Forum Topic

Horn Lane consultation to improve the safety, operation & efficiency between Acton Main Line & A40

Horn Lane Corridor consultation.As a part of Ealing Council’s corridor improvement programme funded by Transport for London, proposals have been developed to improve the safety, operation and efficiency of Horn Lane between Acton Main Line Station and the A40.Your views are an important factor in the council’s decision-making process and contribute towards the decision to proceed.Please read through the consultation documents provided and then complete the questionnaire.The closing date for this consultation is 16 November 2012What happens nextThe results and comments received during this consultation will be presented to your ward councillors for their consideration.Further informationIf you have any queries about the proposals please contact:Dept: HighwaysName: Allan MiddlemastEmail: middlemasta@ealing.gov.uk Telephone: 0208 825 8469 http://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/200628/current_consultations/1402/horn_lane_corridor_consultation

Rosco White ● 5085d16 Comments

Thanks Rosco. They don't seem to be addressing the really horrendous part where traffic exiting Leamington Park heading to the A40 has to force its way into the left lane. it seems to be getting really dangerous lately.

Bob Crossley ● 5084d

Not much chance of them doing anything intelligent or sensible with the main Gypsy Corner junction, I complained about the layout before they started building it and was ignored. I just do not wish to spend time, effort, and money tinkering around the edges until they agree to get it sorted properly. There will probably be more problems ahead if Park Royal Road, Chase Road, and the Hanger Lane Gyratory are closed or restricted during the HS2 building works, but we may have some political and staffing changes before that.

Chris Bell ● 5084d

Mini roundabout at Horn Lane/Noel Rd junction is sensible. Speed table at York Rd entry is pointless. The speed table on the Leamington Park/Horn Lane junction looks wrong; surely it should be set further back to slow traffic down before it reaches the turn. Putting the table on a corner means front wheels will be turning into the corner when they reach it - any vehicle hitting it at too high a speed will be pushed forward rather than round the bend. I can't think of a raised table anywhere else that's actually on a bend.

Vlod Barchuk ● 5084d

Three lanes enter Leamington Park from the A40 crossing. They don't show how or if that would be reduced to two.

Bob Crossley ● 5084d

There used to be a street light on the Gypsy Corner end of the centre island where Leamington Park traffic tries to fight its way across Horn Lane, but it was flattened too often. Many drivers underestimate the gradient down Leamington Park, and are then required to watch ahead to ensure they do not hit a vehicle that has just moved across in front of them and behind for a gap in Horn Lane traffic. There is very little distance between the end of the island with a very high proportion of drivers trying cross to reach a completely idiotic layout of lanes.When it was built the Ministry of Transport had as much land as it could have wanted, with a car park bordering the north west corner of the junction obtained under compulsory purchase. They also had enough land along the A40 not to have a two lanes on either side bottleneck towards East Acton. We need a few more bodies before anything will be done.

Chris Bell ● 5084d

I was told at the East Acton Ward Forum tonight that there have been some proposals submitted for the Horn Lane to Western Avenue junction itself. I just hope they get it right. It is a bad enough junction for cars trying to turn right from Leamington Park, but there is little room for error for a large heavy goods vehicle. Heavy lorries prohibited from using the Acton Main Line bridge by the weight limit have very few options for turning north from the westbound A40.

Chris Bell ● 5083d

This morning I was cut up by a large van overtaking me on my left in the bus lane and then shooting across all the lanes on the right in order to go east on the A40. He did this I assume to beat the trucks turning into Horn Lane from Leamington Park and wanting to go east on Horn lane. Very dangerous.Chris. How do we get to see these proposals you heard about tonight for the Horn Lane A40 junction?

