Fed-up driver will wear ‘Gridlock Grimsby’ tee until traffic improves
HE SAYS ROADWORKS HAVE TO FIT AROUND PEOPLE’S LIVES
A MAN has been protesting against the heavy traffic in the town centre by wearing a custom-made “Gridlock Grimsby” T-shirt. Michael Wishart, 58, is selfemployed in building maintenance and said he would be late for jobs unless he left really early because journey times now take much longer than normal.
A friend created the T-shirt using the AI image generator DALL E 3. He said: “One day, it took me nearly an hour to get from Bradley Road to Wickes. It’s just hard.” According to Google Maps, the four-mile journey should only take about 12 minutes but Michael said the traffic is so bad it took five times longer that day.
He said the problem with the Corporation Bridge roadworks taking so long is that there “isn’t really an alternative route” while the A180 is also having work.
While he finds the traffic is frustrating, he believes it is much worse for people who work a 9-5 job.
“If I do struggle to get to a job I can make up for it,” he said.
“But if you have to be somewhere at a certain time you can’t risk being late and have to leave really early. And it’s still congested.”
Since he’s started going out in public wearing the unusual T-shirt, he’s received many comments. “All the people I have spoken to are in the same boat,” he said. “When people spot it they say, ‘Wow, that’s exactly how we are feeling.”
Despite the popularity of his “Gridlock Grimsby” tee, Michael has no plans to flog them to other frustrated motorists.
“I only printed up a couple because I wasn’t interested in selling them. I wanted to make people laugh - but everyone says it is true.” Mick believed the problem could be solved if roadworks in Grimsby were planned so that fewer took place at one time.
“We have to have roadworks but why it couldn’t be planned to not put such stress on people I don’t know,” Mick said.
He believes the congestion could eventually trigger road rage in some drivers and had experienced some tense encounters which fortunately did not escalate.
He said: “Luckily, I haven’t seen people lose it yet. Some people get a little frustrated but if you smile and wave at them it tends to confuse them.”
A North East Lincolnshire Council spokesperson explained it has to deliver critical repairs before March 2025, which is why the A180 works and Corporation Bridge works are overlapping.
A spokesperson said: “The council wishes to highlight that it is fully aware of the issues that come with any major highways scheme, and shares the frustration that comes with such works taking place. “However, what it asks people to appreciate is the complexities that come with projects of this nature, especially when they involve old and historic structures (as with Corporation Bridge) and the repair and vital maintenance of bridges – as with the A180.
“The A180 work centres on the three bridges coming into Grimsby – those being the Gilbey Road and Cleethorpe Road Flyovers and the Alexandra Dock Bridge.
“As has been reported, North East Lincolnshire Council presented a solid case to the Department for Transport (DfT) for support to ensure these three structures received the attention they need to ensure their repair
“This support was secured to the tune of £8m with the DfT recognising the importance of this road for the borough’s economic and visitor growth in the future. “Without these funds the bridges’ future would be in doubt with the risk of complete failure or closure in the years ahead – and such a result would lead to far more serious consequences for traffic along that road.
“However, there are time constraints on project delivery and the type of work carried out must be completed in mild weather months. “In order for that to happen this work must start as planned. The planned timetable also factors in the least disruption possible during the summer holiday break when higher volumes of visitor traffic into Cleethorpes are anticipated, while also building in possible stops to work due to cold weather in the winter.
“Moving to Corporation Road Bridge. As has been reported by the authority numerous times, this is a Grade II Listed structure of great historical importance, and the current delays could not have been foreseen until the work had started and sections of the structure
were revealed as being in a very bad state of disrepair.
“The authority has a statutory duty to ensure this bridge remains in complete working order with its lifting mechanism operational. “Its importance was recognised by the DfT, which awarded a grant of £3m to carry out the essential repairs that are now happening.
“As with any such project, work does not start and happen overnight and that is certainly the case with historic structures - the work is timeconsuming and complex as is its planning.
“It should be highlighted too, that without this work taking place the road, of which the bridge is part, could have faced part or complete closure if, in future years, Corporation Road Bridge was declared unsafe.
“That would have caused far more traffic disruption. Likewise trying to find an alternative solution if this bridge was deemed unsafe in the future would have taken far longer and cost far more.”