If work is taking place on the pavement – don’t shut the lane

The reason for this is we only have a certain number of main roads to get from one side of town to the next which are used by motorists on a daily basis.

Most people will not leave their local area for most of the week only heading away from their route to go shopping.

The rest of the time we are stuck ploughing through the same streets over and over again. 

Now, most of the time people are content waiting. For instance, during the month of August there were major works taking place on Montague Street in Blackburn.

We realise the closure of one lane was needed and it had thankfully been planned for August. It was causing issues, but we lived with it for the greater good.

Delays as I mentioned on one road can cause havoc in smaller towns more so than other places. There only so many routes you can use and if an adjoining run is closed, we are kind of stuck.

Yet, I do find in recent years we have become accustomed to the ‘three-day’ temporary traffic lights saga. The idea being that if you have a permit for three days you can leave the lights up for that time even though it took a day to complete the work.

Makes simple sense does it not? As soon as the work is complete lift the lights. I have driven past numerous times and noted this glaring bureaucratic nightmare.

I don’t blame the workers of course but those who put these rulings into place.

It is almost as if they are taking us for chumps.

Then there is that granddaddy of driver annoyances of them all.

The work is taking place on the pavement but a whole lane has to be closed off.

Now, I understand there must be distance between passing vehicles and workers. I do not wish for any harm to come to anyone. In fact, I would close the lane off too – whilst the work was taking place. 

But to leave it like that over the weekend and through the evening when no worker is on site is nothing short of scandalous.

I am sure many a motorist will wholeheartedly agree.