Closed
New Traffic Light Timings Causing Extreme Congestion on North Street
Reported via desktop in the Stuck on red category anonymously at 15:56, Thu 22 April 2021
Sent to TfL less than a minute later. TfL ref: FMS2686006.
I am writing to complain about extreme traffic congestion — and resulting air and noise pollution — on North Street in Clapham (SW4).
This relates to northbound traffic from North Street that crosses Wandsworth Road and proceeds to Silverthorne Road.
Last week, on 14 April, TFL changed the traffic lights and timing at the junction of North Street and Wandsworth Road after several weeks of road works relating to several traffic signalled junctions on Wandsworth Road (A3036).
However, following the completion of the works and the replacement of traffic lights, the traffic congestion on North Street (at the Wandsworth Road junction) is no better — in fact, at certain times of the day, especially rush hours, it seems worse!
The problem seems to be due to the timing of the new traffic lights — they do not allow enough cars from North Street to cross the junction — this has made the congestion, air and noise pollution much worse than before. During rush hour, there is gridlock extending several blocks down North Street (beyond Rozel Road sometimes). There are too many idling cars which create unacceptable levels of air and noise pollution. Emergency vehicles (fire engines and ambulances) have been caught in traffic jams. Cyclists seek to avoid the gridlock by cycling down the narrow pavement, which is dangerous for pedestrians, especially small children who go to nearby schools. In short, this new traffic light system has created a big problem on North Street.
TFL, please reconsider the traffic lights/timing and fix this urgent problem.
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