O/T The New Road

[Freez]

You do mean "Thora Hirds Passage" obviously.

[Posh]

You do mean "Thora Hirds Passage" obviously.

Gay Baitway
Helen Worth's Sparkly Ginnel
Torrisholme Flyover

Are some of the alternatives I've heard.

[bill ding]

You do mean "Thora Hirds Passage" obviously.

Gay Baitway
Helen Worth's Sparkly Ginnel
Torrisholme Flyover

Are some of the alternatives I've heard.

Call it what you want it's a revelation that is long overdue

[captain sparkle]

Captain Sparkle, I for one hope that this epic trilogy of journeys could be turned into a major motion picture franchise.
Something along the lines of The sparkley hobbit an unexpected journey or perhaps Indiana Sparkle and the last M6?
There will be a bidding war for the rights I'm sure.
Register it and copyright it immediately, Christies Child and Mr Potatoheed could help with the screenplay.
Don't delay.

How about something along the lines of 'Captain Potter & the missing Christie Sparkle'?

(Looks like you're after my television crown after last nights appearance!!?!! )

[seasonsinthesun]

The Yellow Brick Road is a good name, as it is the road we have waited many years for, the road of our dreams

[Morecambe Shrimp]

Just passed an articulated lorry marooned up "Thora Hirds Passage". Have a guess where about's .....
Right in the middle of the roundabout!! This vehicle has come from the Heysham end which I cannot work out as I think there is greater visibility from that end - could be a mechanical failure!!

[Sakhalin Shrimp]

Just passed an articulated lorry marooned up "Thora Hirds Passage". Have a guess where about's .....
Right in the middle of the roundabout!! This vehicle has come from the Heysham end which I cannot work out as I think there is greater visibility from that end - could be a mechanical failure!!

Yes, I saw it too. That'll cause chaos when they try to drag it out
I was heading towards Heysham from the motorway yesterday afternoon and saw a van travelling in the direction of the motorway lock up his wheels as he bore down on the roundabout, he must have seen it too late and that was in daylight.
Better signage, rumble strips?

[Christies Child]

Just passed an articulated lorry marooned up "Thora Hirds Passage". Have a guess where about's .....
Right in the middle of the roundabout!! This vehicle has come from the Heysham end which I cannot work out as I think there is greater visibility from that end - could be a mechanical failure!!

Yes, I saw it too. That'll cause chaos when they try to drag it out
I was heading towards Heysham from the motorway yesterday afternoon and saw a van travelling in the direction of the motorway lock up his wheels as he bore down on the roundabout, he must have seen it too late and that was in daylight.
Better signage, rumble strips?

I've only used the new road twice in the dark but on both occasions cars have zoomed past me just before that roundabout and had to brake to slow down to negotiate the thing. Surely better signage and lighting would help....but our traffic planners always know best....

[SimplyRed MFC]

Agree with all the above positivity about the road

I make a weekly drive from just south of Hazel Grove in East Cheshire down the A6, M60, M61, M6, Bay Gateway, Morecambe - usual time 1 hour 45 minutes

This morning, ta da, 1 hour 25 minutes - best ever time, and they are vastly improving the horribly busy A6 at Hazel Grove as well

Wonderful !

[John L]

Re. Slamming on at the approach to the roundabout... Not travelling at an excessive speed would help. I travel down there no more than 5mph over the limit and observe the large speed limit signs and everything else around me, but there are plenty of drivers who fly past well over the limit. Admittedly the lack of lighting around the roundabout does make it less visible from a distance in the dark but not impossible to see at a safe speed. Perhaps if drivers took more responsibility for their actions instead of treating it like a Formula One circuit they wouldn't risk coming a cropper!

[Christies Child]

Re. Slamming on at the approach to the roundabout... Not travelling at an excessive speed would help. I travel down there no more than 5mph over the limit and observe the large speed limit signs and everything else around me. Admittedly the lack of lighting around the roundabout does make it less visible from a distance in the dark but not impossible to see at a safe speed. Perhaps if drivers took more responsibility for their actions they wouldn't risk coming a cropper!

......and pigs may fly.....

[John L]

Yep, and they'll inevitably catch up with them!

[MfcChris]

Apparently the resident's objected to lighting. Can't be many residents that see that roundabout? 2 houses?

Wait till someone is seriously injured or dies before action is taken!

[Richard Head]

Just back from walking the dog along the new road, another accident at Slyne roundabout, looked like 3 cars involved

[captain sparkle]

Regarding my previous statement about having to cut the lighting, this was said at a planning inspectorate meeting a few years back -
Two changes, which have been made to the original application in order to save money, concern me
here: firstly, street lighting will not now be installed from point beyond Lancaster Road; secondly, the
originally proposed roundabout next to the College of Further Education is to be replaced with a
junction and traffic lights.
and you can see other changes at the bottom of this publication from 2011 -
http://heyshamlink.lancashire.gov.uk/media/2065/issue-1-april-2011-introducing-the-link-road-and-the-planning-process-1-.pdf
which, according to the BBC from 2013 "have cut the cost of the scheme from £139m since original plans were given the go-ahead in 2010.
The Department for Transport will contribute £111m to the redesigned project, with Lancashire County Council funding the remaining £12m. "

