Road marking upgrades at blackspots
ROAD signs and markings will be upgraded at two accident blackspots near Wetherby this autumn – a year on from when they were due to be carried out.
The Highways Agency has finally announced a timescale as to when it will modify the signs and markings at both the Whattle Syke and Grange Moor roundabouts alongside the A1 following numerous reports of serious accidents and near misses over the last 12 months.
A Highways Agency spokesman said: “Late last year, we made a number of improvements to the approaches to the roundabouts by altering the carriageway markings at Wattle Syke roundabout, installing additional permanent roundabout warning signs including ones saying 'Reduce Speed Now' and we installed three additional chevron boards to reinforce the warning to drivers of the road layout ahead.
“The 40mph speed limit signs were also moved further away from the roundabout to advise drivers to reduce their speed on the approach.
“Since then, a detailed traffic survey and assessment has been carried out to cover both Wattle Syke and Grange Moor roundabouts. Design work is currently under way on the preferred option for any additional permanent signs and changes to carriageway markings at both these roundabouts.
“We propose to undertake work to modify the signs and markings in the autumn, once the peak holiday period and Leeds Festival weekend is over.”
The news will be welcomed by hundreds of motorists from across the Wetherby district who have contacted the Wetherby News to express their concerns over current road safety at the junctions. Many have also criticised the amount of time it has taken the Government agency to announce the changes especially after it said last September how the work was due be carried out “in the near future” as reported in the Wetherby News.
Bramham resident, Ian Seth, of Folly lane said: “I have raised this matter on numerous occasions since last September with absolutely no result.
“A small fortune has been spent on tree planting etc up there but public safety at the roundabouts has been ignored.
“To go to Bramham from Wetherby at the Whattle Syke roundabout, ie the left hand lane for going straight on, is to risk death or serious injury.
“To go to Wetherby from Bramham again risks serious accident as it is impossible to see traffic coming from the Boston Spa direction due to earth banking until the very last moment.”
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Weather for Wetherby
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: West
