Saddle white line changes

Contractors were on site yesterday redoing the white lines but they seem to have made some changes.

Heading towards Wigan the left hand and middle lane are for straight on only. The right hand lane is for the A49 Warrington Road, A571 Billinge Road, A577 Ormskirk Road and Robin Park.

Most people are used to using the centre lane to turn back towards Warrington Road but the changes mean that you cannot do this anymore.

Can any of our resident taxi drivers confirm this.

Found that out yesterday. Going into Asda could see something going on. Came out and found myself in the wrong lane for the 571 vey quiet so did a quick lane change.

That's typical, everyone gets familiar with the layout and the traffic is running freely, then the council come along and make changes yet again causing confusion, they'll be wanting bumps here too as well as at Marus Bridge.

Well I agree with it, because if you got into the right hand lane to go to Wigan and like you said before, the right hand or centre lane was for both going on into Wigan or going back around the Saddle Junction, which meant that traffic going back around the junction blocked the right hand lane off, so although I have not been through the new layout yet, it sounds awreet

Having a little think about it I wonder what lies in store if anything regarding changes coming from B&Q to join the 571.
Maybe yesterday there had not been time to post signs warning of the "new" layout, could be some later.

Anne they will need a few bumps or near misses before they will put up their famous signsOr is it yet another cock up by the contractors and they have painted the wrong direction arrows

From memory this layout was the original proposed together with four lanes having made the right turn, ie Warrington Rd, Billinge Rd, Ormskirk Rd and back round to Robin park this would prevent any stacking back.

them back country roads can be bad, when we went to get tv. hWe had to go slow not to ruin his truck.

Isn't your Dave into "white lines", Erin?

Used it today and it is a big improvement IMO

If the traffic is nose to tail how are you expected to see white arrows on the road But just like the council no road signage any where. No lane signs no warning signs to say change of lanes

It's taken me long enough to work out which lane goes where, I hope they haven't changed it again.

It's taken me long enough to work out which lane goes where, I hope they haven't changed it again.

Spiderwoman that is what the thread is aboutGoing into Wigan in between asda and scs the lane markings are now marked out left and centre lanes for going into Wigan. The Right lane is for turning right for Pemberton Ashton etc.So if you want to go to Ashton you have to be in the right hand lane till you go through lights(near Kwikfit) then move over to the left lane before the next lights which are about 50yds away.

Get the bus

Omg, I'm dreading driving round there now, sounds worse than ever Peterp.

If anyone from the highways dept is reading this, it might be an idea to put some signs up at the Saddle Junction, informing motorists that there is a new configuration in operation, because the motorists are going into the wrong lanes, because they are 'confused'

last time i was driving there it was about two years ago and it was a pain.. i am coming back in march for a few days
and now your telling me its changed again

Good idea, Tommy. Think they should put more signs up around Wigan. Unless you know the roads, it's difficult to know which lane you should be in..

peter israel

I think the new layout is better, because before the middle lane was used by both traffic going on into Wigan and traffic going back around the gyratory in the opposite direction, which meant that the right hand lane from the traffic lights and along past the entrance to Asda would be empty, but the centre lane just described, would be backed up, meaning that traffic in that lane, which wants to go straight on into Wigan, would have to change lanes, by moving over into the left hand lane

I agree.

Doesn't seem to make much sense to me. Now you have 2 lanes going into 2 lanes and 1 lane going into three lanes, even 4 if you want to go up Robin Park Rd.

I'd been to Pets at Home yesterday and returned up Wallgate and umpteen cars were turning right from off the centre lane - so many not taking notice of the lane markings, it's worse than the Leigh 'kami kazi' roundabout was now for those observing the lanes, bet those cash for crash lawyers are rubbing their hands, wonder if the council have investments with them.

Some folk are never satisfied

It could better with double white lines separating the right hand lane from the rest.

Mortarmillbill if the council put some signage up it would help. If you are a stranger how do you know which lane to be in if there is no signage in the 1st place,i have said at times you cannot see white arrows on the tarmac

mortarmillbill

"It could better with double white lines separating the right hand lane from the rest"

Only trouble with that would be that traffic from Robin Park Road and Asda would be breaking the law, if they crossed the double white lines to go round the gyratory

Tommy Two Stroke - you are correct and PeterP seems to have the solution with the signage.

Its been there over 4 years now.

How many times do you need to go through it to understand the layout??

If you had to drive through central Birmingham or London you would have no chance!!!

Stardelts

Hey come on, don't you be going daft, the centre lane was for both going on into Wigan (right hand lane under the bridge) or for going right around the inside lane of the gyratory and then South towards Goose Green, now it as been marked out for both nearside lanes to go under the bridge and only the right offside lane for going back around the gyratory

we got white lines. If you cross in and you got a pig following you. I was dd years ago and did that and thought I was drink just tired from it being 3 am. you cant pass n a double side line.

worked on a church parking lot and had to use them big long rollers to do the white and yellow lines

Watched 6 near misses in the space of a few minutes this morning as drivers are unaware of the changes.

I can't believe they make changes like this and don't inform drivers, omg!!

I use this junction a lot. I would've liked to see them keep the middle lane for going straight on into town and right for Goose Green only and the right hand lane for Billinge Road/Pem/Marsh Green. For me, the problem arises of backed up traffic due to right hand turn being for both Goose Green and Billinge Road. So my idea would've been when you get through the set of lights, the 3 lanes are then 1 for Goose Green, 2 for Billinge Road and the 3rd lane for Pem and Scot Lane.