[Richard Head]

There's no doubt the new road has made a massive difference to traffic on Torrisholme Road and Morecambe Road but I've a few small observations/queries

1) coming from the M6 as you approach Slyne roundabout a lane splits off to the left then rejoins the main carriageway a little further on, what's that all about (it's been coned off since the road opened)

2) any idea when the park & ride will be up and running, can't see it being used much, file under white elephant

3) no waste bins at any of the lay-bys, I guess this has saved a couple of quid but it just encourages any scruffy bastards to chuck their litter on the grass verge

4) at McDonalds roundabout the sign for the left hand lane says A589 L'caster. What's happened there, did they run out of paint or could they not spell Lancaster

5) at Broadoak corner where the footpath drops down onto Torrisholme Road there were 2 metal barriers forming a chicane presumably to slow down cyclists. They were there when the road opened, 2 days later they were gone, what's happened, has some bastard weighed them in for scrap metal

[Sakhalin Shrimp]

There's no doubt the new road has made a massive difference to traffic on Torrisholme Road and Morecambe Road but I've a few small observations/queries

1) coming from the M6 as you approach Slyne roundabout a lane splits off to the left then rejoins the main carriageway a little further on, what's that all about (it's been coned off since the road opened)

I would assume that it is so traffic carrying on towards Heysham doesn't have to negotiate the roundabout.

[KenH]

I would assume that it is so traffic carrying on towards Heysham doesn't have to negotiate the roundabout.

Indeed, but doesn't really make sense. Most traffic will be going straight on anyway and relatively little traffic using the slip to the A6. Why leave the carriageway to move into the slip road, to pass the roundabout and then have to filter back into the main carriageway again after it. A slip like that is usually on a left hand turn - I don't think I've ever seen one for traffic going straight on.

[Sakhalin Shrimp]

I would assume that it is so traffic carrying on towards Heysham doesn't have to negotiate the roundabout.

Indeed, but doesn't really make sense. Most traffic will be going straight on anyway and relatively little traffic using the slip to the A6. Why leave the carriageway to move into the slip road, to pass the roundabout and then have to filter back into the main carriageway again after it. A slip like that is usually on a left hand turn - I don't think I've ever seen one for traffic going straight on.

To save wagons slowing or coming to a halt at the roundabout and causing a queue?

[Richard Head]

There's no doubt the new road has made a massive difference to traffic on Torrisholme Road and Morecambe Road but I've a few small observations/queries

1) coming from the M6 as you approach Slyne roundabout a lane splits off to the left then rejoins the main carriageway a little further on, what's that all about (it's been coned off since the road opened)

I would assume that it is so traffic carrying on towards Heysham doesn't have to negotiate the roundabout.

It's not serving any purpose at the moment, 3 weeks after the road opened its still coned off with a sign saying works access only, not seen any work going on in the many times I've walked past

Just been for a walk on the new road with the dog and a couple more observations

Re: no waste bins at the lay-bys, the scruffy bastards have been out in force, the lay-by between the M6 and Slyne roundabout is a particular disgrace

As you go from the A6 to M6 up the hill there is a warning sign that appears to warn of deer crossing the road, I've lived round here for 60+ years and never seen a deer, perhaps they are reminding us Santa and Rudolf will be here soon

The cycle way/footpath that drops down from the road towards the crem has now got about 100 yards of crash barriers, I can only guess they had some left over and decided to fit it there

[Keith]

I've been up and down Thora Hird's Passage a couple of time today. There was a sign warning of a slippery surface...

I think the problem with the dodgy roundabout, is that there is a bit of an optical illusion, in that as the road dips (going towards the M6) you can see the road ahead, on the other side of the roundabout, appearing to go straight on. Perhaps, especially at night, people are approaching it, expecting it to be quite a small roundabout, then suddenly discover it is pretty big, but by then too late to slow down enough? Certainly plenty of tyre tracks on it, perhaps people think that's the location of the 'Park & Ride'?

The other thing that is odd is the curb between the lay-by and road. I can see someone deciding at last moment to pull in, in the dark, and smacking the curb. Surely some reflective strips wouldn't have cost too much?

But a big improvement for getting to the M6! If only David Morris had been the MP thirty years ago???

[Niborian_Shrimp]

As you go from the A6 to M6 up the hill there is a warning sign that appears to warn of deer crossing the road, I've lived round here for 60+ years and never seen a deer, perhaps they are reminding us Santa and Rudolf will be here soon.

About a week before the road opened I saw Bambi roadkill just outside the Holiday Inn. Couldn't quite believe it myself.

[Richard Head]

New road to be closed tonight to allow temporary lane closures at Slyne roundabout to be put in place. Eastbound closed from 8.00pm then Westbound later. Traffic to be diverted via Morecambe Road and Caton Road

[Richard Head]

No sign of any lane closures when I drove past this morning just a few cones with flashing lights on the top that I dont think were there before.Anyway they are not working, another accident at the roundabout this morning

[morecambegeek]

Lane closures to be implemented tonight after being postponed on Monday due to the weather.