New development causes major tailbacks for motorists
● MOTORISTS were left fuming over massive tailbacks caused by roadworks in place for a supermarket opening later this month in Runcorn.
Queues of 45 minutes were reported after temporary traffic lights on Murdishaw Avenue near the Southern Expressway roundabout and retail development combined with the return of school run traffic to snarl up the roads.
The works have been in place for over a month as part of development works to build an Aldi supermarket – due to open on September 27, three retail units and a Marston’s pub called The Queen Of Hearts – but one motorist said the jams became a major problem after the school holidays ended.
The project is part of a regeneration scheme backed by Halton Council, which has now asked the contractor to operate the lights manually during peak times, and problems appeared to have subsided by Friday morning.
Alan May suggested that the busway between Murdishaw Avenue and Chester Road, Preston Brook, should be opened to general traffic.
Marie Louise Hodgson, who works as a childminder and lives in Sutton Park, said the temporary lights meant parents were struggling to drop off and ● pick up their children, adding that planning for the works had been ‘poor’.
Glenys Baines, of Murdishaw, said tempers had started to flare among some drivers and she is now concerned that once the Murdishaw Avenue works are finished, the area is facing more disruption with the upcoming construction of the M56 Junction 11a ‘throughabout’ at Murdishaw roundabout.
She said: “We understand that to get the new store and pub we must go through some inconvenience, but it is escalating into something that I, as a woman driver, find scary.
“The temporary traffic lights frequently break down, then it’s a free for all.
“There are selfish drivers that refuse to wait and will push in, nearly causing accidents.
“I know of one crash but I’m sure there has been more.
“I know in a couple of weeks, Murdishaw residents will have their own Aldi but, on the downside, the works for the new throughabout begin.
“Why don’t they open the bus way around Murdishaw?
“Sutton Park residents will find getting in and out much easier as well.
“Even if it’s only peak times.”
Speaking before the council’s request for man- ual control of the lights, Marie said: “Waiting times minimum coming from either the expressway or Murdishaw is around 20 minutes – at most times, not just peak traffic times.
“Coming out of Sutton Park is hit and miss.
“Some mornings when I leave for the school run, I queue up for 10 minutes as the traffic towards the roundabout backs up because they can’t get off the roundabout.
“I am a childminder living on Sutton Park, so my small business is getting affected by it as parents are struggling getting their children to me in time, for them to leave and get to their jobs on time.”
A Halton Council spokeswoman said: “We are aware there are peak time delays at the temporary lights, but this is only while the construction work is being carried out on the site.
“We asked the contractor to manually operate the traffic signals during peak times.”
An Aldi spokesman said: “We are working with Halton Borough Council to improve road access to Murdishaw Avenue ahead of opening our new store on September 27.
“Temporary traffic lights have been installed whilst this takes place over the next two weeks. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”