Following my previous posting on the disappointing safety study by the Highways Agency I see there was another accident today on the A12 Southbound at East Bergholt, which caused delays as far back as Copdock Mill roundabout. How many more accidents will there need to be before they finally take action?
Here is the link to the EADT article on the A12 safety study:
The Highways Agency have now published the results of the safety study of the A12 between East Bergholt and Stratford St. Mary which they carried out at our request. As a result of the study the Highways Agency has said it will not put in average speed cameras along the road, in spite of the high number of accidents. Nor will it lower the speed limit. It is intending, however, to close the gaps in the central reservation at Hughes Corner – the B1068 junction to Higham and at Squirrells Hall LaneThis will not find favour with Stratford St. Mary residents who live along the route of the diverted traffic. The road to Higham from Stratford is also very narrow.Earlier this year we surveyed around 400 households in the villages of Stratford St. Mary, Holton St. Mary and Higham. We received 140 replies. Here are the responses:
Question 1 Would you support a 50mph limit on the A12 from Stratford St. Mary to EastBergholt?Yes 70% No 25% No opinion 5%Question 2 Would you support a right turn ban at the B1068 Higham turning?Yes 81% No 6% No opinion 13%
Question 3 Would you support a ban on Heavy Goods Vehicles overtaking on this sectionof road?Yes 69% No 19% No opinion 12%
How many accidents will it take for the Highways Agency to act here? There are so many parallels with the campaign for the A12 underpass at Capel St. Mary. Sue Carpendale and I were constantly being told that there hadn’t been enough accidents. In the end 6 people died before the underpass construction was complete.
I find it hard to believe that the Highways Agency are planning to put traffic lights on two of the slip roads at Copdock Mill Roundabout. If they want to increase the flow of traffic there they should be lengthening these slip roads instead of further slowing the passage of vehicles by installing lights.I objected strongly to their earlier redesign which would have forced Ipswich bound traffic into the outside line of the A12 on the southern approach to the roundabout. This would have led to even longer tailbacks. They have based their redesign on 2003 traffic data as they have nothing later than this.
Their current barmy idea is to put traffic lights on the Westbound slip road from the A12 to the A14 (Westbound) and from the A1214 to the A14 (Eastbound). So the battle to get some sensible improvements to this roundabout will continue.In the meantime many people avoid using the roundabout altogether and travel through the local villages, much to the inconvenience of the people who live there.