Progress at Woodmill to install part-time traffic signals on the bridge, and a pedestrian crossing on Woodmill Lane, has been delayed due to the severe weather conditions this week, according to Southampton City Council.

 

The work was due to take place from Monday, January 6 until Sunday January 19, with part-time traffic lights being switched on fully during the February half term week (from Feb 17).

Now the council has confirmed that the storm this week, which caused some flooding in our area and reportedly brought multiple trees down in Southampton, means Woodmill Lane is unlikely to be open to traffic until Monday evening (Jan 20).

Deputy council leader and cabinet member for place and transport Cllr Jacqui Rayment told bitternepark.info: “The severe weather conditions caused by Storm Brendan this week has unfortunately delayed our progress at Woodmill Bridge. This means we will now need to postpone reopening Woodmill Lane until Monday evening.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused by this change in circumstances, which is regrettably beyond our control. Our teams will be doing all they can to minimise disruption as they work hard to complete the final stages of this important scheme.”

The signals will run part-time based on traffic flow through the junction because, the council says, analysis shows “the signals are effective when there are queues (peak times) but not when there are no queues (off-peak times). The signals would increase journey times when there is less traffic, which is why we decided to go with part time signals”.

When the lights are switched off the bridge will revert to the current system, and signage has been promised to emphasise the lights are part time.

A woman walks across a car-free Woodmill during rush hour

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