signs and some paint - double white lines around all the bends and marked cycle lanes.

    I'd love to dream of an off-road path or some speed bumps but can't see that happening.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. sallyhinch
    Member

    How about something like this? http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2009/07/country-road.html

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. BenN
    Member

    Funnily enough I noticed that they have tried that out down in Englandshire when I was at the Newcastle for the weekend (well, Gateshead - Newcastle HATES cycling...):

    http://goo.gl/maps/PvPpM

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. BenN
    Member

    And yes, it's really uncomfortable to drive on - speeds seem a lot slower, and you constantly feel like you're somewhere you're not supposed to be.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. HankChief
    Member

    I like it.

    And the beauty is that it won't cost any more money as it is just putting the paint in a different place on the road.

    I'll make the suggestion and we can see if CEC are up for trying something radical that could really help.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. sallyhinch
    Member

    Sounds like it's working for bikes too: I tweeted to see what local cyclists thought

    Sustrans North East ‏@SustransNE
    Hi @sallyhinch Yep - know this one well, and it works pretty well. Can't remember when it was done, but traffic speeds seem to have dropped.

    https://twitter.com/SustransNE/status/386151472150638592

    Posted 11 years ago #

  13. shuggiet
    Member

    If they are resurfacing it anyway, the Dutch red paving would be a good way to do it.. RBS could even sponsor it and it could be RBS Blue with a logo to match their bridge.! I'm sure one of the US corporates sponsored cycle infrastructure outside their offices (I can't find the link i think it was Apple or Google...)

    Posted 11 years ago #

  14. HankChief
    Member

    Good news...

    Back on page 1 of this thread I was miffed by CEC's resurfacing priorities not taking into account cycling in their formula for working out what to fix next.

    I'm pleased to see that at today's transport committee they have added in a 5% increase for cycle routes.

    They will be using the Family Network initially for the roads to get the extra weighting, with the cycle team carrying out a review to get better usage data for future use.

    Now 5% isn't much, so the world isn't going to change overnight but the biggest plus for me is the roads team will be thinking about cycle usage when the consider roads.

    The more that cycling can get into everyday mindset the better.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  15. gembo
    Member

    They are resurfacing the road outside my house all night it is mental. Indeed double mental as they spent a week doing the same bit of road less than a year ago. The machines are huge. The black stuff boys are cheery. Apparently the council is to blame.

    Posted 10 years ago #

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