Leicester’s most confusing junction ‘now more confusing’ say angry residents and traders

It was billed as a £10m solution to Leicester’s most confusing junction. But now that the work is complete, people in the area are angry and disappointed.

LeicestershireLive went to speak to people in the area after Leicester City Council announced the completion of work to overhaul the Fiveways junction complex, which links Blackbird Road, Woodgate, Fosse Road North, Groby Road and Buckminster Road and has been called the most confusing of city ​​to find out what impact the changes have had.

People who spoke to us said there were now more accidents and more honking and that the change was bad for local businesses. Andrew Holmes, 66, who was shopping in the area yesterday (Monday), said: “It’s chaos. It’s just crazy.

READ MORE: Leicester’s ‘most confusing’ junction Five ways to close as major improvement scheme continues

“There are these great bike lanes that nobody uses. I live in Basset Street and I can no longer turn right on Woodgate into Blackbird Road so I have to go the long way through the residential area – and it’s harder. I’m still going home because I can’t turn left onto Blackbird Road onto Woodgate either.

Viv James, who works at the Booze Stop on the junction, said: “I think the council have ****** this. We have a wide bike lane right outside so people can’t stop outside the store.

“If they buy a case of beer, they have to carry it a long way back to their car. By lunchtime we’d normally be doing between £200 and £300 – so far today it’s £60.

“They didn’t even get the flow right for the traffic and it’s chaotic. We have seen five or six accidents in the last three months.”

Lorry driver Adrian Prinvas, 56, who was shopping in the area and lives just off Fosse Road North, said: “I’m not very happy that I can no longer turn left on the Blackbird into town. And then, if you enter in the opposite direction – from Fosse Road North – if you want to enter the city, you have to enter the queue after the bus lane ends.

“But if the queue is full, you’re not meant to get into the bus lane – you have to keep everyone behind you, which is stupid. I just go back to the bus lane – I hope they never put in the bus lane. rooms in

“If I do, I will go to court and fight.”

Kim Stanton, 39, who regularly passes the junction, said: “I think it’s worse. I don’t drive, but when I’m at the bus stop and I watch everyone driving, it seems like no one knows what lane to be in and it’s just going to cause accidents.

“I hear a lot more horns blowing than before.”

Amir Hussain, who works at Woodgate Computers, said: “It’s so confusing. There is a bike lane that no one uses that is wider than a bus lane.

“I don’t drive, but many drivers who come say they find it more confusing than before. Since it was completed, I’ve already seen four minor collisions from cars not knowing where they’re going.”

Mriwaan Ibrahim, owner of Huntsman Barbers, said: “It was a totally messed up idea. It causes a lot of traffic jams and the number of beeps you hear and accidents you see are more than before.

“We’re not happy as traders in this area. The only thing we were looking forward to was the extra parking, but what’s the point if people can’t find their way here because it’s so confusing?”

Sart Ahmed, who owns Hardware and DIY, added: “Business is down for us and all businesses. Customers go elsewhere.

“People preferred it to before. It was much better.”

A spokesman for Leicester City Council said: “The new redeveloped Fiveways junction has been expertly designed and shaped to provide a safer route for all users, with improved pedestrian crossings, protected cycle lanes and a less confusing for junctions for drivers.