Today's most viewed
Controversial road works to cost extra half million pounds
THE cost of finishing one of
Southampton's most controversial
roadworks has shot
up by an extra £500,000.
Emergency funding has been
approved to complete the works at
Millbrook Roundabout, which will
introduce 30 traffic lights, and which
were initially going to cost £2m.
Road chiefs blamed unforeseen structural
work due to "engineering difficulties"
with new quick fix
repair techniques, but
spending watchdogs
have accused the council
of "management
failure".
Councillor Gavin
Dick, Cabinet member
for transport, decided to
sign off the extra spending,
claiming that it
would cost more to
return to a half-finished
job at a later stage. He
said he wanted to make
sure that the 12-week
scheme was completed
on time by July 17.
Opposition councillors
raised no objections.
Cllr Dick said: "We've
got staff and contractors
on site. This will save money in the
longer term instead of taking them off
site and bringing them back again."
Mark Wallace, from the Taxpayers'
Alliance campaign group, said: "It's
unforgivable that with council tax payers
struggling to make ends meet, this
project has been so mismanaged that it
has added an extra bill on taxpayers'
backs.
"No other organisation would accept
this kind of overrun on a project and it
smacks of management failure."
The project to resurface the roundabout
and Dock Gate 20, and install new
traffic signals, pedestrian and cycle
facilities, has already sparked criticism
from cyclists and motorists over the
disruption. Diversions and 30mph
speed limits have been put in place.
Cllr Dick said that the project used
the latest techniques, injecting a compound
into the ground rather than digging
out concrete foundations and
relaying them.
However, contractor Colas will now
have to carry out extra
work, covering ducting,
drainage, potentially
unsafe wiring and
blacktop surfacing.
Some will be carried
out at night.
Cllr Dick said that the
cost would still be lower
than if the council had
used traditional methods,
which would have
cost about £5m and
taken up to nine
months.
He pledged a report
into the reasons of the
cost overrun after the
project was completed.
The roundabout
works will take the
total number of traffic
lights on the roundabout,
its approaches and exits from
none to 30.
The new traffic lights will add to
Southampton's current total of 102 traffic-
controlled junctions and 89 pedestrian-
controlled traffic lights.
6:07am Wednesday 9th July 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Joe King, Fawley on 6:25am Wed 9 Jul 08
Now i know why they changed a perfectly good 50mph speed camera down to 30mph with conflicting road signs on the fly over say cameras 50mph. So they can get more revenue to pay for this debacle.
I bet its a good cash cow, deceiving the public like that. By changing a camera from 50 to 30 for no good reason and no real warning, on a stretch of road that has no road works on it anyways.
Now i know why they changed a perfectly good 50mph speed camera down to 30mph with conflicting road signs on the fly over say cameras 50mph. So they can get more revenue to pay for this debacle.
I bet its a good cash cow, deceiving the public like that. By changing a camera from 50 to 30 for no good reason and no real warning, on a stretch of road that has no road works on it anyways.
Posted by: Condor Man, Southampton on 6:29am Wed 9 Jul 08
as a regular user of the roundabout the improvements were long over due, shame about the cost but that's life these days.
as a regular user of the roundabout the improvements were long over due, shame about the cost but that's life these days.
Posted by: Nod, Lordshill on 6:51am Wed 9 Jul 08
As a regular user of the roundabout i can say that the clear roadmarkings were needed. but the traffic lights are completely unnecessary and the pedestrian crossings are too close to the roundabout exits.
As a regular user of the roundabout i can say that the clear roadmarkings were needed. but the traffic lights are completely unnecessary and the pedestrian crossings are too close to the roundabout exits.
Posted by: Fred on 6:55am Wed 9 Jul 08
"Some will be carried out at night"
Sounds like groundbreaking project management is being used.
"Some will be carried out at night"
Sounds like groundbreaking project management is being used.
Posted by: JohnB, Eastleigh on 8:31am Wed 9 Jul 08
[bold][italic]with new quick fix repair techniques[/italic][/bold]
That's worrying.. haven't these techniques been used extensively on the fly-overs over the years, hence the continual road-works.
with new quick fix repair techniques
That's worrying.. haven't these techniques been used extensively on the fly-overs over the years, hence the continual road-works.
