Drivers vent frustration at city's shambolic roundabouts |
Motorists say the roundabouts at Longwater Retail Park create hours of delays during peak periods.
The junctions sit along the A47 and Dereham Road and branch off to some of the busiest areas in the city outskirts, including the Norfolk Showground, Easton and the Queen's Hills estate, which is home to thousands of people.
Busy roundabout traffic near Next at Longwater (Image: Denise Bradley)
Congestion caused by the roundabouts has become so heavy that at times the ambulance service has had to call in the police to manage the traffic so emergency vehicles can get through.
And people living in Queen's Hills and Easton fear the problem will only get worse as hundreds of additional houses are set to be built at nearby estates.
They are calling for more to be done to improve the infrastructure in the area to support the extra homes.
The city's shambolic roundabouts?
The roundabouts are used by thousands of drivers every day since it is the only route available for people living at Queen's Hills estate in Costessey.
The congestion affects drivers travelling from Queen's Hills in Costessey and those from Easton (Image: Denise Bradley)
They are also used by shoppers heading to Longwater Retail Park, which is home to popular shops including Sainsbury's, Next, Smyths Toys and Pets at Home, along with a Bannatyne gym, several fast food chains and an industrial estate.
To make it worse, the East of England Ambulance Service facility is located on nearby Alex Moorhouse Way.
The Longwater ambulance depot is also near the roundabout (Image: Newsquest)
Earlier this month, an ambulance crew had to battle through severe congestion after a single car had broken down at the retail estate, causing three-hour delays.
A spokesman for the ambulance service said: "EEAST crews are trained to use blue lights and sirens to manoeuvre through congestion in emergency situations.
"On Friday, a broken-down vehicle outside Aldi caused severe congestion at Longwater and on the A47.
"We alerted the police, as this disruption was affecting emergency resources responding from Longwater depot.
"Traffic conditions returned to normal once the vehicle was removed."
An ambulance battles through traffic on blue lights. (Image: Submitted)
People living in Queen's Hills, an isolated estate where only one road leads in and out of it, say they have had to endure hours of sitting in traffic that builds up at Longwater Retail Park.
Drew Slowe, a 40-year-old dad, describes how at the peak of the congestion, it can take him an hour to get out of the estate, where around 5,000 people live.
Drew Slowe who moved to the Costessey estate two years ago (Image: Newsquest)
He said: "Normally it's fine but as soon as something happens, even if one car breaks down, it causes serious delays.
"This year, I remember three times where it's been an issue and I've also been stuck when an ambulance has had to try get through, which is a serious concern."
Mr Slowe has predicted the traffic will only get worse as children living in the estate learn to drive and get their own cars.
Deyan Dimitrovski, 46, was caught in the major traffic jam when the car broke down outside Aldi.
Deyan Dimitrovski who has lived at Queen's Hills for 12 years (Image: Newsquest)
He said: "When it happens, it's really bad and I've been here for the last 12 years and I've not noticed any improvement."
Over in Easton, which also relies on the roundabouts as a main access point, couple Freda and Graham Turner, who live at Festival Park, say the issue has led to missed doctor appointments.
Easton is also affected by the roundabout traffic (Image: Newsquest)
A trip that should take Mr Turner six minutes has once turned into half an hour, causing him to miss his appointment at Roundwell Medical Centre.
Mrs Turner, 79, said: "I avoid the Longwater roundabouts over the weekends. We fortunately have the alternative route through Bawburgh but it's not a main road."
Freda and Graham Turner who live in Easton (Image: Newsquest)
Mr Turner added: "It's just a ridiculous piece of road. They need to put in a slip road through that section to help ease the traffic."
Leah Mussett, 39, says although Easton drivers have the backroad option, they are also hit by traffic from the Norfolk Showground, where the two-day Norfolk Show attracts tens of thousands of people every year.
She said: "Then it comes from all directions and I avoid it completely."
Gary Blundell, a councillor for South Norfolk Independents who lives in Queen's Hills, said: "I would estimate that in my time here there have been fewer than 10 occasions where congestion has caused a serious delay, leading to the main road becoming gridlocked.
"While these incidents are concerning, they are relatively infrequent and not unique to this location.
"A significant proportion of congestion tends to originate from incidents or heavy traffic on Dereham Road, which then backs up towards the roundabout and into surrounding routes.
"One improvement that could help would be better junction management at the roundabout. For example, measures such as yellow box markings to prevent vehicles blocking entry and exit points.
"When drivers block the roundabout, it prevents traffic from flowing freely, including vehicles trying to exit Queen’s Hills towards the A47."