Lindsay Rd Poole without traffic lights

[technogogo]

Has anyone else noticed that the east bound traffic flow on Lindsay Road in Poole is SO much better without the traffic light where it joins Frizzell Roundabout?

The traffic light here has been switched off this week as it is being replaced it with a newer type. I think there is a case for removing the traffic light control at this location?

[martinrpeachey]

A friend of mine works for Poole council traffic control and it's not as simple as it seems. The frizzel roundabout is the busiest in the area, seeing over 32000 cars during peak periods. The fact that the traffic flows well there due to the lights being off is all well and good but it could be having adverse affects miles away.

[Hub]

Roundabouts work well without lights shocker (I suppose unless there is a major difference between traffic flows making it hard to get out of a minor road).

There are lights being installed on Richmond Hill roundabout next - noooooo!

[technogogo]

martinrpeachey said:

A friend of mine works for Poole council traffic control and it's not as simple as it seems. The frizzel roundabout is the busiest in the area, seeing over 32000 cars during peak periods. The fact that the traffic flows well there due to the lights being off is all well and good but it could be having adverse affects miles away.

That is very true and I have wondered where this knock-on may be happening. Because traffic exiting Lindsay Road onto Frizzell Roundabout (more accurately, Gyratory) quickly hits traffic lights anyway. So I do know what you mean.... and yet it does seem to be significantly better with no obvious increase in jams in the vicinity. This evening at 4:45pm there was no queue at all. Unheard of on a friday. Of course the other possibility is that drivers are simply avoiding the area.

I have emailed head of poole transport (Julian McLaughlin) to suggest a longer period without lights to allow for study. Also allowing for my possibly confirmation bias! I cc'd 8 councillors and one of them has already replied to say they agreed with my observation. For what thats worth!

[catfood12]

It's a free for all at present... Made worse by the temporary cross on Lindsay Road,, just East of Burton Road. Trying to get out of there in the mornings is now impossible.

bks. Lights on Richmond Hill roundabout ? Why ! Why ?! I didn't ever think that flowed too badly. All I see as I head up the 338 now is a long westbound queue waiting to get off at Richmond Hill.

[Hub]

catfood12 said:

bks. Lights on Richmond Hill roundabout ? Why ! Why ?! I didn't ever think that flowed too badly. All I see as I head up the 338 now is a long westbound queue waiting to get off at Richmond Hill.

It doesn't flow badly - in fact it is deemed to flow too well as a couple of cyclists have apparently been hit in recent years, so traffic coming off the westbound slip and going round the roundabout at that point has to be stopped, and the free flowing traffic has to be abandoned in the name of cycle safety!

Probably the reason why they wouldn't ever remove lights at Frizzell or anywhere else too!

[technogogo]

Reply to me from council traffic manager was that lights are needed there to reduce accidents. They will be returned as soon as possible.
I have seen some fairly hairy moments with cars joining the roundabout in front of oncoming traffic already on the roundabout. It is a shame that traffic has to be nanny controlled but I kinda see the point. Ish.