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I have been travelling the short journey between home and work along Nacton road to Ransomes europark 5 days a week for the last 3 years. This used to take roughly between 6 to 10 minutes, depending on the volume of traffic at the thrasher roundabout. The traffic at peak times at this junction is usually chaotic and people have to drive aggressively in order to get onto the roundabout. I have on many occasions remarked as I darted in between the constant stream of traffic approaching from the right, that something needed to be done about the flow of traffic around this hazardous intersection.
Well at long last someone, presumably the Highways Department, has done something about it. However, all they have suceeded in doing is making a dangerous situation even worse! They have painted white lines on the road in order to direct traffic on the roundabout, unfortunately with disastrous results.
Approaching the roundabout from Nacton road, the left hand lane has been marked out for traffic heading to sainsburys, Ransomes and A14. This means that this lane, which should normally be used by vehicles heading for exits 1 and 2, is now being used for exit 3 as well. This has caused the traffic to back up along Nacton road as vehicles, which would usually enter the roundabout in both lanes, are now hearded into the left hand lane. The right hand lane is now designated exclusively for traffic heading to Ravenswood or back along Nacton road (exits 4 and 5).
Sitting at the end of Bluestem road at 5 o/c this evening, waiting to enter the junction on the way home from work. I witnessed no less than 13 vehicles coming round the roundabout from Nacton road in the right hand lane and then cutting accross the exlusion lines to squeeze in between cars in the left hand lane heading for the A14. One of these vehicles only escaped causing a serious accident through the sharp braking of the car it was trying to dive in front of.
I haven't yet approached the roundabout from the A14 direction since the changes have been implemented but it looks like the traffic entering from this direction has been restricted to one lane onto the roundabout instead of the original two.
I feel that the measures put in place have not only increased the existing problems at this junction but have also managed to create a few more beside. Problems which in my opinion will cause accidents in the future.
In conclusion, the journey time to and from work has been increased two fold and I feel I am putting my life and the lives of my passengers at risk everytime I use this roundabout.
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