Topic ID 2962
I bet this is on another thread - could'nt find it,Admin will soon tell me! but what are they doing about the drainage at the top of Port Hill? there was quite a bit of activity a few weeks ago, now nothing, bollards! my sentiments exactly, oh and by the way the traffic coming UP should give way the traffic coming DOWN Port Hill some 4 x 4 's don't seem to see the signs, perhaps their are above it!!!!
Reply ID 42943
Was thinking the same thing as I noticed the green plastic fencing seems to have been moved to just cover the offending drain, which hasn't been right for about 4 years since they re-did the square brick cobble wall along the side of the hill! We used to have the greatest engineers in the world, if you believe the industrial revolution and all that, so why oh why is a drain at the top, yes top of a hill such a problem!!!!???? Anyone from our council able to shed light, its not got lights around it and I thought that was illegal to have a hole in road or roadworks that have no lights at night to warn pedestrians and vehicles that its there.... mmmmmmm
Reply ID 43018
It is actually because the road is subsiding. The road is quite dangerous at that point so hence the safety barriers.
Reply ID 43293
Not sure how true but I am told that Health and Safety stopped the work on the grounds that some of the cobbles on the side banking may slip and injure those working in the trench...................we will see. The cobbles have been there for as long as anyone can remember and I am not aware of any ever moving.
Reply ID 43326
The cobbles only moved when the Council Highways people or those who bunged up the drain in the first place.. redid the cobbles and put them back in!!!!!! aaaah the stupidity of some people. If these health and safety people had brains they'd be dangerous!!!!!
Reply ID 43329
I've had a thought.. Maybe its too dangerous to work my computer keyboard on account of the serious repititive nature of my work and the fact that I may break a nail.. thus altering my appearance and giving me undue stress and ugly hands.. On a practical note. I haven't even seen anyone start work on the port hill drain.. so the chance of getting damaged by falling cobbles is just not going to happen. I think a swift kick in the council's pants and reminding them how much it will cost them in a lawsuit should a fellow pedestrian or motorist fall in said dicey drain..
Reply ID 43332
An accident waiting to happen? I have seen some near misses with the traffic coming UP Port Hill still not giving way the the traffic going DOWN and some irate drivers. What do we pay our money for? what a load of old wussers they are, it's a simple drainage dig then repair and resurface, obviously there are no women in charge, otherwise it would have been done and dusted by now!!!
Reply ID 43341
Quite agree FurryB.. Just roll up our sleeves and get on with it! I am survived mankind has lasted this long.. if Health & Safety were here in Caveman's times.. daresay chasing a woolley mammoth would have contravened the rules!!!
Reply ID 43347
No contact sports PLEASE!!!
Reply ID 43358
Could be they will have to close the road and put up scoffolding to repair the drain, as I said not sure how true it is but there certainly doesn't seem to be much activity.
Reply ID 43360
I had the same problem last night having to stop for 2 vehicles that had no intention of giving way to me going down the hill.
Reply ID 43372
The thing is the obstruction barriers have been moved so near to the wall of Port Hill that people take chances and squeeze their vehicles through the gap - at any cost.... I haven't seen anyone or a van or anything look at the site.. The weather is good now, and soon the schools will be going back. You'd think someone in the Highways Department might use their brains and get this sorted.. after all I pay my council tax!!!!
Reply ID 44019
Nothing seems to have happened, the schools go back next week inc Duncombe on Wednesday so that is going to be fun with all the extra traffic up and down.
Reply ID 44024
I assume that's when the work will start, when the schools go back!
Reply ID 44034
Only speculation, but there could be a sound engineering reason for the delay. The cobbles are a retaining wall with thousands of tons of, currently, very wet earth behind it. If the wall needs to be dismantled and rebuilt, to wait for firmer conditions would be prudent. The need for the repair and the collapsed drain suggests subsidence. Highly likely following the rainfall of the last months, I'd say.
Reply ID 44036
The priority signs have changed so down hill has to give way to up hill. Not sure if it is something the workmen have done...
Reply ID 44038
quote:As no one seems to have been taking any notice of them I doubt it will make much difference!
