OPINION: This week’s Broadway roadworks were a big failure – so why are some calling it an even bigger success?
The A308 on Monday morning. Photo from Karen Gwilliam As I’m sure you’re all aware by now, roadworks at the Frascati Way/Broadway junction have caused disruption in and around the town centre as the council prepares to convert Broadway in to a two-way system. Monday’s disruption brought much of Maidenhead to a halt with delays of up to an hour in and around the town centre, not helped by an accident on the M4. Nevertheless, congestion was so bad that leader of the council, Cllr Simon Dudley, announced that traffic lights will be manually operated during peak times as well as an ‘extended working day’ to ensure that the works are completed on time. The debacle has left many – myself included – wondering: “what’s the point?” The current one-way system has worked relatively well for years; of course, there are some days where the town can become very busy, such as snow days or on big events in Maidenhead, but for the most part the one-way system has worked at getting cars in