9 hours Ago
Local residents have voiced frustration with “horrendous” temporary traffic lights – which have broken down twice – and tripled the travel costs of a disabled woman caring for her elderly mum. The four-way traffic lights were set up on Radcliffe Moor Road in Bradley Fold following a sewer collapse last month. United Utilities and an engineer came to the site on March 25 and closed the road off.
However – another set of roadworks opened causing even more disruption – with gas company Cadent closing off part of Bradley Lane on March 31 to carry out “emergency repairs” on aging gas pipes. The company stressed the “safety critical“ nature of the repairs and the road has since partially reopened with temporary traffic lights as of Monday (April 28). One woman, who did not wish to be named, is unable to drive because she is disabled after suffering multiple strokes.
She cares for her 92-year-old mum who lives in Little Lever, but can only travel by taxi. She said that the detour she needs to take because of the lights has made the cost of taxis skyrocket from £3.90 each way to upwards of £12.
She called the situation “horrendous” and said that the lights were not working on Friday and Monday – resulting in “chaos”. She said: “If you drive on that road when the lights aren’t working – you’re taking your life into your own hands.” She said that getting to hospital appointments in the Royal Bolton Hospital is even more expensive – in total she’s spending about £150 a week.
When the road closure was first put in place, she said that there were no diversion signs in place to warn drivers – leading many to drive around local cul-de-sacs looking for a way through. Part of Bradley Lane has been closed for the last month (Image: Public) She said: “If they’re going to close the road that’s one thing – but at least put the diversions in place. “It means there was a lot of traffic on our streets – there were drivers driving around looking quite lost – while all the kids were playing out on the streets.
” Sean Trundle, 57, is a delivery driver who lives near the roadworks and drives past every day. He said that when the lights stopped working it caused “absolute chaos” – with traffic trying to get through from four directions. He said: “When the traffic lights don’t work – it’s a free for all – somebody almost smashed into my daughter’s car.
“It was just absolute chaos. “You can imagine how busy the garden centre was on Friday – to not have the traffic lights working..
.” The temporary lights on Radcliffe Moor Road (Image: Newsquest) United Utilities said that the repair to the sewer network on Radcliffe Moor Road has been finished and they would normally reopen the road. However, a housing developer in the area needs to connect the new homes to the sewer network so the roadworks will stay in place to prevent a second road closure.
Bury Councillor Jo Lancaster said: “Nobody has had any sort of notice about this, it’s just been horrendous for them. “It’s so frustrating that the council aren’t providing updates – when I’ve contacted the council I advised them that if a road is closed then they should be communicating with the residents. “It’s been a big shock to everyone and extremely frustrating for people going to work and getting home from work.
” A United Utilities spokesperson said: “Our engineers have recently been carrying out repairs to the sewer network in the area. “While this was carried out it was necessary to install temporary traffic lights. The temporary lights on Radcliffe Moor Road (Image: Newsquest) “Unfortunately, a fault occurred on the temporary light and our traffic management operator was on site within an hour to repair this.
“While our work is complete, a third party has been granted permission by the council to carry out their own works in that area. “While this means the traffic lights will be in place into next week, it does keep disruption to a minimum by removing the need for that section of road to be dug up again. “We apologise for the inconvenience caused during these essential works.
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uk A spokesperson for Cadent said: We understand people’s frustration at roadworks but can’t stress enough the safety-critical nature of this project. It began as a repair of a leak on a gas pipe, so that we can keep people safe, and then the complete replacement of a whole section of the same ageing pipeline. The road is no longer closed.
We have been able to open it to traffic, with lights now controlling the flow around our work area during this final phase. READ MORE: Frustration after Crompton Way temporary traffic lights fail READ MORE: University Way Bolton to be closed overnight for works READ MORE: M6 closed in both directions near Lancaster following crash A Bury Council spokesperson said: “The works underway at Bradley Lane are emergency works carried out by Cadent to repair a multiple gas escapes. “Bradley Lane had to be closed to allow these urgent works to be carried out safely.
In this case, traffic in the area has been further impacted due to other emergency sewer replacement works by United Utilities at Radcliffe Moor Road. “To reduce disruption, Bury Council arranged for a private service connection for the development on Radcliffe Moor Road to be installed while the road is excavated for the emergency sewer works. “Temporary traffic lights remain in place, but we anticipate all works will be completed by 2nd May.
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