Originally posted by DCI monkfish
The priority signs have changed so down hill has to give way to up hill. Not sure if it is something the workmen have done...
Reply ID 44074
Wot workmen???? Sorry I am "between jobs" at the moment so walking/driving up and down Port Hill at odd times of day and I think the signs were changed, but there sure aint workmen there!! Haven't been at all. What's the likelihood that on a really bad day, traffic backing up due to an accident on the A10 or worse M25 and they decide to fix the drainage??? Any takers????
Reply ID 44078
It does seem odd, that only a short while after re-surfacing Bengeo Street, Hertfordshire Highways, ( I assume they are the responsible authority) have found the finances and resources to lay some strips of beige coloured surfacing approaching the pedestrian lights outside the White Lion, and some red coloured surfacing at the junctions of a couple of minor roads, (what are they supposed to mean?), but cannot attend to what I think many would consider is a more important priority, ie. the drainage problem on Port Hill, and the awful subsidence on the old bridge over the railway on the same road.
Reply ID 44082
Buzz, I have also wondered what the colours mean, does anybody take any notice of them, if not, WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY!!!!! along Bengeo Street near the junction of Gosslin Road on the telephone box side they have marked the road wrong, the chevrons go right up to the middle of No:70 dropped kerb and the parking staggered line start in the middle of their drive way, the council have promised to burn back the existing and repaint - no date set, surprise, surprise also the Bus Bay length on the opposite side of the road, outside No:93 Bengeo street has been double in size when it was repainted, perhaps we are getting bendy buses!!![8D]
Reply ID 44083
The surface is anti-skid road. The different colours are to make the driver more aware that the situation is about to change. Red to warn of a junction/ change of speed required, green typically for bus & cycle lanes, beige is just general anti-skid for traffic signals, roundabouts, bends, steep hills... Its a good idea for icy conditions, to stop you sliding down Port Hill. Also helps prevent accidents with late braking.
Reply ID 44084
quote:Fair enough, but the red sections are right on the junction, so possibly a bit late to warn that a change of speed is required...........how on earth did we manage without them? I still wonder why these sections couldn't have been done along with the main resurfacing work. And, it still begs the question how did this work take priority over the Port Hill work which would also contribute to accident prevention.
Originally posted by DCI monkfish
The surface is anti-skid road. The different colours are to make the driver more aware that the situation is about to change. Red to warn of a junction/ change of speed required, green typically for bus & cycle lanes, beige is just general anti-skid for traffic signals, roundabouts, bends, steep hills... Its a good idea for icy conditions, to stop you sliding down Port Hill. Also helps prevent accidents with late braking.
Reply ID 44085
I find myself agreeing with buzz on the need for pretty colours to remind people that they are approaching a junction/crossing etc. You'd think built-up area, 30MPH limit, multiple side turnings, street lighting would be enough of a clue to the likelihood of encountering such events, requiring only moderation of speed and observation. Another "Driving aids for idiots" measure. Priority signs at the top of Port Hill seem somewhat reduntant too. Surely we all know that a vehicle travelling uphill has priority over one going down and the road there is still wide enough to pass (except for two goods vehicles simultaneously) anyway.
Reply ID 44086
I agree with you DCI about the anti-skid in built up areas for bad drivers not driving to the conditions ( mainly the cause of most accidents!) but we do not have this surface on Port Hill, it's only put down in the main street, as for Tower Road you are lucky if you can do 5mph!
Reply ID 44092
quote:It is on Port Hill, trust me, look hard enough and you'll see it! [;)]
Originally posted by furrybunny
I agree with you DCI about the anti-skid in built up areas for bad drivers not driving to the conditions ( mainly the cause of most accidents!) but we do not have this surface on Port Hill, it's only put down in the main street, as for Tower Road you are lucky if you can do 5mph!
Reply ID 44093
quote:Sorry to be pedantic but its Tower STREET and this morning you couldn't do 0MPH as it was blocked by a lorry delivering.
Originally posted by furrybunny
I agree with you DCI about the anti-skid in built up areas for bad drivers not driving to the conditions ( mainly the cause of most accidents!) but we do not have this surface on Port Hill, it's only put down in the main street, as for Tower Road you are lucky if you can do 5mph!
