[Official Site] UPDATE | Jumble Lane Crossing

So despite being told not to go through the train you did. And you are complaining. **** me sideways.

 

At the station they were directing people through it after the Luton game - over bridge then out through the gate on the north bound platform near the level crossing.

 

I stand corrected then thank you. That’s a fairly big change to all published information

Just to ask though is that once inside the station or from outside on swabsh grumund way?

 

Bloody hell mate could have saved me stress fracture of mi typing finger if I’d seen your post 1st.

 

Think it was unofficial as Luton hardly brought any fans - doubt there would be a repeat when there's a big away following. It made getting back into town alot easier though!

 

I stood outside the ground for a while and wondered why people were generally walking in that direction - so I followed them.
What I saw filled me with dread.
A receipt for total disaster.
The fans were packed tight together walking from one railway platform to the other and then along the platform to a gate near the useless temporary bridge.

Against Luton there were no gangs of opposing fans.
If there were then the only way to move would be onto the railway lines.
And thing is - it would only take a gang of say about 4 to cause total mayhem.
Most of the clubs in the Championship have got a sizeable Hooli element amongst their ranks.

Barnsley Council / Network Rail got away with it against Luton - they won’t get away with it against most of the clubs in the Championship.

 

To be fair just to pick up on this point, there have been times this season where the bridge across has been closed and fans told to turn around and go back the way they came.

 

I think it's been mentioned but just have an extra pint in the Mount or Dove and wait it out. It's not ideal but needs must.

 

Avoid all hassle and go towards alambra , found this way is much quicker

 

I thought for games like this they were going to open the crossing for the day? The barriers are still there and only construction materials stop access at the other side I believe (which could be shifted?)

Seems crazy to me.

 

It had to close to get funding from network rail, can never be opened again , barriers there to stop you getting on rails

 

It's a building site behind mate.

 

Not seen it for a bit - last time I saw it, they were just storing materials behind it, nothing permanent.

 

Keep Leeds fans in for 20 - 30 mins after the game....no issues.

 

Even once its completed I'm guessing the new bridge will cause a bottleneck situation. Assuming they don't keep it closed on match days.

 

Dug up now, they're really cracking on with the site.

 

The permanent bridge is going to be almost 6m wide. I don’t think there’ll be any issues once that’s open.

 

It seems that even the bridge designers don't think it's particularly fit for purpose on matchdays.
Taken from the architects access and design statement


Constructing the bridge to the proposed 5.6 metre deck and stairway design will cater for a higher volume of match-day pedestrians, although crowd management within the vicinity of the bridge is recommended.

To conclude, it is clear that the proposed pedestrian bridge will cater for all users, due to a number of accessibility considerations which will feed into the surrounding public-realm improvements. However, it is likely that any pedestrian bridge would have to be unpractically wide to cater for the relatively infrequent, sharp peaks in match-day pedestrian traffic, particularly following the final-whistle.

 

From what I remember in that report, a lot of the capacity statements were based on Oakwell being at full capacity. That statement simply suggests that it would be pointless to build a bridge wide enough to support a demand that’s only present for 30 minutes every other week, but highlights the risk that should be obvious when managing large crowds. I’m still confident that any potential wait with the new bridge will be less than what you would’ve got with the level crossing barriers being down.

It’s also worth noting that once the redevelopment is complete, you’ll be able to access Cheapside from Pontefract Road and vice versa without having to navigate service areas and the car park ramps like before. The entrance being behind the Alhambra, almost exactly where the old Meat & Fish market was, providing an alternative, easily accessible link to/from Oakwell from the town centre.