Posted by: Highway Engineer on 9:39am Wed 9 Jul 08
[quote][bold]JohnB[/bold] wrote:
[bold][italic]with new quick fix repair techniques[/italic][/bold] That's worrying.. haven't these techniques been used extensively on the fly-overs over the years, hence the continual road-works. [/quote] Those would be to the manholes, that get hit by at least 1000 vehicles a day. These are a rigid structure in a flexible road, you work it out.
They are never "quick fixed" but unless the council spend millions moving them and closing the flyovers for weeks nothing will change.
But then im sure people would moan about that, people need to get a life, IMHO, its roadworks not a war.
JohnB wrote:
with new quick fix repair techniques That's worrying.. haven't these techniques been used extensively on the fly-overs over the years, hence the continual road-works.
Those would be to the manholes, that get hit by at least 1000 vehicles a day. These are a rigid structure in a flexible road, you work it out.
They are never "quick fixed" but unless the council spend millions moving them and closing the flyovers for weeks nothing will change.
But then im sure people would moan about that, people need to get a life, IMHO, its roadworks not a war.
Posted by: dexter, Southampton on 9:42am Wed 9 Jul 08
regular user of roundabout as both a cyclist and car driver, the whole thing is a joke! what a waste of money
regular user of roundabout as both a cyclist and car driver, the whole thing is a joke! what a waste of money
Posted by: George on 10:09am Wed 9 Jul 08
[quote][bold]dexter[/bold] wrote:
regular user of roundabout as both a cyclist and car driver, the whole thing is a joke! what a waste of money[/quote] Why is it a waste of money? The potholes around the roundabout are shocking. It might be a royal pain in the @rse, but it's work that needs to be done, end of story
dexter wrote:
regular user of roundabout as both a cyclist and car driver, the whole thing is a joke! what a waste of money
Why is it a waste of money? The potholes around the roundabout are shocking. It might be a royal pain in the @rse, but it's work that needs to be done, end of story
Posted by: Gozza, Stuck in traffic on 10:15am Wed 9 Jul 08
The potholes may have needed sorting, but most of the cost of this will be the stupid traffic lights which will only make life worse for all road users.
As for the overcharge - if this was the private sector the contractor would've been made to do the job for the originally agreed price, with a penalty for late finishing. Seems the council can't even negotiate a sensible contract.
The potholes may have needed sorting, but most of the cost of this will be the stupid traffic lights which will only make life worse for all road users.
As for the overcharge - if this was the private sector the contractor would've been made to do the job for the originally agreed price, with a penalty for late finishing. Seems the council can't even negotiate a sensible contract.
Posted by: Adrian Smith on 10:49am Wed 9 Jul 08
[quote][bold]George[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]dexter[/bold] wrote:
regular user of roundabout as both a cyclist and car driver, the whole thing is a joke! what a waste of money[/quote] Why is it a waste of money? The potholes around the roundabout are shocking. It might be a royal pain in the @rse, but it's work that needs to be done, end of story[/quote] It's not the sorry state of the road that is the focus of the work though - its the installation of 30-odd traffic lights that is irking most people.
George wrote:
dexter wrote:
regular user of roundabout as both a cyclist and car driver, the whole thing is a joke! what a waste of money
Why is it a waste of money? The potholes around the roundabout are shocking. It might be a royal pain in the @rse, but it's work that needs to be done, end of story
It's not the sorry state of the road that is the focus of the work though - its the installation of 30-odd traffic lights that is irking most people.
Posted by: George on 10:58am Wed 9 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Adrian Smith[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]George[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]dexter[/bold] wrote: regular user of roundabout as both a
cyclist and car driver, the whole thing is a joke! what a waste of
money[/quote] Why is it a waste of money? The potholes around the
roundabout are shocking. It might be a royal pain in the @rse, but it's
work that needs to be done, end of story[/quote] It's not the sorry
state of the road that is the focus of the work though - its the
installation of 30-odd traffic lights that is irking most people.[/quote] Fair comment. You'd think we'd be used to it by now, though. It's the Southampton way. If in doubt, get the traffic lights out
Adrian Smith wrote:
George wrote:
dexter wrote: regular user of roundabout as both a
cyclist and car driver, the whole thing is a joke! what a waste of
money
Why is it a waste of money? The potholes around the
roundabout are shocking. It might be a royal pain in the @rse, but it's
work that needs to be done, end of story
It's not the sorry
state of the road that is the focus of the work though - its the
installation of 30-odd traffic lights that is irking most people.
