A30 crash hotspot near M5 will get yellow boxes and police camera
Key Devon roads including the A38[1], A30 and M5 are set for safety improvements as part of a ?13m scheme set to start soon.
The major scheme of works, announced by National Highways yesterday, will target busy routes[2] across the South West including crash hotspots.
Among the locations on the list, National Highways has confirmed it will be installing seven yellow box junctions on the A30 around the M5[3] at junction 29 (for Exeter[4]). Advertisement Advertisement
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These will be located on both the eastbound and westbound carriageways and are the result of crashes repeatedly attributed to drivers who have ran red lights at the junction.
A spokesperson said that in the last five years, there have been 13 reported crashes on the A30[5] between the northbound off-slip road and the Science Park junction. More than 75 per cent of these incidents related to vehicles "failing to comply with red traffic signals".
The box junctions are designed to prevent vehicles causing an obstruction by queuing across the junction during busy times, meaning traffic will freely flow.
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The boxes will be enforced by police from a camera van bay, which will be installed as part of these works. Exact dates were not given for the scheme but works at the first location on the regional list, part of the A36 in Wiltshire, are due to commence next week.[6]
In addition to the work on the A30, the M5 between junction 29 and junction 31 will undergo work to close the gaps in barriers along the stretch of motorway.
Two other safety schemes in Devon are also due to be actioned this year, between Wobblywheel and Splatford on the A38 and Honiton[7] and Charmouth on the A35.
National Highways said: "These schemes range from reviewing of speed limits and speed camera systems to barrier gap closures and junction improvements." Advertisement
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Other schemes across the South West include work on the A30 between Kennards House and Five Lanes in Cornwall.
Jack Mason, South West Road Safety Manager, said: "Road safety is, and will always be, our number one priority; that is why our ambition remains that no-one should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads.
"We're always exploring ways to make our roads safer by using collision data, risk assessments and insights to better understand driver behaviour.
"The enhancements we are introducing on the A36 and A30 are targeted works and just the beginning of improvements this year, aiming to reduce the number of people harmed on the region's roads.
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"Our roads are a vital part of everyone's lives, and we'll never stop exploring ways to improve on safety and reliability.
"Along with our targeted safety work, as part of the Government's Third Road Investment, we will be working hard to maintain all of our roads and ensure they are kept in a safe and reliable condition."