Roundabout or traffic lights at busy junction ruled out through cost
An accident blackspot near Oswestry won't benefit from the creation of a roundabout or traffic signals because they would prove too costly.
Llanyblodwell and Pant Community Councillor recently met with National Highways representative about the safety of the Llynclys Crossroads.
North Shropshire MP, Helen Morgan, Shropshire Councillor, Vince Hunt and the clerk and chair of the parish council attended the meeting.
Clerk, Amy Jones, said the crossroads had long been know as an accident black spot.
The meeting focused on the safety study which was commissioned by the National Highways Route Manager for Shropshire to assess possible traffic signal or roundabout options for consideration at A483 Llynclys junction following requests from stakeholders.
"Whilst the study is a confidential document, for use internally by National Highways, the outcome of the study was shared and concluded that the four options developed and modelled do not represent a value for money investment," the clerk said.
National Highways recommended that no further development of the options were undertaken but confirmed that the junction continues to be monitored via the annual collision analysis for the Midlands region.
"If the collision numbers or severity increase further, investigation be undertaken to see if further improvements are justified," the clerk said.
The Parish Council raised the safety of the bus stop at the junction pointing out it is used by secondary school children on a daily basis. National Highways confirmed that there is work currently in the pipeline to improve this.
The issue of reduced visibility when exiting the B road was also raised and National Highways confirmed that a further safety study would need to be carried out to look into how this could be improved, now that larger scale projects have been ruled out.
The following points were put forward to National Highways for consideration:
· Improved signage and road markings to help drivers understand the junction more clearly.
· Addressing the risk that undertaking and flashing poses.
· The speed of traffic travelling on the A495 through the junction and whether this could be dropped to 30mph?
· Engineering options including the possibility of a raised area where pedestrians can safely cross.
· The possibility of a speed camera.
· Improved lighting around the junction.
National Highways confirmed that these are all things that they will now go away and explore as the aim is to find a solution that is achievable and will reach the desired outcomes.
Llanyblodwel Parish Clerk, Amy Jones, commented: “National Highways confirmed that the information being fed into them over the years, from the community and stakeholders, has been integral to getting the project to this point, as the data alone would not have instigated a Safety Study to be conducted. Now that we are at this point, the Parish Council will continue to push for the improvements needed to make this junction safer for both road users and pedestrians”.
A new study will be conducted in the new financial year and it is hoped that by Summer 2023, there will be another report available for discussion.
