It takes 7 mins to cross as a pedestrian with the lights, so
people take risks running across.
There's no safe cycle route, but it could be much safer with a few
dropped kerbs and some paint.
It is monstrous that the proposed Highways England scheme does not
take this into account.
We need a regular combined pedestrian/cyclist phase over this
dangerous junction. Also, eg:
- pavement alteration for bikes by derelict hairdresser and
opposite for bikes.
- crossing point is needed from station across to Athelstan Rd -
over just Bitterne Rd West instead
of multiple crossings.
- traffic calming needed by the concrete blocks on Bullar Rd, as
the crossing is often ignored by
vehicles.
This ePetition ran from 22/01/2019 to 23/01/2019 and has now finished.
679 people signed this ePetition.
The Bullar Road gyratory was looked at extensively as part of
the Highways England “M27 Southampton Junctions”
project. Currently there is no crossing facility for pedestrians
and cycles across the western arm (coming from Bitterne Rail
Bridge) meaning pedestrians must use the signalised crossing points
on the three other arms of the junction. It is accepted that
pedestrians do sometimes choose to cut across the western arm of
the junction to get to the bus stop and shops as opposed to waiting
for the signalised pedestrian crossing and that the pedestrian
environment and facilities are not optimal.
The focus of the Highways England (HE) project is to improve
traffic flow along the A3024 corridor in order to improve strategic
highway access into the City but not to be at the detriment of
active travel modes and public transport. The HE investigations for
improvements at the Buller Road gyratory was focussed on
improvements to traffic flow by increasing the traffic light
“green time” for Bitterne Road West and a evening peak
restriction for traffic turning right into Bullar Road – this
improved journey time benefits for A3024 traffic – including
buses. This did look at a number of options for improvements to
pedestrian crossings, with close liaison with the SCC Strategic
Transport team.
SCC Officers asked for a pedestrian crossing on the western arm of
the junction to be investigated as part of the HE scheme. To
achieve this would require a staggered crossing point to be
constructed but it was concluded that there is insufficient highway
space to fit one in that would meet safety standards. There was
also no capacity within the signal timings to accommodate the
crossing without causing significant delays to general traffic,
which would negatively impact on a core objective of the HE
project. The recommendations from the HE investigations was not to
do any pedestrian crossing changes, however to reduce demand for
people wanting to cross to get to the bus stop it was planned to
relocate the bus stop to the eastern side of the junction where it
can be accessed through the existing crossings. SCC is awaiting a
decision from HE on whether the M27 Southampton Junctions project
will be progressing and we expect to hear later in 2019.
The A3024 corridor, which includes the Bullar Road gyratory has
been identified as one of the Transforming City Fund corridors and
there is an opportunity for SCC to re-assess at the junction again
from a local highway authority perspective with local objectives
considered including improvements to bus journey times, cycling and
walking connectivity. However, any improvements to pedestrian
crossing facilities would still have to factor in the impacts to
general traffic, congestion and associated air quality impacts. In
the meantime, works are about to commence on Southampton Cycle
Network (SCN 8) which will provide a quietway alternative route
from Bitterne Village to Northam River Bridge via Quayside Road.
This scheme will provide an alternative route for some cyclists and
pedestrians who use the Bullar Road gyratory.