Forum Topic

Traffic lights at Kew Bridge

I was stuck on a 65 bus yesterday travelling to Richmond. The traffic from Ealing Road to Kew Bridge was crawling due to the traffic lights at Kew Bridge only letting 2-3 cars out at a time.  Does anyone know if the situation has improved?  Many thanks.

Pat Kingham ● 2244d9 Comments

Would have thought Chiswick Bridge obvious alternative to Hammersmith.  Even in rush-hour it's pretty clear in both directions and beats the awful crawl over Kew - at least that's been my experience over the last six months or so.Just letting three cars out at the Brentford/Kew Bridge junction seems crazy.If you need to get from Brentford to Richmond it's probably quicker to go via Isleworth and St Margaret's - even allowing for the inevitable jam by the West Middx.

Alison Robins ● 2223d

We made this trip again this morning and were surprised to find that although works are ongoing the journey was no longer than usual. Although coming back to Brentford over Kew Bridge it was hard to understand why a lane was blocked just before turning left. But I guess they have their reasons.

Pat Kingham ● 2223d

I have driven past these 'works' quite a few times over he last fortnight/3 weeks and as often as not there is no one working on them at all. Has improved a bit lately, but how long does it take for goodness sake?

Keith Iddon ● 2223d

Re. Alison Robins:"I can only think that priority is being given to traffic going north/south over Kew Bridge during rush hour."Tbf, with Hammersmith Bridge currently closed to traffic, that would make (some sort of) sense.

Richard Cathcart ● 2223d

"Does anyone know why?"Yes - because it is controlled by TfL and they incapable of planning and co-ordinating traffic flow especially during rush hours.

Steve Taylor ● 2234d

Its been bad (to McDonaldads) in rush hour for years. Now only one lane instead of two turning onto Kew Bridge, is of course the icing on the cake. Once the changes are made it goes back to two lanes, however don't expect anything to improve traffic wise!

Nick Jenkins ● 2241d

Thanks for the replies. It seems then that we can look forward to this problem for a long time to come.

Pat Kingham ● 2242d

Yes it is part of the TfL adjustments for the forthcoming cycleway.It's engineered to nullify the permanent effects this will have on local traffic.So it makes it seem that the problem was there all the time and not because of the cycleway.the fact that it affects public transport massively matters not a jot as this is all part of the get people off buses and cars policy of the Mayors office.Sneaky and something TfL were doing in Ken Livingstones day to justify the Congestion Charge by meddling with traffic control signals.Something that his successor put a stop to.

Raymond Havelock ● 2242d

This has been going on for some time.  During morning and evening rush hour/s the queue stretches back from the lights at Kew Bridge to MaccyD's in Brentford and sometimes back down towards Morrison's.  As you say, the lights let 3 or 4 cars through and then change back to red.  It's ridiculous - it sometimes takes 30 - 40 mins to get from Brentford High St to Kew Bridge.Does anyone know why?Never used to be like this.  There seems to be a longer green phase if you travel after 10am.  I can only think that priority is being given to traffic going north/south over Kew Bridge during rush hour.

Alison Robins ● 2243d