Only used it four times coming from Beech Hill to Wigan, using the middle lane for straight on, only to be blocked three times by cars coming from B & Q to Screwfix. The thoughtless drivers carry on even though they can see they would be blocking the traffic.
How about a yellow lined box that you can't enter till the exit is clear.

another one of the finest cock ups provided by our road and traffic management dept, courtesy of the never changing WMBC.

Just been through today and if people will look at and follow the direction signs which I do not think have ever been any different it is two lanes straight on and one turn right all as the original proposal.
Could it be that the middle lane straight on/ turn right arrows have been a mistake all this time ? stranger things happen on Wigan's Roads.

orrellite you may be right but if there are any changes to the lay out of ANY road you would think the council would put signage up and not leave it to the drivers to find out the hard way

I agree hence my comment re Wigan's Roads.

Over the last couple of years local drivers have got used to using the centre lane to turn right for the A49 Warrington Road and A571 Billinge Road and the road markings said that you could do this.

This has now changed so signs should be erected to warn drivers of the new changes.

They could use the signs which are left at Prescott Lane bend where they removed the traffic island which they had only installed 10 days earlier it having been hit by numerous motorists who ignored the signs .

More white lining being done this morning (Sunday) to finish the job off.

Orrellite, me old China, yon ex working for council person you, anyway me owd mucker, cast yer blinkers on these three piccys

Taken last June (2016)


Taken last September (2016)


Taken last September (2016)

mmbill....that is exactly what I did last Sunday. I always use the covered parking and leave Asda using the "back" entrance coming onto Robin Park road (less hassle using the traffic lights.) then into the middle lane. Coming to the B & Q sliproad lights that's where it all went wrong. Granted the lining was still warm and steaming so no chance of any warning.

TTS, never questioned what the practical layout was, just that I looked up the proposed layout before anything was built. If the Google shots were taken a little way back it would show the advanced direction signs which are contradicted by the lane arrows, just shows they don't know what they are doing half the time. Heaven forbid that I would defend our Highways Engineers they were the bane of my life, I am sure if Sledge were about he would vouch for that.
ps my short ,very short, time with WCB was in the sixties and that was enough.

Used it today first time far better than before no problem.

I think it is better, because traffic as been making sure it is in the left hand lane, so as not to get held up in the middle lane, by traffic turning right, which sort of takes away the purpose of making two lanes to go into Wigan.

It is a pain at moment, because traffic does not know about the changes and I cannot understand why council as not put up a information sign.

They will only put signs up after there have been a few bumps.

It would be an admission that the arrows have been wrong all this time. Just ignore it and no one will notice.

Nearly got side swiped earlier someone coming round from middle lane did anticipate it might happen,it sure is going to happen just a matter of time, then the signs will go up as MMB said

A stupid car today in front of me, followed the centre lane and then turned into the right lane following the old line of the layout, he pulled up behind a car, oblivious to the fact that the back half of his car was blocking the right hand lane for going into Wigan, I had to stop dead in the lane as so did every one behind me, most drivers do notice that the layout as changed and as they notice, they indicate to go into the right lane, they still manage to block the centre lane, but they will learn from experience and they do the correct type of thing in indicating, but not that idiot I was behind today.

More white lining going on this morning(Sunday) to finish off the job.

In the space of a couple of minutes a double decker bus, a HGV and a taxi used the centre lane and then turned right.

If these professional drivers cannot get it right there is no hope for the rest of us.

Something is wrong. Is it because there are no signs warning of the changes?

All down to driver behaviour cannot be bothered to pay attention it will be someone else's fault, just like the yellow plate hire cars using bus lanes which they all know they should not but do all day and every day without hindrance from the authorities.

Just returned from the temple of consumerism. Did my usual thing, coming out the back way I noticed two cars using the front way and being in the wrong having to cross lanes and squeeze in.

A lot of the problems at the Saddle, would be solved by the new link road being built, because that would remove a lot the traffic, which at present travels through Newtown towards Wigan Town Centre

If they did put up a warning sign there, it should read

"Beware of being side Swiped"

Well, I used it today and I was dreading it. But I didn't actually notice much different about it, other than the arrows, lines and that had been repainted..

And the latest professional driver that I saw using the middle lane to turn right this morning was a POLICE car.

He was not using blue lights or his siren so he has no excuse

whatever the council did or did not do,the maniac who slammed straight across the car in front of me causing ourselves to brake hard and a few others behind,did not see the new signage .therefore its safe to assume that others are missing the new rules cos there on the road.wmbc take action.
whilst i'm on do something about the procession of drivers going the wrong way up caroline street.

Back on site again this morning finishing off the white lines. Extra lines as you come out of the Southgate junction.

Three days ago not one but two cars careered across me forcing very heavy braking and horn use,they seemed totally unaware of the markings as they where coming out of asda petrol station entrance.

They should give priority to Warrington Road, at the junction of Victoria Street with Warrington road, before a serious incident occurs!

Your quite right tonker, there is confusion and dithering at that point. Victoria street traffic wanting to cross to the right and vice versa.

As well as more lines as you come out of Southgate, they have 'correctly' designated which lane you should use to go to Asda, as in you approach the junction to Robin Park Road and Wallgate back towards Wigan, in the right hand lane, they have written.

'A49(N)'
'Sooper'
'Store'

And at the next set of lights, which you go through towards Wigan that designation is repeated in the left hand lane.

I didn't notice how the other lanes have been designated, but I am glad they have cleared up which lane you should use to go to Asda, I have had years of traffic in the left hand lane blowing their horns at me when I moved over towards to filter into the left hand lane