Congestion and Grid Lock at Kings Cross: Streetmanagement thinks it does an excellent job.

Above: Traffic Chaos at Kings Cross today
seen from a friend's flat window.

Jammed up traffic on Euston Road (internet based source)

Week after week grid lock builds up a at Kings Cross affecting many traffic users and more so local residents. Cars stand still between Kings Cross Road, Caledonian Road, Euston Road, Pentonville Rise, Swinton Street, Acton Street and Grays Inn Road.

The same problem occurs whenever minute works are conducted on the street, sometimes due to water pipe replacement, sometimes due to Kings Cross developments. Despite the repeated occurrence, since at least seven years, Transport for London has still not managed to process traffic speedily and fastly, and have failed to use all available means, not using mobile traffic warden teams, nor creating more warnings and more diversions, and passages. However in a recent communication Transport for London was adamant that I, a resident of one of the affected streets am the stupid and ignorant one. At least that is what comes across from the style of this communication.

Read on, on the arrogant self-laudatory style of those who are responsible for grid locks at Kings Cross the Street Management Team of Transport for London:

Note the email below was received 27th July. Currently, two months later, the problem is there again, this time due to minor street building works and not due to water problems.

To TfL,: thank you for wasting your and my time, in not answering a question and enquiry.

¬---- Forwarded Message ---- From: enquiries (ST) To: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Sent: Friday, 27 July, 2007 3:04:08 PM Subject: Works in Euston Road Area Ref: SM019223/3 Dear Mr XXXXXXXXXXX Thank you for your recent feedback regarding the works being conducted on Euston Road. Please accept my apologies for the delay in my response. I regret any disturbance that you and the residents of this area have been subjected to due to the works being carried out. Let me assure that the effect of works in an area on the local community is taken into consideration whenever works are being considered. The works being conducted on Euston Road are part of Thames Water's Victorian Water Mains replacement programme across London. These are major works which require continuous occupation of sections of the carriageway to allow replacement of the mains water pipes in open cut trenches and then reconnection of water supplies to adjacent properties. I'm sure that you can appreciate that it is a very complex operation to ensure continuous fresh water supplies to the public. We have been liaising very closely with Thames Water as well as the Metropolitan Police Service, London Buses, local authorities, and emergency services to ensure the works are carried out in the most efficient manner. Because of the nature of these works they are done in a continuous 'rolling' operation along the road and occupation in an area can be considerable. This also means that other necessary works may have to be carried out in conjunction with, and within close proximity, such as the upgrade works at King's Cross Station. We understand that this will all have an impact on traffic and that this affect needs to be balanced against the requirements for these works. Once again we communicate with all necessary parties in order to address any issues to lessen the impact on all road users. Wherever possible we also liaise very closely with the police and buses to minimise the impact that emergency water leak repairs have on the public. However, by their very nature they are unpredictable and require very short response times so unfortunately some inconvenience may result. I hope I have been able to explain the current situation and why the works being conducted are necessary. If I can be of any further assistance then please feel free to contact me.


Yours sincerely Gemma Jacob Customer Service Advisor Surface Transport Communications Transport for London ================================================== EMail Received : 30/06/2007 15:37:59 From : xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To : EX:/O=TFL/OU=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=ENQUIRE, EX:/O=TFL/OU=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=ENQUIRIES1 Subject : WWW Form Submission for Streets Below is the result of your feedback form. [www.tfl.gov.uk] It was submitted by XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXco.uk on Saturday, June 30, 2007 at 3:37:49 PM ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- Recipient: type streets feedback just a weeks after a broken water leak on Euston Rd, we know have a situation at Kings Cross, where small works on Euston Rd are joined with small works on York Way. Both together once more create chaos havoc to: - all residents in Kings Cross (Swinton St, Acton St., Caledonian St, Pentonville Rise, Pentonville Road, Grays Inn Road) through standing traffic that continuously pumps out it fumes into our homes 2.) To all above mentioned motorists users, and bus users, through causing severe delays. It is my strong opinion that TFL Streets is highly incompetent in the assessment of repercussions of permissions of roadworks, and incompetent too in creating appropriate road user warnings, diversions, and additional measures to fasten the flow of this traffic. This is an ongoing problem, always recurring when works are done. I wished you could hire a better team of traffic managers, or radically revise your working methods. Choking here in London location Kings Cross, Euston Road, York Way with repercussions on traffic as mentioned above date 30/06/2007 time 15:00 given-name Daniel family-name xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx email xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx street-address xxxxxxxxxxxxSt locality London, Kings Cross region Camden postal-code xxxxxxxxxxxxxx country-name UK The contents of the e-mail and any transmitted files are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Transport for London Street Management hereby excludes any warranty and any liability as to the quality or accuracy of the contents of this e-mail and any attached transmitted files. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this e-mail in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify postmaster@Streetmanagement.org.uk. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept for the presence of computer viruses.


Transport for London
Kings Cross
Camden
London
grid-lock
congestion
jam
traffic
cars