Street works on The Cut and Waterloo Road

My normal tendency is to welcome pedestrian priority over road users, but this scheme does seem to be spectacularly ill-thought out.

It's traffic-clogged the stretch of Waterloo Road between the Cut and St George's Circus, which used to run pretty freely most of the time, and lengthened bus journey times for dozens of buses an hour.

I am, however, looking forward to getting a pedestrian phase in the lights at this busy junction.

Is there going to be a pelican crossing all aound the juntion?

It was one of the things that was annoying me, the pavement had been widened when it didn't need to be, but there isn't a crossing when it needs it.

Am I going completely mad or they going to ban all traffic going east along the Cut? Surely there is no room now for a lane of traffic in each direction.

I was up by the Old Vic yesterday for the first time in a few weeks (been away) and can't believe that a) the Cut is still closed to eastbound traffic while they putter about, and b) the whole scale of the project, ie: it seems they are raising the entire bit of road in front of the Old Vic and doing creative diagonal stonework with the pavers, etc.

I would like to know how much this is all costing during this period of recession, who planned this "improvement", and by what measure do they think this is better than the previous road layout? It can't be improved road safety or traffic flow.

It does look like The Cut is being reduced to 1 lane each way, but Baylis Rd is still 2 lanes. Why does Baylis Rd get two lanes but Waterloo Rd with all the bus routes gets single lane? Is it deliberately anti-bus?

This morning, the northbound traffic was backing up because a Marstons Beer Lorry had parked in the now-much-narrower road in front of the Fire Station and buses were having to wait for a gap to overtake it. Infuriating when you are rushing to catch a train!

theedy wrote:

Am I going completely mad or they going to ban all traffic going east along the Cut? Surely there is no room now for a lane of traffic in each direction.

Every day I pass through/across this junction (either on a bus which hardly moves or on foot taking my life in my hands) and can't quite believe what I'm seeing.

And the temporary traffic lights have been out on and off for over a week.

Words fail me...

Had another look at it last night. As windchill says they appear to be creating a large "table" from Waterloo Road right across the Cornwall Road/ Webber Street area. It appears they are doing it in the newfangled way where there is no curb so pedestrians and traffic have to beware of each other, (unless they put railings up.) If there are no railings traffic turning left into the Cut is sure to cut the corner.

We shall see. And it still leaves the newly-created bus park both ways on Waterloo Road.

I noticed yesterday they have got a (much needed) pedestrian crossing in place on the Baylis Road junction, though it's not working yet.

I was always having to fight to get past theatre-goers as they congregated outside the Old Vic smoking and taking up the whole pavement. Probably the Old Vic management insisted on giving them more room.

I live locally to the road works and recall receiving some information about proposed plans for the pavements along Baylis Road and The Cut quite a while ago, which invited comments. I expect this passes for consultation.

I wonder how local one needs to be as I live on Webber Row, but don't recall receiving anything.

To be honest I would be surprised about the Old Vic complaining about a small pavement after so many years. I think this is more about the council's unwavering passion to bring traffic flow to a near standstill (which now seems to happen most mornings on Waterloo Road).

I remember the cabs used to do a good trick of a quick u-turn in front of the theatre to drop fares right in front of the theatre - I can't see that happening anymore.

Is Webber Row in Southwark? I live literally across the road in Lambeth. Wonder if that makes any difference to 'consultation' practices of different councils....