Reply ID 44120
Marilyn, I stand corrected I have only lived in Bengeo for 37 years and my husband has lived here all his life! I should know it was STREET and not ROAD, slapped wrists,
Reply ID 44134
quote:Your only a newcomer we have traced our family back in Hertford to 1700 I think they helped build it [:D] It can be confusing as there is a Tower Road in Ware
Originally posted by furrybunny
Marilyn, I stand corrected I have only lived in Bengeo for 37 years and my husband has lived here all his life! I should know it was STREET and not ROAD, slapped wrists,
Reply ID 44153
quote:Start of signage for “No right turn” from Bengeo Street into Cross Road? Ditto the one-way system in Tower Street out into Bengeo Street? Paul
Originally posted by buzz some red coloured surfacing at the junctions of a couple of minor roads, (what are they supposed to mean?),
Reply ID 44160
quote:Sadly, this type of surface doesn't last like the high-tech black synthetic tarmac applied to Bengeo St. and is rarely repaired before it becomes a broken, patchy hazzard in itself. Great while it's new. I do wonder if, since the blacktop is a new fangled compound, the anti-skid flapjack is similarly upgraded to match. We'll know in April, after frost and road salt has done it's part.
Originally posted by ~Sarah~quote:It is on Port Hill, trust me, look hard enough and you'll see it! [;)]
Originally posted by furrybunny
I agree with you DCI about the anti-skid in built up areas for bad drivers not driving to the conditions ( mainly the cause of most accidents!) but we do not have this surface on Port Hill, it's only put down in the main street, as for Tower Road you are lucky if you can do 5mph!
Reply ID 44174
quote:Your only a newcomer we have traced our family back in Hertford to 1700 I think they helped build it [:D] Well Marilyn, given that your family have been here since 1700 they obviously are not the venturing type!
Originally posted by Marilyn
[quote]Originally posted by furrybunny
Marilyn, I stand corrected I have only lived in Bengeo for 37 years and my husband has lived here all his life! I should know it was STREET and not ROAD, slapped wrists,
Reply ID 44527
Looks like we are going to get this fixed at long last, they have been waiting for parts, what parts do you need for drainage?
Reply ID 44536
I wondered that........................lets hope they do get it done before we have too much heavy rain................
Reply ID 44586
the parts awaited are probably another 20 or 30 trafic cones, (large), problem i think, has been that the signage is not prominent enough,, position of cones are nether one thing or another, so it gives drivers the impresion that they can pass one another, its a wonder that a driver coming down port hill, has not been forced to mount the pavement, and wipe out a pedestrian, or two, maybe local betting office can run a book, STARTING DATE, and DURATION, i recon good old midd misty, wet midd November , ps i wont say what year though.
Reply ID 44604
Looks like starting date was today so no more bets on that........now finishing date there is another question.
Reply ID 44832
Looks like they are nearly finish..............I said nearly!!!
Reply ID 44841
Hopefully they finish soon, the traffic lights really hold up the traffic in the mornings!
Reply ID 44842
early sat morning .....5 am I sat like a good girl waiting for the lights to change and guess what..............both sides were red................not sure how long it took to fix but it was still like it on my way back at 8am
Reply ID 44880
whoopie!!! they have finished - for now! the real test, when we have rain!
Reply ID 44888
well that did not take long [:)]
Reply ID 44923
There is a sign at the bottom of Port Hill now reading "Advance warning, road closed W/C ******" or similar (I was driving past so didn't catch it all but I'm sure the dates were blacked out).
Reply ID 44926
quote:I think that is for what I always call "the cattle pens" the little road at the side of the bridge that leads to Austins and the cottages. I think it is for one day only possibly this Sunday?
Originally posted by SallyB
There is a sign at the bottom of Port Hill now reading "Advance warning, road closed W/C ******" or similar (I was driving past so didn't catch it all but I'm sure the dates were blacked out).
Reply ID 44935
The sign was between the "cattle pens" (officially Port Hill/Sidings Court) and the main Port Hill road leading over the bridge.
Reply ID 44952
Maybe they are going to resurface the bit of the B158 that really needed doing at last. Stand by for more loony colours for idiots and resulting noisy road surface.