Kentish Express Ashford & District
Lights go on the blink yet again at busy roundabout
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The traffic lights at junction 10 are out of action YET AGAIN, after they were only fixed a few months ago.
The lights on the A2070 as you approach the M20 junction have not been working since before Christmas.
This means drivers and pedestrians have had to judge the oncoming traffic on the busy roundabout before setting off, rather than use the lights system for parts of the roundabout.
A Highways England spokesperson said: “We were made aware of synchronisation problems with the lights just before the Christmas break.
“These lights are there to control traffic flows at busy times with the A2070 junction.
“Engineers have switched them off during the holiday period to test and recalibrate them.
“Work is expected to be complete during the first week of January.”
Multiple sets of lights had previously been out in September due to a power fault.
The junction 10 traffic lights have been a long-running subject of irritation and discussion for the thousands who use the roundabout every day.
In March 2015 the lights were turned back on as part of a £750,000 repair scheme. They had been switched off that January while workers carried out repairs on surrounding roads.
The Highways Agency (now Highways England) said the signals were then replaced with an updated set to reduce the need for future emergency repairs.
But motorists claimed the traffic flowed more smoothly without them, and many called for them to be switched off for good.
At the time, a Highways Agency spokesman said: “The traffic lights are needed to help increase the capacity of this busy roundabout, and are being replaced to ensure the junction continues to operate safely and efficiently. Without them, the safety and capacity of the roundabout would be reduced.”
What do you think of the traffic lights at junction 10? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk