This is a very old post.
I had a pupil on test this morning, and as I was travelling to pick her up I hit traffic. At 9.30am, it was far heavier than usual, and I quickly realised something other than the idiot tram works were involved. And so it was.
Severn Trent were in their absolute element. Big hole in the road, barriers, temporary traffic lights, and people standing around apparently doing sod all.
There had been what appears to have been a major leak on one of the only roads into Nottingham still unaffected by tram works, ring road improvements, gas main replacement, or the building of “quality developments of affordable 2- and 3-bedroomed housing” on green belt land. The temporary lights were still up this afternoon around 3pm, so try to avoid that end for a day or two (and especially during evening rush hour, which is bad enough down that road anyway). I can’t see Severn Trent finishing this off any quicker than usual. (Edit: the lights were finally removed late – very late – on Sunday)
It would be unfair to blame Severn Trent completely. After all, they’re just doing what they usually do, as well as they usually do it! The real culprits are those in the Council who have restricted so many roads because of the tram, or who have rushed into “improvements” within five minutes of the grant cheque being cleared without waiting for the tram works to finish.
And don’t forget it is the bloody Marathon on Sunday. That already involves closing off even more roads (and I bet the ring road at Aspley Lane is down to one lane at the same time – the berks won’t pass up a chance to rub salt into the motorists’ wounds like that). (Edit: They actually went one better. The only road through Clifton – the roundabout at Farnborough Road/Green Lane – has now got 4-way (count ’em: FOUR way) traffic lights on it. They appear to have sanctioned tram works there before any of the other routes have re-opened).