Fair comment. You'd think we'd be used to it by now, though. It's the Southampton way. If in doubt, get the traffic lights out
Posted by: southy, redbridge on 10:59am Wed 9 Jul 08
i hope none of you lot need to get out of wimpson lane on to the roundabout or gover road.no lights to stop the traffic on the roundabout.
we got worse to come when its time to replace the 1953 road bridge across the river.
i hope none of you lot need to get out of wimpson lane on to the roundabout or gover road.no lights to stop the traffic on the roundabout.
we got worse to come when its time to replace the 1953 road bridge across the river.
Posted by: Persil Pete, Portswood on 11:06am Wed 9 Jul 08
Cllr Dick.
Says it all really.
Another upstanding member of our wonderful City.
Cllr Dick.
Says it all really.
Another upstanding member of our wonderful City.
Posted by: General Malaise, Nearby on 12:48pm Wed 9 Jul 08
Road resurfacing and line painting were all that was needed.
The traffic lights are a complete waste of money.
The lights weren't necessary when the flyover was built and we've managed adequately ever since.
Road resurfacing and line painting were all that was needed.
The traffic lights are a complete waste of money.
The lights weren't necessary when the flyover was built and we've managed adequately ever since.
Posted by: Tony on 1:20pm Wed 9 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Highway Engineer[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]JohnB[/bold] wrote: [bold][italic]with new quick fix repair techniques[/italic][/bold] That's worrying.. haven't these techniques been used extensively on the fly-overs over the years, hence the continual road-works. [/quote] Those would be to the manholes, that get hit by at least 1000 vehicles a day. These are a rigid structure in a flexible road, you work it out. They are never "quick fixed" but unless the council spend millions moving them and closing the flyovers for weeks nothing will change. But then im sure people would moan about that, people need to get a life, IMHO, its roadworks not a war.[/quote] It is strange but other utilities do not need thier manhole covers replaced so often. Ours are less flexable. Try a different supplier. Or fixing them with better bonding resin.
Highway Engineer wrote:
JohnB wrote: with new quick fix repair techniques That's worrying.. haven't these techniques been used extensively on the fly-overs over the years, hence the continual road-works.
Those would be to the manholes, that get hit by at least 1000 vehicles a day. These are a rigid structure in a flexible road, you work it out. They are never "quick fixed" but unless the council spend millions moving them and closing the flyovers for weeks nothing will change. But then im sure people would moan about that, people need to get a life, IMHO, its roadworks not a war.
It is strange but other utilities do not need thier manhole covers replaced so often. Ours are less flexable. Try a different supplier. Or fixing them with better bonding resin.
Posted by: Wewullywinky on 3:49pm Wed 9 Jul 08
Well what a suprise. I swear that when these projects go over budget it's because their are a few fat cats who say it's only tax payers money and i'm entitled to swinderling them.
There is no need for these lights, the roundabout flows pretty well as it is. These lights will only increase congestion and fuel consumption, thus going against SCC green policies, Hypocritical really.
Well what a suprise. I swear that when these projects go over budget it's because their are a few fat cats who say it's only tax payers money and i'm entitled to swinderling them.
There is no need for these lights, the roundabout flows pretty well as it is. These lights will only increase congestion and fuel consumption, thus going against SCC green policies, Hypocritical really.
Posted by: dazzer on 6:38pm Wed 9 Jul 08
did we not spend large amounts of cash in the last year resurfacing this roundabout only to see it ripped up and replaced this time
did we not spend large amounts of cash in the last year resurfacing this roundabout only to see it ripped up and replaced this time
Posted by: adey on 6:45pm Wed 9 Jul 08
will southampton city council ever get any thing right go to pompey for your summer holidays and learn how to get something right for a change
will southampton city council ever get any thing right go to pompey for your summer holidays and learn how to get something right for a change
Posted by: adey on 6:45pm Wed 9 Jul 08
will southampton city council ever get any thing right go to pompey for your summer holidays and learn how to get something right for a change
will southampton city council ever get any thing right go to pompey for your summer holidays and learn how to get something right for a change
Posted by: Wade Hampton, Southampton on 10:47pm Wed 9 Jul 08
Southampton the city of (traffic) lights ! Or how to take a great city, the former "Gateway to the Empire" with everything going for it and, somehow, ruin it ! What a bunch of clowns.
