UPDATED Temporary lights on the junction of Priory and St Denys Roads appear to be causing a headache for rush-hour motorists, after a signal controller was “totally destroyed” at the weekend.
• St Denys Road traffic lights could be repaired by end of week
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We understand that the temporary lights were put in place after a road traffic collision at the weekend involving two vehicles, which were both said to be badly damaged.
The usual traffic light controller, on the corner of Priory Road (north) and Cobden Bridge, was “totally destroyed”.
This appears to be what remains of the traffic light controller!
The pedestrian crossing across St Denys Road is also out of action, as it’s part of the usual traffic light system.
The temporary lights were apparently in position but not activated on Monday, but while @canta_brian on Twitter said that “Monday traffic flowed much better than a normal day”, others told us it was consequently very difficult to pull out from Priory onto St Denys, with few drivers letting others into the main traffic stream.
The lights were damaged in an accident on Saturday. When will they be fixed? Although with the temp lights not working on Monday traffic flowed much better than a normal day.
— Brian (@canta_brian) January 30, 2018
@sinjin1 tweeted on Tuesday morning that it took 30 minutes to travel less than a mile, and cars were still queuing along Cobden Avenue going towards Cobden Bridge at 10am.
@BBCRadioSolent traffic report did not even mention it even though it took 30 minutes to travel less than a mile
— sinjin #FBPE (@sinjin1) January 30, 2018
It’s not known when the usual lights will be repaired: alarmingly for road users the multi-way traffic signals are listed on the council’s roadworks website as being in place until March 2, although @scchighways has said “we are working on replacing & will update when date confirmed”.
Traffic signal controller was totally destroyed in RTC at weekend, we are working on replacing & will update when date confirmed
— Southampton Travel (@scchighways) January 30, 2018
Updates 1/2/18:
Lights 'cause of gridlock'
On our Facebook page, Russell Jones commented: "I travel through this area and these lights are the cause of all gridlock in Bitterne Park in the mornings.
"As soon as you get across them the road is clear. There were no traffic lights at all on Monday, and also this morning when I went through just after 7.30am. The traffic was flowing freely and there were no queues in the side roads either. I would like to see the lights removed and just keep a set for pedestrians.
"I note on the main Bitterne Park site that someone has commented that it was difficult to get out of Priory Road so we need a trial period without the lights to monitor the situation."
'Jumping the lights'
Also commenting on Facebook, Mark Davies said that, temporary lights or otherwise, the junction is "really dangerous", and called for cameras "as so many cars jump the lights".
Survey
Meanwhile we're told some local residents are concerned that the junction is dangerous and are planning a survey, working with the Green Party, to "monitor behaviours and traffic movements on a working day".
Previously
See also: St Denys Road traffic lights could be repaired by end of week