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Road safety move at crash blackspot
Reporter: by BEATRIZ AYALA
Date online: 12 October 2009
Major road safety improvements at a notorious accident blackspot are set to be discussed.
The proposed works are along Milnrow Road, Shaw, between the junction of Smallbrook Road and the borough boundary with Rochdale.
A total of 31 accidents have been recorded on this section of road, resulting in 48 casualties, in the last five years alone.
The past three years have seen 15 accidents reported with six resulting in serious or fatal injury.
Experts propose to tackle the problem with a range of new safety measures.
These include:
l Improved bend signage between the Jubilee public house and the boundary with Rochdale.
l Improved signage for side roads such as Buckstones Road.
l Extending the existing waiting restrictions.
l Two vehicle-activated signs to slow vehicles down near the railway bridge between Bridge Street and Smallbrook Road.
l Changes to the centre line road markings and visibility improvements.
Priority
l Improved pedestrian crossing facilities near Smallbrook Road, including a footway build-out to slow traffic down.
l Improved visibility near the Milnrow Road/Buckstones Road junction by asking residents to remove foliage in front gardens.
Detailed letters about the proposals have been sent to local residents asking for their comments.
A public information event will take place at St James’s Parish Rooms, St James Street, Shaw, on Thursday (6.15-9.15pm).
Plans showing the entire scheme will be on display at Crompton Library, Farrow Street East, during the consultation period.
Councillor Mark Alcock, Cabinet member for the environment and infrastructure, said: “Making our communities safer is a top priority for Oldham Council.
“These detailed new plans were prompted by a number of isolated and tragic incidents.
“We actively try to do all we can as an authority to reduce the number of road accidents and our approach to this has been comprehensive — examining and assessing the potential effectiveness of every safety option that we can implement.”
He added: “These are only proposals at this stage and it is vital that we get feedback from residents in order to complete a final design that properly reflects the community’s input and needs.”
Comments
The Council dont seem to care about Road safety in Oldham. All it is concerned about is more land to sell for private housing which in turn causes more Road traffic and potential accidents to happen and the closing of our many Secondary Schools to merge in unwanted Academies which will increase traffic pollution in the affected areas concerned.
The road is safe enough,all i can say its the drivers again
Yet more talkin' about doin'. By the time Al£ock & his merry band of supersonic sloths get moving the road will have healed up! Who are this gang of 'experts' proposing to 'tackle the problem'? How much are they costing US? Too many signs & schemes is as bad as too few. They are a distraction. Make it simpler not more complex.
They will no doubt spend tens of thousands on signs etc and nothing will change. The jubilee bend was designed with horse and carts in mind, not articulated HGV's. The council take the money from the large businesses in Shaw but will not spend whats required on the road network to keep us relativley safe.
Have Your Say
Milnrow road, especially the Jubilee bend cannot take the enormous increase of articulated vehicles operating out of shaw town centre.The bend is simply too tight for them to pass safely. They either cross the solid white lines or mount the pavement with the rear axles. Anyone exiting dunwood park seriously runs the risk of being killed. I have seen and experienced the danger first hand. I have a letter from oldham highways stating the bend is safe for hgv,s to pass. Utter nonsense.
By timberwolf @ 12/10/2009 13:20:57