Southampton the city of (traffic) lights ! Or how to take a great city, the former "Gateway to the Empire" with everything going for it and, somehow, ruin it ! What a bunch of clowns.
Posted by: martin.n, maybush on 1:31am Sat 12 Jul 08
Having made my comments in the press I can only watch in amazement as the full **** up of the design becomes more obvious.The latest being the slug carrying white paint which crawled around the junction in the last few days creating what can only be described as a unexplained crop circle. It is now impossible to follow a safe line around the rounderbout, collisions will be follow. This entire job has nothing to do with traffic flow after all the most effective method to relieve the jams at rush hour would be to stop the exit of all hgv traffic during peak times from the docks and removing that bloody stupid bus only lane/traffic lights at the Redbridge rounderbout and get all three lanes workin again.
When the traffic builds up from Redbridge nothing at Millbrook matters. None of the pelican crossings should have buttons, they should only work when the traffic lights are red.
Since that cycle lane went in between Millbrook and Redbridge the build up of traffic has been terrible even during non rush hour.
An additional lane from millbrook to Redbridge could have been added years ago with only the loss of two houses and some grass.
If traffic flow slows and the accident rate increases then the officers in charge should be held to account for allowing another ill thought out plan to be allowed.
Enough is enough
Having made my comments in the press I can only watch in amazement as the full **** up of the design becomes more obvious.The latest being the slug carrying white paint which crawled around the junction in the last few days creating what can only be described as a unexplained crop circle. It is now impossible to follow a safe line around the rounderbout, collisions will be follow. This entire job has nothing to do with traffic flow after all the most effective method to relieve the jams at rush hour would be to stop the exit of all hgv traffic during peak times from the docks and removing that bloody stupid bus only lane/traffic lights at the Redbridge rounderbout and get all three lanes workin again.
When the traffic builds up from Redbridge nothing at Millbrook matters. None of the pelican crossings should have buttons, they should only work when the traffic lights are red.
Since that cycle lane went in between Millbrook and Redbridge the build up of traffic has been terrible even during non rush hour.
An additional lane from millbrook to Redbridge could have been added years ago with only the loss of two houses and some grass.
If traffic flow slows and the accident rate increases then the officers in charge should be held to account for allowing another ill thought out plan to be allowed.
Enough is enough
Posted by: Katrina, Calmore on 5:48pm Fri 18 Jul 08
To all that are moaning about the road works, i am sorry your wrong,even in the height of the rush hour it only takes les than a minute and a half to reach First Avenue frim the top of the off slip to the roundbout coming in from the west, the lights are quick in changing and the flow is much better, maybe the moaners should have tried exsisting out of Tebourba and Wimpson or even tried to cross the road before the lights went up, as for the lining prehaps the people who cant read the new lining should re take there test, just get in the right lane to begin with, as for the money well yes its over budget but the road before hand was like driving in a third world country, the trouble is all the people who are moaning have not had to deal with road works in the city before, maybe you should all take a trip to Portsmouth and see how there city has improved with all the new roads surfacing taken place, another good idea is stop buying this awful anti everything paper.
To all that are moaning about the road works, i am sorry your wrong,even in the height of the rush hour it only takes les than a minute and a half to reach First Avenue frim the top of the off slip to the roundbout coming in from the west, the lights are quick in changing and the flow is much better, maybe the moaners should have tried exsisting out of Tebourba and Wimpson or even tried to cross the road before the lights went up, as for the lining prehaps the people who cant read the new lining should re take there test, just get in the right lane to begin with, as for the money well yes its over budget but the road before hand was like driving in a third world country, the trouble is all the people who are moaning have not had to deal with road works in the city before, maybe you should all take a trip to Portsmouth and see how there city has improved with all the new roads surfacing taken place, another good idea is stop buying this awful anti everything paper.
Posted by: martin, millbrook on 11:45pm Thu 28 Aug 08
Yound lady
We have not had a rush hour yet.
As for coming from the west, morning rush hour never caused a problem.
I agree coming from Teboura way could be slow but as bad as it was it will be worse now at rush hour.
They have created a very dangerous road lay out.
Yound lady
We have not had a rush hour yet.
As for coming from the west, morning rush hour never caused a problem.
I agree coming from Teboura way could be slow but as bad as it was it will be worse now at rush hour.
They have created a very dangerous road lay out.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
