I think massive congratulations are in order for the Metro road planners because after another load of 'improvement' work at the Saddle junction they've managed to make it worse again, if that was humanly possible. I'm talking about the approach on the A49 Wigan Rd from Ashton through Goose Green etc and in particular the now merging junction just outside the ATS place. The road from Pemberton on the left used to be traffic light controlled now both roads merge into a two lane road through the lights at the pub. The result, anyone on the main A49 wanting turn left at the fire station to get to Robin Park, the DW or Martland Park has to cross two lanes on the left, then cross a cycle lane. A recipe for accidents and the natural flow takes trafic away from the DW, its a nightmare for locals now for away fans it'll be worse. Its worth driving through just for the comedy value! Wigan must have the worst traffic planning system in the UK, its just awful.

why are you suprised? they've been working on Saddle for a hundred years. Yes, it's a traffic hot-spot, but when you put a cinema, retail park, huge asda, b&q in the same place as 3 major sports venues, it's hardly a suprise.

Leave saddle as it was (before they messed with it about 10 years ago), and focus on the other routes in and around town where traffic is busy because of 5 sets of traffic lights or crossings in the space of 800yrds. Silly silly council town planning...

It's a disgrace. They have in effect created an extra bottle-neck (as if the Saddle Junction needed an extra one as it is).

They haven't fully finished yet though. In August the bus garage is moving and a new exit out of town will go through that, thus removing the need to exit out of Wigan by the railway bridge. Thus in return the railway bridge will become two lanes into Wigan rather than one. Might not fix your problem though but still.

Is that still going ahead, Bilko? I thought it had been scrapped with the funding cutbacks?

I think thats still going ahead yes. A lot of the recent work I think as been to set up the electrics (traffic lights etc) for it.

The bit that has been cut is the relief road idea that went from saddle along side of the canal, through Miry Lane Estate and come out near Deanery School.

your correct the Robin Park & Martland Park areas are busy and do attract people into the town, all the more reason to have a sensible road network leading to it. As it is the Saddle junction has been made worse and possibly more dangerous as a result of the recent improvements. The safest way to get onto these areas now from the A49 is to go all the way round SCS and come back on yourself, maybe that was the plan.

and who was the divvy who thought about putting traffic lights on roundabouts??

Ritchie Mathers?

Ah, right.

I knew the Deanery bit had been cancelled (I live nearby), but didn't know the rest was still going ahead. Better than nothing, I guess.

I suppose the roadworks won't affect you, living in London?

Geniunely was eating a packet of McVities Mini Cheddars when I stumble upon this picture. I'm not on Birdall Lane though!

Whoever thought it was a good idea to change it from this

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To this:

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Needs shooting.

The alterations seem to have worked from my experience. There used to be long queues to get through the junction at ATS, with queues on match days going all the way back to Goose Green Labour Club and beyond. Those queues seem to have now vanished with the removal of one set of lights and merging the roads and altering the sequence of the lights. Crossing lanes is not ideal but its less frustrating than queing up for 15 mins to get through the lights.

Why dont they relocate the businesses on the island and build the road straight to keep the traffic going?

I came down the road from Pemberton the other day where the roads merge and it was a bit unnerving and a definite accident blackspot.