HIGHWAYS chiefs say new crossings being installed in Lichfield will improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists near a busy roundabout.
Staffordshire County Council will start work on the new facilities near the Bowling Green roundabout.
One will be installed close to Friary Road to provide access to and from the pub, with another installed on Friary Road itself near to the junction approach.
The work – which is expected to take six weeks to complete – is being funded by Persimmon Homes.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for strategic highways Cllr Mark Deaville said:
“This developer-funded scheme will significantly improve pedestrian safety on the Bowling Green roundabout, with two new crossing installed.
“While work takes place there will be some disruption due to necessary traffic management so we’d like to thank people in advance for their patience.”
The improvements will also include new road markings, signals, signage, resurfacing and improved footways with tactile paving installed.
There will also be temporary traffic management measures in place during the period of the roadworks, including overnight closures.
The project will be followed by another on the Cappers Lane roundabout which will see non-signalled crossing points installed on the northbound approach and on the Europa Way junction.
The work on that scheme is expected to start in mid-March and be completed by the start of May.
More details about the proposed works are available on the Staffordshire County Council website.
Not before time.
Can any Cllr. perhaps also comment as to whether the necessary same safety measures are on the cards at one of the busiest junctions in Lichfield that of St. John Street/Birmingham Road that is used extensively by pedestrians, school children in particular, where, other than a pedestrian refuge, there is no pedestrian crossing and you take your life into your hands and why there is no right filter lane in either direction for vehicles?
Two pedestrian crossings on a roundabout! Absolutely dangerous for motorists and a potential bottleneck. Did they do a traffic census to determine how many pedestrians actually cross the road to get to the pub that’s been there donkeys years without serious incidents. The money would be better spent on repairing potholes.
I don’t understand why Persimmon Homes are financing this. Is it part of a development in that area? Is it in order to curry favour with the councils. Developers are not philanthropists.
Perhaps while their wallets are open they could create a proper crossing by Friasgate. You dice with death on that St John Street crossing.
I’m all for safety but sticking the puffin crossing right on the island seems a bit dodgy to say the least. Drivers will be coming around the bend wondering which lane to be in; then being confronted with a crossing. It’s a tough call as cannot think of any where better.
Am I the only person who doesn’t understand how the work shown on the Staffs County Council website relates to the description of the works shown above at the Bowling Green roundabout and Friary Road ?
Having used the Friary area for parking for over 40 years, is there a need for this type of pedestrian crossing? as I’ve witnessed not a lot of pedestrian activity around the island over the years.
If it’s all about safety ? Filling more potholes would suffice ? If Persimmon homes are paying they must they must be thinking of MORE houses being built round there if there’s any green areas left ? SAD
One of the most dangerous is the Greenhill crossing by the Lee Garden. Big groups of pedestrians waiting on a narrow footpath by a blind corner and when the lights for them go green, you get half way across before it goes red! And I’m a relatively speedy sixty-something!
AnnaS has it spot on, it’s a horrendous junction st St John Street/Birmingham Road as a pedestrian, especially with the hoardings around ‘Kennings’ site. Anyone who is not athletic will struggle to cross the road in the few seconds between traffic light changes. Drivers failing to indicate when turning left does not help, it’s been the cause of a number of very near misses.
The lack of right turn filters at the lights is an issue, that is only going to get worse as the council continues to expand Lichfield housing without suitable improvements to infrastructure.
The council appears to more interested in more housing/increased council tax revenue rather than anything else.
Sadly all these comments are par for the course. Councillors who haven’t got a clue and are unable to think ideas through. Officers who are either of similar quality or frightened to express valid opinions and advice to councillors or have more likely given up after years of useless political leadership. And now……councillors are letting the developers make decisions based upon….what? The vast majority of us living in Lichfield still naively think that our Council will do the best and the right things for our city, our young people and for us all. What have we done so wrong to be seemingly forever saddled with such a useless shower of so called leaders? Do they ever walk around the place to see what is going on? Do they ever talk to people other than their like minded mates? Do they ever wonder why they are so regularly roundly criticised on Lichfield Live? Or is it that they just know that they are always right and always know what is best for us mugs who have voted or not for them?