Star News
Contractor's sign error led to traffic chaos
4:51pm Tuesday 21st February 2012
MOTORISTS were stuck in traffic for more than four hours – because a highways contractor failed to remove a road closure notice.
The Star reported earlier this month how the St Helens Linkway became gridlocked near Rainhill Stoops, on Tuesday, February 7.
Some commuters who were travelling to work from St Helens town centre to Rainhill complained of being stuck in traffic from 8.30am until after 1pm.
Parents taking their children to school were also caught up in the backlog, while there were also reports of one driver missing a job interview because of the delays.
Now it has emerged that the closure of Watkinson Way - which caused the chaos - never should have happened.
Roadworks had taken place the previous day (Monday, February 6) but closure notices should have been removed at 3.30pm and the major route into Widnes re-opened.
But the contractor failed to do so - resulting in the closure being in place for the Monday evening and Tuesday morning peak periods.
In a statement Halton Council said: “Halton Borough Council would like to sincerely apologise to those all those affected by the unplanned closure of Watkinson Way (A557) in Widnes on Tuesday, February 7 subsequent disruption and delays that followed.
“This incident occurred due to its highways maintenance contractor not removing a road closure as instructed.
“The council will be taking this matter up with the contractor to ensure any further incidents of this type are avoided. The contractor also offers a public apology for this serious error on its part.”
“Motorists will now benefit from improved night-time visibility through the replacement of cats eyes and the reduced possibility of flooding, as the gullies and central reserve have been cleaned.”