Police plea to Lowestoft motorists

AS the busy summer season approaches, police chiefs are encouraging motorists to use two lanes along Belvedere Road in Lowestoft.

Since the new road layout was put in place motorists have tended to use only the left-hand lane when driving towards town and sometimes have complained about motorists who appear to queue jump by travelling in the right-hand lane.

However traffic can and should be using both lanes along part of Belvedere Road before filtering together to go over the bridge, using a courtesy merge in turn system.

And this week, police urged drivers to use the system correctly to make better use of the road space.

Sgt Steve Wright of Lowestoft Central Safer Neighbourhood Team says the road layout allows for cars to travel in either of the two lanes.

'Drivers can use either lane and should then merge just prior to the red cross positioned over the road as the lanes go from two to one on the approach to the Bascule Bridge,' Sgt Wright said. This is the way the road was designed and it is correct to use both lanes.

'While you must not go beyond the red cross on the overhead gantry, apart from in the nearside lane of traffic, approaching the red cross a courtesy merge/filter system operates where motorists are expected to allow one car from each lane to merge in turn and this should reduce tailbacks. This merge manoeuvre must be completed before reaching the red cross on the overhead gantry.'

Police are working with Suffolk County Council and the Highways Agency to explore the possibilities of new signage but there is a long process to seek approval from the Department for Transport. Officers are urging motorists to be courteous and to try to use the system to prevent traffic build up further along the route.

Police are also reminding motorists that there is a no right turn into the Belvedere Road public car park and St Johns Road when approaching from the Asda roundabout.