DIVERSION signs that have confused motorists while roadworks happen on a main Windsor road have been slammed as “appalling”.
Thames Water undertook works at a section of Clarence Road near the Shell Garage, which started on Monday, October 24, in order to replace a faulty district meter.
That section of the road was closed off to motorists and placed diversion signs for people to follow. It was meant to be completed on Wednesday, but Thames Water said they aim to finish the works this evening [Thursday].
However, where the signage is placed has been slammed as “appalling” and is “invisible” in some parts.
From the Clarence Road roundabout, it points to go towards the Royal Windsor Way and then a non-vertical sign diverts motorists to go down the slip road. There are also M4 diversion signs for people wanting to go to Maidenhead just to add to the confusion.
Another will divert motorists to turn left down at Maidenhead Road. But from there, motorists are essentially on their own as there’s no diversion to Vale Road, which goes around the road works.
If someone is approaching the roadworks from Dedworth Road, there are no road signs to divert them to Vale Road. When approaching the roadworks from Dedworth Road, the diversion sign just points to the ground.
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Councillor Helen Price (TBFI: Clewer & Dedworth East) said: “If you don’t know the place, you have no idea how to get back and it’s absolutely appalling.”
She also said most people are “ignoring” the signs and are travelling through the Shell garage forecourt to bypass the road works.
Clewer East councillor Karen Davies (Lib Dem) added a “stream of traffic in both directions” were entering and exiting the garage, making it unsafe for motorists’ stopping to get fuel, pedestrians, and cyclists.
“I totally understand why people do that because when you get to the roadworks, you’ve got to go somewhere but it wasn’t an ideal situation at all,” she said.
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A Thames Water spokesperson said: “We’ve listened to motorists’ concerns and have now placed additional signs on Dedworth Road.
“Our engineers commenced work on Monday and hope to re-open the road by Thursday evening. In the meantime, we encourage local people to use the diversion that is in place as this is the safest route.”
Whilst new signage has been placed on Dedworth Road, diversion signs have not been placed along Maidenhead Road.
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