"Locals said Wandsworth Council's overhaul of the junctions of Putney High Street with Putney Bridge Road and Lower Richmond Road, by Putney Bridge, had made congestion in Putney worse in its bid to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists. Residents told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the redesign had left Putney Bridge Road and Lower Richmond Road persistently gridlocked, and pushed traffic onto side roads."
"They said that although Putney had long-standing issues with congestion, which had worsened with the closure of Hammersmith Bridge to vehicles in 2019, the redesign had made the issue far worse. Locals spoke of the the havoc it was wreaking on their daily lives, leaving people late for work or school, others reluctant to leave their homes and potential visitors avoiding the area."
"But the data used to model the redesign was collected just before the end of the Covid-19 lockdown in July 2021 and incorrectly assumed Hammersmith Bridge would reopen by 2026. Congestion has worsened following the redesign, residents and buinsesses have complained The works saw a new cycle lane and bus lane added, new traffic lights installed to allow cyclists to cross a few seconds before vehicles, some pedestrian islands removed and others made bigger."
A £1 million redesign of the junctions by Putney Bridge prioritized pedestrians and cyclists but increased congestion on Putney Bridge Road and Lower Richmond Road. Residents and businesses reported persistent gridlock and displacement of traffic onto side streets, worsening delays since Hammersmith Bridge closed to vehicles in 2019. The scheme began under a Conservative administration, was adopted by Labour in 2022, and completed in late 2024. Modeling used July 2021 lockdown-era data and incorrectly assumed Hammersmith Bridge would reopen by 2026. Works added a cycle and bus lane, changed traffic signals and pedestrian islands, and reduced lane capacity approaching the bridge.
Read at www.standard.co.uk
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