Bridge congestion requires common sense

Published: 10:13 AM September 1, 2009

Updated: 9:39 PM October 10, 2020

FURTHER to correspondence regarding right of way in Belvedere Road, Lowestoft, I have recently encountered a similar problem on the north side of the bascule bridge.

I am the proprietor of a local business with a storage facility located in Commercial Road.

Last week, one of my drivers was heading south along Waveney Road, intending to turn right into Commercial Road just before the bridge. There is a two lane system, regulated by red cross lights on an overhead gantry. My drivers perform this manoeuvre every day, together with the drivers of other lorries/vans etc delivering goods to the many other businesses located in that road.

On this occasion, my driver was stopped by a police officer and told that pulling into the right hand lane when the red cross was lit was an offence and he could be liable to three points on his licence and a fine of �60. My driver explained that he was intending to turn right before the bridge into Commercial Road (as was the driver of a large lorry immediately behind him, who also received a warning).

So, it appears that when Waveney Road is reduced to one lane and traffic is backed up through the town, drivers heading for Commercial Road, on the final stretch of Waveney Road are supposed to remain in the left-hand lane until the last moment before the turn off, adding to congestion; when the bridge goes up, any lorries trapped in the last section of Waveney Road will be forced to sit and wait until it goes down again before they can turn right. In the lost time, many could have reached their destination, unloaded, and be ready to move off again.

Lowestoft is 'the end of the line' as far as transport systems go in this region. Please, can common sense prevail and allow us to get on with the task of running a business in an already congested town, even if this requires some amended signage?