The power of modern technology is such that despite the fact I am currently on the other side of the Atlantic, I can still access all my e-mails and get all the news from home.
I have just be advised that Windmill Bridge will not be opening in the next few days as was originally scheduled and the contractors say it will not be completed until the end of July. I find this a totally unacceptable state of affairs and I am trying to find out why, suddenly the long delay. In the meantime I have had assurances that the Over-Swavesey Road will not be closed, as had been the plan, but will remain open until the Windmill Bridge is fully completed.
I will keep you posted on the latest developments as I get them.
2 comments:
I find it hard to believe that these delays come as a surprise.
I live in Over and I've known for weeks that this would not be ready in time. I've visited the site a couple of times now to show our children how the bridge is being replaced, and seen the cranes remain at the site well after they should have left. I mean, the cranes are clearly seen from miles around!
At present, access in and out of Over is seriously hampered: Longstanton Road is unavailable, due to the bridge delays; Willingham to Longstanton is disrupted due to single lane traffic only at the guided bus crossing point; and finally, Swavesey is having it's main roads resurfaced this week.
To add insult to injury, when the bridge is finally completed, not only will the Swavesey guided bus crossing work commence, meaning a complete road closure between Over and Swavesey, but in addition, Gallaher Estates will commence work on the Longstaton bypass, which will mean yet more delays and road closures for the Longstanton to Over road.
I can see why so many refer to this project as the misguided bus scheme.
As Jason said access in and out of Over is now severely compromised. Windmill Bridge will be reopened at the end of July the council have now (12.6.08) said. Since Jason's comments work has started on Swavesey level crossing.
We were promised that nothing would be done at Swavesey Level crossing until Windmill bridge was reopened. Now Messrs John Henry are at work at Swavesey with traffic lights. What about your promise I asked the Guided Bus team today.? Oh well we are not actually closing the road just managing the traffic and we are very sorry for all the inconvenience caused said a very pleasant and sympathetic lady on the phone.
It really seems as if local residents and commuters are the very last people to be considered and we are treated with utter contempt. We put up for months with serial traffic lights along the first Longstanton bypass and now we have two sets along the Willingham - Longstanton Road and one set at Swavesey. Once the bridge is opened I bet there will be many more temporary lights to contend with along the new bypass.
Why couldn't the bypass work be done whilst the bridge was closed as our Councillor wanted? That would be too sensible and we must continue to inconvenience local people to show how powerful we are and how little they matter. Apparently there were legal [problems with land ownership which have only just been resolved!
Come off it! Surely with real effort and a determined will to really reduce inconvenience this could have been resolved before now - the bypass has been planned for several years for heavens sake.
The hours lost by the public sitting at these traffic lights and diversions must be massive - but that doesn't matter so long as the Contractors and Council are not hindered. Promises can be broken at will and sometimes with apologies and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.
Many of us locally were against the guided bus and Northstowe but both are coming regardless of our views. That's bad enough but we are being punished by the County Council and Contractors who seem to take pleasure in delaying our movements and showing us the guided bus is coming whether the electorate wish it or not - so there!
What hope is there for any of us? Can somebody please tell me.
Peter
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