Forum Topic

Ruislip Road and Argyle Road Roundabout

Hello - does anyone know about this?  Are we going to see more mayhem on Argyle Road - the traffic is bad enough at the moment.  There will also be some zebra crossing (about time I say) but what is going to happen to traffic lights further down towards the A40?

Shirly Kakaiya ● 6199d14 Comments

Where did you hear his? I was chairman of the Environment Committee 93-94 and the road engineers convinced us that lights were necessary and that keeping the roundabout would cause traffic coming off the east bound A40 would back up beyond the slip road disrupting the A40. I was sceptical but in the end convinced, so I am surprised if we are getting the roundabout back. I always prefer roundabouts to lights.

Graham Weeks ● 6199d

Hello Graham, the residents of Argyle Road have all had a 'hand delivered' letter from Ealing Council and Steer Davis Gleave who have proposed a conversion of Ruislip Road East junction with Argyle Road to a Roundabout, so it looks like they are now going back to the previous plans of a roundabout.  They have said it is to improve bus priority and transport improvements.  It is at the first stage of planning, I think. If approved then works will start early 2010. We have been sent a questionnaire - date of public consultation unknown as of yet. It sounds like a good idea, however my concern is just the same as you have pointed out below and also given that there are traffic lights further on leading on the A40 and given drivers tend to ignore the rules of a roundabout in most cases and block routes leading of it (this happens further on near the Scotch Common Roundabout), I don't know how this scheme is going not going to ease the traffic on Argyle Road and Ruslip Road rather just cause more mayhem. PS they are also planning to add Zebra crossings, again sounds like a good idea but what will do to the traffic.  Could you give me some insight to what it was like when there was a roundabout there.

Shirly Kakaiya ● 6198d

Are you sure a roundabout is the best solution at this junction?  -  at least the signals, for all their drawbacks, make it possible to control traffic movements through the junction to give everybody a fair crack of the whip, and adjust the timings to accord with the changing traffic flow patterns through out the day, week and season, insofar as possible within the constricted roadspace available. Can't do that with a roundabout, without signalising it anyway.Short of (or even with, in view of the extra traffic which would be attracted) substantial widening of the approach carriageways and/or provision of new north/south main road routes in this part of the borough (which ain't going to happen) this junction is always going to be a congested pain, whatever the means of traffic control.The most serious deficiency here is the lack of pedestrian crossing facilities on Argyle Road.

Chris Veasey ● 6197d

The simplest solution would surely be to move the northbound controlling lights further south by about 10 metres; narrow the southbound lane on Argyle Road to one lane, and widen the two northound lanes.This alteration would allow right turning turning traffic into Argyle Road, especially buses, to complete the manoeuvre safely and traffic turning left from Argyle Road into Ruislip Road not to be obstructed by vehicles in the outside lane, as is the case at present.

Alan Brainsby ● 6197d

Is this the Steer Davis Gleave consultancy who "improved " the 65 bus route in Ealing a few years ago. Umm and left us shelterless opposite South Ealing Station?

Arthur Breens ● 6197d

Can't remember which consultancy was involved in this one; but whichever, the responsibility rested  -  and remains  -  firmly with TfL and its Street Mismanagement Division. But Ealing Council could  -  and should  -  have pursued it vigorously with TfL once I and others had raised it publicly, but they didn't.

Chris Veasey ● 6197d

Some merit in that, partcularly if the 10 metres is used to provide cycle advance stopline facility and pedestrian crossing.Main problem re blocking of left turners involves buses, not helped by the fact that (to judge by their cautious driving behaviour here and elsewhere along the route) the least experienced drivers are used on these single-decker local E-number bus routes.

Chris Veasey ● 6197d

I favour a roundabout with signals in peak periods.

Graham Weeks ● 6197d

I understand the concerns re offpeak delays to traffic, but how would about cyclists and pedestrians be catered for if no offpeak control of vehicle traffic?

Chris Veasey ● 6197d

When I cycled I never saw the need to have special provision here or anywhere else. Pedestrians? Lights or Zebra.

Graham Weeks ● 6196d

Problem is, neother signal-controlled crossings nor zebras are compatible with part-time signal control of roundabout, without the crossings are sited away from the junction which would seriously inconvenience many pedestrians. There's a need for crossings away from the junction anyway, but in addition to at the junction not instead of.Re cycle facilities, your personal perception  acknowledged, but many cyclists (and/or their parents/ guardians if applicable) feel otherwise.

Chris Veasey ● 6196d

Yes I agree on the cyclists. I started as a student in London and always enjoyed the challenge and being faster than four wheels many times.

Graham Weeks ● 6196d

Can't say I ever enjoyed cycling in heavy traffic, though often had to do it.

Chris Veasey ● 6196d

The problem for cyclists I find is heading north, the junction narrows and you are forced into the right hand lane and if you're not careful you then can't see the traffic lights as they are no matching ones on the other side of the junction.I think a roundabout would solve of lot of problems as would widening the the north and south sides - there is room given how wide the pavement is.

David Eales ● 6195d