New traffic system - Monte Dourada

[R.Wethereyet]

Travelling down through Monte Dourada today, I was confronted by no entry signs approx 2/3rds of the way down the hill past the tennis courts with no previous warning anywhere in the vicinity. I know that there is construction of the new parking areas on the left hand side of the road, and that the traffic island next to A Velha was being removed, but there was no mention as far as I'm aware, of a semi one way system through MD. The signs were permanent, not roadside temporary ones.

If this is to be a permanent measure it will mean that anyone staying in the apartments in MD will have to driveback through MD, turn right down past the old market, into the centre and leave via the square, or either try to negotiate the small back road that comes out next to the old O'Raphaol restaurante, or travel up to the ADM area and then travel down via Poce Partido to enable them to leave the town.

At a time when we need to reduce the number of cars around the centre/square which, in peak season is chaotic to say the least, somebody in Lagoa Camara has thought up this new and ridiculous traffic system.

I can see cars flying up the one way part of the road coming headlong into cars travelling down on the two way section, another accident waiting to happen.

[Jaylay]

I think the idea behind the new changes is that traffic coming down the in road can cut through to the out road and up to Monte Dourado(one way uphill for parking and bypassing the centre )without going around the square near the beach therefore cutting traffic actually passing by the beach. The traffic coming down restaurant hill turns right at the bottom so does not increase the number of cars on the beach square.

I think the basic idea is that if you do not need to go into the village centre you do not have to, but most tourists and a lot of locals always drive through the centre just to see what is happening and who is around

[R.Wethereyet]

Jaylay, the cut through from the in road, next to BPI, has been open for several months and yes, has taken some traffic away from the centre, not much. The problem now will be that all that traffic that parks up in and around Monte Dourada HAS to travel back into town to leave.

Restaurant Hill is bad enough in the summer months, and the area around Smilers where pedestrians wander aimlessly into the road to get to the square and beach area will now be confronted with more traffic coming down the hill.

This isn't taking traffic away from the centre, it is increasing it.

[nod]

if it stops thru' traffic using MD as a rat run it can only be a good thing considering the number of children about during the summer

[R.Wethereyet]

if it stops thru' traffic using MD as a rat run it can only be a good thing considering the number of children about during the summer

Nod, as I said before, there is a new public car parking area being built in Monte Dourada, this will therefore attract more traffic to MD in the summer months. Those who either park in it, or drive around MD in search of places HAVE TO then drive through the residential area of MD to leave the car park. The fact that the majority of drivers who can't find a place immediately, usually trawl round an area until a free space becomes available will mean a massive increase in road traffic in MD.

[pickwick]

If people park at the new parking area and then want to leave CVO they simply drive to the end of Rua dos Combatentes and turn LEFT away from the village instead of right. This will take them onto Rua do Cerro which they follow to the end and then turn left onto Rua dos Moinhos and then left again onto Estrada do Poco Partido which they then follow to the end and end up at the traffic lights on the way into/out of CVO (where they will probably be robbed at knife/gun point by the areas resident criminals according to the doom merchants that think CVO has turned into the Wild West). So there is the possibility that much of the traffic can avoid driving round the square

This route is signposted at the moment for incoming traffic as an alternative route for CVO so perhaps some new signs will appear for departing traffic??

Pickwick

[R.Wethereyet]

As I said before to Nod, that traffic will still have to drive through Monte Dourada's residential area to reach Rua do Cerro, and will still drive through the centre if they cannot immediately park in the new car park whilst they search for other parking areas. Plus those who only know the main routes in and out of town will still go via the centre to leave.

Furthermore, if you read my original post it stated the route you mentioned as one of two alternatives. I didn't use the street names because most people wouldn't know these unless they Googled them. However, that exit route would still only be used by drivers leaving the village area and heading for lagoa and beyond or those residing or staying to the E or NE of the village. Like Caramujeira for example.

Also the 'Alternative Route' sign you mentioned, that is at the traffic lights, was only sited for vehicles to follow during the construction of the new square, but was never taken down. The fact that the majority of motorists ignored it then and still do now because they want the shortest and quickest route into town says something about what drivers will do. Therefore if they know or think that the shortest and quickest route out of the area is also via the centre, no number of alternative route signs will deter them.

[pickwick]

What difference does the one way system make? Visitors trying to park on the hill or below the tenis courts before the changes went "through Monte Dourada's residential area to reach Rua do Cerro" and then drove round and round until they found a space anyway. I do not think your original post made any sense - there was a lot of driving around - there will still be a lot of driving around - get over it!! I accept that you must think that if drivers could not get a space before they did a three point turn and drove back down the hill but in reality most just continued and drove throught the town hoping to get a space on the way down restaurant hill or indeed faced reality and turned UP restaurant hill and parked in the nearest space they could find. I submit therefore that there will not be "a massive increase in road traffic in MD".

Pickwick

[pickwick]

R Wetherejit
You do say in a later post to Jaylay that traffic HAS to leave via the centre and clearly this is not so. You clearly want to say your piece but also seem to want to argue. Traffic does not HAVE to leave via the centre from Monte Dourada despite what you now say. Give it a rest it was a ridiculous post in the first place and now you contradict what you say about the exit options.

Pickwick

[R.Wethereyet]

R Wetherejit

Pickwick, nice try with the misspelling of my name and your clever attempt to include 'ejit' in it, I nearly split my sides laughing, you are obviously very eloquent, and also someone with superior knowledge of the day to day traffic travelling around the village, and as such I bow to your wisdom. Tell me, how long have you lived in central Carvoeiro to glean such knowledge.

Alas, if only I was so well educated, then I would have been able to think of so many words that rhyme with Pick and Wick.

R.Wethereyet

[nod]

R Wetherejit

Pickwick, nice try with the misspelling of my name and your clever attempt to include 'ejit' in it, I nearly split my sides laughing, you are obviously very eloquent, and also someone with superior knowledge of the day to day traffic travelling around the village, and as such I bow to your wisdom. Tell me, how long have you lived in central Carvoeiro to glean such knowledge.

Alas, if only I was so well educated, then I would have been able to think of so many words that rhyme with Pick and Wick.

R.Wethereyet

that made me chuckle

[blue]

Most of the people I know who live in Carvoeiro, a lot in Monte Dourado, are against the new road system, I've yet to hear one person say they think it's an improvement.

[snowytheboy]

So what happens to the people who turn from Rue do Barranco into Rue Dos Combatentes then turn right up the cul-de-sac hill to park. When they leave, can they get back to Rue Do Barranco or do they have to go all the way through Monte Dourada.

[PTBUXTON]

For GOD'S SAKE can you all put a sock in it so to speak, what's done is done live with it ,I'll have to.

[R.Wethereyet]

For GOD'S SAKE can you all put a sock in it so to speak, what's done is done live with it I'll have to.

Exactly, that's also what I think when I keep hearing about how badly done to all the poor supporters of Greater UK Manchester United have been treat over the years by the Glazers. And they still keep moaning on about them. Wish they would also put a sock in it, preferably one that Rio wore during a game.