Shoppers blamed for traffic chaos
Calls have been made for the traffic light sequence at one of Wigan's busiest junctions to be changed.
Exasperated drivers are being left honking their horns in frustration as the Christmas rush brings gridlock to the crossroads at Greenough Street and Central Park Way in Wigan town centre.
Now an independent councillor caught up in the mayhem is demanding that the Metro's highways engineers take another look at the complex intersection which handles thousands of vehicles each day.
Coun Gary Wilkes wants a review of traffic light phasing, new lane zoning and the possible introduction of a box junction.
Today town hall chiefs said that they would look into Coun Wilkes' concerns.
Coun Wilkes said that drivers were now facing "unacceptable" problems trying to get through the junction and away to Whelley, Scholes or Aspull because of the tailbacks being caused by shoppers heading for the Tesco Extra superstore on the former Central Park site.
Coun Wilkes, an NHS maintenance worker, said: "I'm currently based at Wigan Infirmary rather than Wrightington Hospital and the long tailbacks I have witnessed trying to get through this junctions really have to be seen to be believed.
"It isn't just the lights or the design of the junction, because some drivers are causing the obstructions because of their own selfishness."
Coun Wilkes says that drivers coming from Tesco Extra block the path of oncoming vehicles turning left on to Greenhough Street, along with the streams of cars and vehicles travelling straight on to River Way.
Drivers who want to use Greenhough Street should be allowed to wait in two lanes on Central Park Way, he says, because currently cars are queuing back a "very long distance".
Coun Wilkes said: "I'm concerned that Tesco does seem to have priority over Central Way which, in my opinion, is wrong, as this is causing traffic jams.
"It looks to me that the junction has been designed around their needs rather than the through traffic wanting to use the A49.
"I want to know if some sort of deal was made to bring them to this site in the first place.
"This isn't just a seasonal problem but is there all the year round at busy times of the day. But, with all the extra cars trying to get into the Tesco car park, the whole thing has come a lot more into focus.
"Working at the Infirmary has brought me into contact with a lot more workers who have to use this junction everyday and I know they are hopping mad and want something to change.
"Surely there is some sensible compromise that we can come to over this."
A spokesman for the Metro's highways department said: "We thank Coun Wilkes for his constructive comments and we'll look at all the issues he raises."
Tesco declined to comment.
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Weather for Wigan
Saturday 04 February 2012
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