New traffic study as work on Bailey Bridge clogs up roads

Sep 4 2009 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

TRAFFIC patterns in Irvine are again under the microscope in a bid to reduce the congestion caused by the closure of the Bailey Bridge.

Last week CCTV cameras were erected to cover the mini-roundabout at the Turf Corner and also the box junction at the junction of Quarry Road and East Road – which have both been heavily congested since the bridge’s closure.

Traffic counter strips have also been laid on Quarry Road, the Marress Road dual carriageway and Ayr Road as planners try to gauge the volume of cars, lorries and buses using main arteries in and out of the town centre.

“Earlier this year we put the box junction on East Road, painted double yellow lines in Kilwinning Road to keep the inside lane clear for traffic wanting to turn left onto the dual carriageway and altered the frequency of various traffic lights in an attempt to improve vehicle flow,” said a North Ayrshire Council spokeswoman. “The measures put in place last week are simply designed to judge traffic volume and congestion and compare it with how it was at earlier periods.

“That way we can work out just what the problems are, when they might arise and take the appropriate measures to alleviate them.”