Pentagon Island’s roadworks branded ‘complete disaster’
AN opposition councillor has branded a major roadworks project in Derby “a complete disaster”.
Reform Derby councillor Tim Prosser feels other roads in the city should be given priority rather than Pentagon Island where a major upgrade project is under way.
Last month, Derby City Council announced the busy island would be undergoing major upgrade works to its traffic lights – a project that could last up to a total of 20 weeks.
The Conservativeled council says the £550,000 works – part of the Transforming Cities Fund project – will see traffic signals at Pentagon Island overhauled with smart, low voltage LED traffic lights to automatically prioritise buses.
Cyclists and pedestrians will also benefit from improved crossings around the busy roundabout.
Works started on Wednesday, August 25, with roadworks taking place between 9.30am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday. It is hoped new traffic signals will become operational before Christmas.
However, councillor Prosser has expressed his dismay over the roadworks project in a response to another Twitter user who asked the council why the traffic lights were being upgraded when they already go from red to green.
The tweet suggested that Mr Prosser believes pedestrians and cyclists using Pentagon Island are “rare”.
Mr Prosser tweeted back: “Sounds like a complete disaster. Why prioritise pedestrians and cyclists at one of the busiest road hubs in the city where pedestrians and cyclists are rare? Such a scheme would do better where there is specific need. I cycled London Road the other day. It’s suicidal.”
Councillor Prosser, who was elected councillor in May this year, has been invited to elaborate on the tweet he sent earlier on Friday.
A Derby City Council spokesperson said the council would not be responding to the tweet directly but did refer back to its initial announcement on the project, dated August 19.
In that statement, deputy council leader Matthew Holmes said: “The key aim of the Transforming Cities Fund Project is to encourage residents to opt for sustainable transport methods like cycling or using public transport. These works are a key part of improving public transport journeys both in the city and to our neighbours in Nottingham.
“Throughout the work, teams will be working hard to ensure that any disruption to traffic is kept to a minimum.”