Lancashire Highways don't like moving lampposts. I've had this in writing from them. Therefore - instead of providing a beautifully straight Bus Lane over the the Ovangle Roundabout - we ended up with the Dog's Breakfast we have now. For the sake of a few lamp posts for a straight road so buses could whizz thought there unhindered so to provide a genuine alternative to the car chaos along there - they cheated - scrimped on the design and you have that appalling botched bus lane that's there now.
I've emailed the Highways Department a couple of times in recent years - first wondering if a decent crossing provision could be made to give access from Scale Hall Lane to the Cycle Path - but the funding for the Cycling Demonstration Town had run out by then. More recently I suggested that the Southbound Bus lane from Scale Hall Lane could be improved by cutting the grass verge off the corner so buses could continue along the bus lane without the need for traffic lights. i.e turn into Morecambe Road safely without sticking into the Eastbound traffic. Once again - Lamp posts proved to be LCC's sticking point. Their reply:
"With regard to your bus lane filter suggestion, it would appear that a segregated feed land would further divide the junction for pedestrians and would requiring a further independent pedestrian crossing facility across Scale Hall La in addition to the 3 controlled existing ones. The buses from Scale Hall Lane are currently afforded a significant priority to the traffic lights by way of a section of bus lane and although it may be feasible to filter them into the existing bus lane with Give Way markings only, the impact of this lane on pedestrian movements and costs relating to diversion of underground services, relocation of lighting columns etc may outweigh the benefits to bus users."
You wouldn't need a separate crossing as the road could operate exacly as it is now - it would just be wider. Maybe with an additional island to separate the cars from the buses. Still. Who am I to argue.
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I think I've seen that somewhere. Thanks for the confirmation. Travelled round by the station coming back on the 4 the other day - and all the way down to the river I thought "How fab it would be if we could just go straight across! Here!" Perfect for connecting transport links.