Bob Crossley ● 5083d

I would love to know myself, my comment was that I am unlikely to hear until after any decision. Hardly anyone apart from the local councillors appeared to have heard about any consultation,

Chris Bell ● 5083d

I have seen a suggested plan for Gypsy Corner itself which provides one lane for traffic turning left into the A40 westbound which curves round the end of the bus lane, immediately to its right one lane for traffic to Park Royal Road which follows a similar curved path, then two curved lanes towards Victoria Road, then one lane which separates into two lanes as allowed by the curves for traffic turning into the A40 eastbound.I have suggested a similar approach at the main junction but with two clear lanes turning right to the A40 eastbound and one lane branching into two for Victoria Road. My reason would be that it would be better for HGVs turning a fairly tight corner.I have also suggested that Leamington Park traffic is effectively part of a very large roundabout/one-way/gyratory and should be given priority at the bottom of Leamington Park, so remove the current central reservation from the Leamington Park / Horn Lane junction towards the A40, and put a yellow box at the junction which should allow traffic turning right from Leamington Park to get into the correct lane as soon as possible and not block other lanes.Comments?

Chris Bell ● 5073d

Not sure I quite understand the Gypsy corner arrangement without seeing it.I have already filled in the consultation form for the Leamington Park bit.I suggested traffic lights to allow Leamington traffic into Horn Lane going north and give Horn Lane traffic a chance to enter the flow. Of course that would also need a yellow box

Bob Crossley ● 5072d

The information via Allan Middlemast at Ealing is that one proposal from TFL is as follows:At the Gypsy Corner junction, if the left lane is No 1,1  Left to the A40 westbound2  Half left to Park Royal Road3  Straight on to Victoria Road4  Straight on to Victoria Road5  Right to A40 eastbound6  Right to A40 eastboundBefore that, where there is a bus lane in 1:1  Bus lane2  Left to the A40 westbound3  Half left to Park Royal Road4  Straight on to Victoria Road5  Straight on to Victoria Road6  Right to A40 eastboundI have suggested that where there is a bus lane:1  Bus lane2  Left to the A40 westbound3  Half left to Park Royal Road4  Straight on to Victoria Road5  Right to A40 eastbound6  Right to A40 eastboundIn fact I am undecided about lane 5, perhaps it should be the one that forks, signed as either straight ahead or right.I feel that the current layout is insane, and said so at the original design stage.Like it or not, it is a tiny part of a large one way system. Traffic trying to get into Park Royal Road tends to block up to 4 lanes and often changes lane in the middle of the main junction. There will always be a problem for a bus trying to reach the correct lane from the bus stop/bus lane whatever the layout, and Gypsy Corner is by no means unique. I have even seen a bus change lanes in the middle of the main junction to reach Park Royal Road.Allowing traffic from Leamington Park to reach the correct lane ASAP should help clear other lanes. Giving Leamington Park traffic priority, with a "Give Way" for traffic from Horn Lane, will allow the central island to be removed.I think that a Yellow Box at the leamington Park junction would then be sufficient, and in my opinion traffic lights might may make matters worse (while they are working).

Chris Bell ● 5072d

The best option is yours with lane 5 forking. I am worried about Horn lane clogging up if Leamington Park has priority.

Bob Crossley ● 5072d

Horn Lane does clog up now, especially when it is a little busy. You either sit and watch everyone from Leamington Park jumping in front as you follow the marked road layout or you ignore the marked lanes. I have not attempted to count the average number of vehicles going in each direction over 24/7 but my guess is that it is fairly close to equal, however I would expect both TFL and Ealing to have those details.

Chris Bell ● 5072d

I've objected to the raised platforms at the beginning of York Road (hello, what's the point of that?) and coming off Leamington Park into Horn Lane as they are too close to the bend, or actually on it, acting as take-off platforms.  I'd like to get rid of the skip/industrial yard there too, but hey-ho, there wasn't a tick box for that....

Angela White ● 5071d

I also objected to the raised entries . They don't slow down traffic unless they are huge like the ones in Church Road. They didn't have enough money to do half of them in the other "improvement" done earlier in Horn Lane. So why waste it here.

Bob Crossley ● 5071d

Perhaps the entire Leamington Park needs a non-skid coating because of the gradient. It is bad enough in wet conditions but if it ever freezes everything just slides down the hill.

Chris Bell ● 5071d