Is the Coulsdon bypass as good as we think it may be? Being a regular user of the A23 through Coulsdon I can't help noticing some items of concern.

One is expense. Why does the bypass have a bus lane, when all the buses going to Coulsdon can't use this road?

I was told by Transport for London it was for the benefit of buses, taxis and heavy lorries. I was not aware heavy lorries had that priority.

The northern roundabout at Marlpit Lane has so tight a radius that large multi-wheel lorries struggle keeping within the white lines.

Developers should replace the new planter bed at the roundabout with road. That would improve the traffic flow and make it less of a chicane.

There are white hatch lines painted at this roundabout but in the few weeks they have been there they are getting rubbed away.

The same applies on the southerly roundabout for vehicles travelling north, although the radius is not so severe.

The Coulsdon bypass will take some of the traffic out of Coulsdon but some will still have to pass through.

The traffic queue for Purley starts just north of Coulsdon, so the bypass won't improve that.

Traffic travelling south from Purley on the A23 has been worse than ever. Not because of the road works in Coulsdon but because of the additional bus lane at the junction of Old Lodge Lane.

This bus lane is very short and I am sure it is not necessary.

The biggest improvement here has been the roundabout at Marlpit Lane. Maybe that was all that was needed.

Incidentally, the red route constructed a few years ago along the A23 has not helped traffic flow, it in fact has impeded the flow because of the narrow restrictions in Coulsdon.

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