The busy A37 from Whitchurch to Farrington Gurney will be the first road to benefit from a pioneering approach by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s engineers to improve road safety along an entire road corridor.
This initiative involves assessing collision data along the whole road length, enabling the Council to produce a single integrated programme of work.
As a result, the Council is able to weigh up the costs and benefits that will arise from the proposed works.
The works are anticipated to reduce traffic speeds, cut accidents, save lives, protect pedestrians and save the public purse over £614,000.
Not only does this approach maximise value for money for the Council tax payer it allows for works to be co-ordinated in way to minimise disruption to the traveling public. It is likely to become a blueprint for future road improvements across the area.
In response to concerns from local residents, parish councils and ward councillors, the Council’s Road Safety Team has been working with the community and Avon and Somerset Police to research and develop road safety solutions along the A37.
The road carries over 18,000 vehicles per day and has seen 90 collisions across a five year period.
Over the next two years, £138,000 worth of road safety engineering work will be carried out, vegetation cut back, signage improved, lines repainted and a 30 mph speed limit through all villages – right through the A37 corridor – covering the 8 mile length of road from Whitchurch to Farrington Gurney.
It is estimated that this safety work could cut the number of road collisions by more than a quarter – and lead to a cost saving to society of more than £614,000 per year; through reduced need for accident and emergency services to respond to such incidents (such as police, fire, ambulance and hospital services).
Cllr Anthony Clarke (Conservative, Lansdown), Cabinet Member for Transport said: “Public safety of both pedestrians and drivers are of paramount importance to the Council.
“By planning improvements at accident cluster sites along the entire road corridor we can ensure that we target our resources to most effectively reduce collisions, and manage speeds across this part of the network especially in the villages.
“In order to minimise disruption to road users the engineers will also complete routine maintenance alongside improvement projects which will also include coordinating a programme of road resurfacing work.”
Councillor Tim Warren, (Conservative, Mendip), Leader of the Council said, “The A37 is one of our busiest roads carrying over 18,000 vehicles daily. I would like to thank the Police and Ward Councillors who have been instrumental in supporting us to develop this scheme.
“By working closely together, we have been able to come up with a new approach to saving lives across an entire road network. I see this integrated approach, working with the community– who best understand the local issues, as a model for future road safety schemes and projects to tackle congestion.”
As work progresses along the A37, Council officers will continue to monitor accident data, work closely with Ward and Parish councillors to keep local people informed of the works and to minimise disruption to residents as well as linking closely with the police to ensure that road users comply with the new speed limits.
To see a large diagram map of where the works could take place, subject to review, click here.
Officers have already carried out a review of collision data along the main roads throughout Bath and North East Somerset and hope that the evidence available and identification of possible schemes will maximise the authority’s opportunity to secure Department for Transport funding to support this important area of their work.
