to to make sure drivers know why they have to go
left a sign that says
for easier acess to the road you want
hitch:
i see from the google map
you can turn left before you reach the
junction trucks should be advised to go left then turn right
the google pictures really dont do this road any justice…
u can do this and some guys do … but even then its very steep and very dangergous to turn back right at the next junction…
had many a squeky bum time on the gorge … fully freighted with a load of whisky on board and you come down the gorge trying to postion yourself to get in the middle of the bridge and there is an artic coming the other way… not for the faint hearted …
many a truck has shed its load on the avon gorge…
Is there still a haulage company sited about that place orange trucks doing wood or sawmill stuff.Though its near the motorway still a bummer of a place to work out of. There is a small town near there called Brightons passed through in the coach once.
alamcculloch:
Is there still a haulage company sited about that place orange trucks doing wood or sawmill stuff.Though its near the motorway still a bummer of a place to work out of. There is a small town near there called Brightons passed through in the coach once.
the company with the orange trucks is stevenson’s of Avonbridge…
sorry fellas. I think o2 are punishing me for not buying broadband for 2 weeks. Yesterday i paid for a crap connection and it hasnt connected at all since last night. I have been on a training day today but i will try and get down there early tomorrow and get some pictures for those that dont know the junction.
I only included the traffic lights as an option as i am asking for opinions. I wouldnt choose it though. I would say either change priorities or mini roundabout, probably mini roundabout as it allows truckers to only worry about looking ahead for traffic but would slow cars down since they cant see as easily as we can. Changing priorities could cause safety issues for traffic from linlithgow with poor visibility to the right. Slowing traffic would reduce that risk yet still allow free flowing traffic up the hill which would still be an improvement over the current system where traffic has to stop to look.
Ideally i would like a bridge from that junction stretching across but that is not going to happen anytime soon if at all. We need a quick and cheap solution for the time being.
Just a thought, if you look at the junc and surrounding area on google you will see the roads form a triangle.
What if each corner on the triangle was widened and rounded you could then form a large roundabout.
I know it’s not a great idea because of the slope of the ground but it’s surely worth a thought 
cut the dam trees down would aid ur sight 4 a start.
buck73:
Highlander:
Google MapsThis is the junction,but it doesn’t give any idea of how steep the road is at the give-way.Best thing would be to change priorities.
When coming up to the junction,I wait for a suitable gap in the traffic, pull over to the right then angle the unit so I can see to the left.Still have to lean right forward,but at least not pulling out totally blindyou cant do that highlander,as the give way is at the brink of a hill,and if you go to the right,you are directly facing oncoming traffic which will probably drive straight into,due to not seeing you till they get over the next hill you are facing.i reckon the speeds people approach that junction(im sure its national speed limit),even if they hit the brakes straight away,they will hit you.its a high risk to take,cos if that was to happen,you know who will be blamed.the junction priority,like you say,does need changing.
I can and do do that.I understand what you’re saying,and I don’t want to turn this into a thread on good/bad driving,but I thought drivers had to travel at a speed where you can stop safely in any given circumstance.Traffic coming to that junction from Bathgate/Livingston direction has a reasonable view of it and should be able to slow/stop perfectly safely.I would rather have some-one hit my trailer which is blocking their lane than pull out virtually blind and collide with a vehicle coming from Linlithgow.In either scenario,I know I would be deemed to be at fault if a collision occurred,but I think in the first option,it would only be careless driving and there is also a chance of putting some blame on the other driver (too fast etc.).In the second option,the charge could well be dangerous driving and I would be 100% to blame.
I always follow a bit of advice given by my PSV instructor way back in the mists of time.He said “You will not use the size and weight of your vehicle to influence other road users,but you will commandeer the road”
I believe Tesco have stopped all their vehicles using this route,so there’s another option,HGV ban 
tesco have banned the use of this road as part of their community relations negotiations. of course they dont bother telling us poor agency drivers until after the inevitable ticking off for using the road
i had considered and dismissed the idea of an HGV ban but what alternative route is there from bathgate to falkirk? all the other roads are lanes so forcing us to use them would create even more problems, not least just finding your way round them. the motorway network is an optiong but at the wrong time of day you could easily double your driving time if not more getting from the M8 to M9 at those points. the last thing i want to do is restrict HGV movements. im looking for a safer yet practical solution primarily from our point of view even if i dont actually use that road myself in a truck. as correctly stated, the truck driver would be blamed for an accident yet i think that is unjustified as any incident would be more likely be down to poor planning rather than poor observation. not looking and not being able to see are 2 completely different scenarios. the former is down to the driver, the latter is down to the council yet the driver would still take the blame 
There is already a cunning plan…
http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/development/transport_planning/river_avon_gorge_crossing.aspx
i’ve useds this road when i worked for baylis c’nauld, t’is a right tricky 1.
I worked on the construction of the M8~M9 link road, driving a Moxy dump truck.
That was a good few years ago, more than I care to remember, the road stops at Westfield roundabout. The fields leading up towards were the new bridge would be constructed was cleared and the foundations laid for the road over the bridge.
Only reason it ain’t finished is funding, the Avon gorge is a real pain and accident blackspot, lost count of how many times the bridge at the bottom of the gorge has been damaged. I say finish the link road and do away with the right hand branch, keep it as a scenic route to Linlithgow 
Maybe Fergusons drivers could help you with some ideas on this one Ha Ha !
coire:
Maybe Fergusons drivers could help you with some ideas on this one Ha Ha !
i can c a fight brewing 
petrock:
There is already a cunning plan…http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/development/transport_planning/river_avon_gorge_crossing.aspx
class,what a brilliant idea(i kid you not),lets build a motorway,preferably from junction 4 m9,3 lanes wide directly to junction 4 m8.now that would be a good idea to link grangemouth to south west heading traffic without having to head towards edinburgh or stirling.
I agree the priorities should be changed.
But…
Coming from falkirk to top of hill even at 44t … I dont mind stopping if I have to …
To move off on a hill like that is not difficult …even in a mid lift motor … dump all weight to drive axle, it will move without spinning tyres… its all about control.
I personally approach the junction slowly and move over to the offside of the road… blocking it. then start to turn the cab to the nearside to give me the view to the left that I need.
The junction does need improving.
(Scanny dont take this that I am agreeing with you 
)
hitch:
i see from the google map
you can turn left before you reach the
junction trucks should be advised to go left then turn right
I have heard of trailers grounding here especially the old 40’ Sealand skellies with the axles right at the back
I used to use this route before and the landing legs on the trailer i often took would not wind up fully (as i found to my surprise one day)so i had to raise the unit air suspension to clear it. Now working for Asda we are asked to avoid The Gorge