Decision details

Consultation response to the proposed closure of Bridge Hill, Oughtibridge

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Purpose:

The report will provide details of the consultation response to the proposed closure of Bridge Hill, Oughtibridge and set out the Council’s response.

 

Decision:

That approval be given for:-

 

(a)     the scheme to be implemented subject to further approval via the Council’s formal Capital Approval process;

 

(b)     the making of the Traffic Regulation Orders as advertised in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984;

 

(c)     those who objected to the scheme to be informed of the decision; and

 

(d)     the Lead Petitioner to be informed of the outcome of the investigation into the issue they raised.

 

Reasons for the decision:

The closure of Bridge Hill will lead to a significant reduction in the number of injury collisions occurring at the 3rd worst location for killed and serious injury (KSI) collisions and 4th worst location for injury to people on bicycles in the City.

 

Alternative options considered:

As alternatives to the proposal we investigated:-

·         Reversing the direction of the one way on Bridge Hill. The investigation showed that there is not enough visibility out of Bridge Hill into Langsett Road South for this to be safe.

·         Making all drivers turn right from Bridge Hill into Low Road. The only way to make drivers turn right at the bottom of Bridge Hill would be to build an island which physically stops them from going to Station Lane. Unfortunately because the island has to be enough space for large vehicles to turn right it wouldn’t be big enough to stop drivers from going into Station Lane.

·         Stopping drivers going ahead from Church Street into Bridge Hill. This is feasible but requires taking a large amount of non-highway green space to the west of Langsett Road North, diverting Open Reach plant and relocating a phone box. It would also only remove some of the traffic from Bridge Hill, still leaving a risk that injuries to people on bicycles and motorcycles would still happen at the junction.

·         Do nothing.  A collision analysis for the seventeen months after the five year period used in the initial analysis showed that injury collisions to people on bicycles were continuing to happen at the junction and that this is an ongoing problem which requires action in the interests of highway safety.

 

Publication date: 12/02/2020

Date of decision: 12/02/2020

Effective from: 19/02/2020

Accompanying Documents: