News | Gyratory Special


downsmail.co.uk Gyratorymarks a year – but is it


AS the borough’s building programme continues to stoke concern about traffic congestion, we ask as 2018 gets underway: Has the £5.74mMaid- stone “gyratory system” helped keep the townmoving?


Themulti-million pound road re- configuration caused ninemonths of disruption formotorists before opening inMarchwith the aimof shaving 74 seconds fromthe aver- age journey. The Kent County Council (KCC)


Twice as long to reach town


SEAN Carter, chairman of South Maidstone Action for Roads and Transport (SMART), says the gyra- tory may well shaved the prom- ised 74 seconds off journey times through the town centre, but it takes twice as long to get into town because of the volume of traffic. “Our main concern is that de-


lays are getting worse in attempt- ing to reach the town centre with the new housing on the A274 and A229 and so any gains on the gy- ratory are wiped out. A minute gain is pretty irrelevant to your journey if it takes you twice as long to get there,” he said. He says the gyratory needs


“massive fine-tuning”, citing un- synchronised traffic lights and poor lane markings among the biggest concerns. He adds: “While those native to


Maidstone may have got used to the gyratory, for visitors this re- mains a confusing and potentially dangerous road systemto negoti- ate at a cost of millions for the sake of 75 seconds.” He says SMART is nowin talks in


an effort to provide a united voice for Maidstone when it comes to traffic issues.


What do the public want?


Clearer advanced signage of the approaching road layout to vehi- cles crossing St Peter’s Bridge. Larger and lit no-entry signs on the new section of gyratory  Line markings for vehicles exit- ing St Peter’s Bridge to the south- bound A229, and the continuation of the gyrator towards the A26/A20 Co-ordination of traffic lights on all approaches and the gyratory it- self to reduce congestion  Better protection for pedestri- ans and cyclists, particularly the tiny refuge following the closure of the subway  Dropped kerb for cyclists on St Peter’s Bridge


18 Maidstone February 2018


project has left many with ques- tions over the cost, value and safety of the newroads scheme. The newlayout,which opened to


cars in December 2016, has had many critics and fewsupporters. South ward borough Cllr Brian


Clark says he has been confronted by vehicles travelling the wrong way (exiting St Peter’s Bridge) on three occasions while travelling northbound on theA229. In the latest incident, a black


Corsa drove at him on the wrong side of the road and then had to re- verse out of theway into oncoming traffic. He added: “The lack of guidance


for drivers unfamiliarwith the new layout is leading to vehicles head- ing, all too often, straight into on- coming traffic travelling on the A229 heading north. “I feel there is an urgent need to


reviewsafety before there is a seri- ous accident.” CllrDerekMortimer, a founding


member of South Maidstone Ac- tion for Roads and Transport (SMART), wants to see more ad- vance notice for drivers of the road layout changes on St Peter’s Bridge, white lining to guide vehicles exit- ing this bridge and more visible “no-entry” signs to stop vehicles entering the wrong way into the


Cllr DerekMortimer, left, believes the new Gyratory has put cyclists and pedestrians in danger, while Cllr Brian Clark, right, believes there is a “lack of guidance” for drivers using the new gyratory system


newnorthboundA229 section. He adds that with no statistics


supporting the success of the gyra- tory available until the spring, res- idents in the south remain unconvinced the gyratory recon- figuration is benefiting them. CllrMortimer added: “Residents


from the south are complaining of having suffered long journey times by car, and cyclists and pedestrians have raised safety concerns. “The refuge in the road is far too


small to compensate for the sub- way closure, leaving pedestrians and cyclists exposed to oncoming traffic; furthermore, dropped kerb-


ing is desperately needed for the St Peter’s Bridge cycle section to aid access.” KCC says signage and road


markings on the northbound ap- proach from Mill Street have been altered to improve lane disciplin- ing and reduce queues. Traffic signal timings will be


modified as conditions normalise and a validation of the control sys- temcan be undertaken to fully op- timise the signal operation. A spokesman said: “Observa-


tions from our control centre have indicated that the scheme is al- ready having an overall positive ef-


fect on traffic flow. “There will be monitoring to


demonstrate the benefits being car- ried out in February. “A report on its effectiveness is


due later in the year.” Fran Wilson, Maidstone Borough


Council leader, said: “MBC in- vested £1.14 million in the scheme and, while we still have concerns around access for pedestrians and cyclists from the west side of the town, the work carried out has im- proved the flow of traffic.”


Reporting by Dawn Kingsford


Traffic jams are still commonplace on the gyratory system, which opened in December 2016, with cars sometimes finding themselves un- able tomove past the hatchlines.


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