Tuesday 04 August 2015
Media Enquiry Island FM:
What are the perceived safety risks associated with the crossing? I have the Environment Department on record saying there were only two minor accidents in five years - this doesn't imply a huge safety risk to me.
Can we see the report which states there is a health and safety risk at the crossing?
When will the road layout be changed to two lanes and how long will it take?
What cost is associated with the initial road changes and now changing part of it back?
What will be the situation between the Weighbridge roundabout and the Crown Pier junction, will it remain with one lane dedicated to people parking on the pier and others encouraged to merge right,or will both lanes be open to those heading south again?
Environment Department Response:
When installing crossings the design and safety guidance is set out in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. This is published on the web and journalists are at liberty to read it but to assist,
DMRB, Chapter 6 Volume 5 section 2 sets out in table 6/1 that informal crossings are normally appropriate if AADT flow (two way traffic flow) are below 8,000 vehicles for a single carriageway. Potentially appropriate for traffic volumes between 8,000 - 12,000 vehicles and are not normally appropriate for traffic volumes over 12,000.
The Quay currently experiences AADT flows of approximately 18,000. Thus the starting point is that an informal crossing would not normally be appropriate in this location. However, these standards can be set aside under certain circumstances DMRB quotes these as:
• The speed limit is below the national limit;
• There are traffic signals upstream of the crossing point;
• There is a reduction in the crossing distance.
The speed limit is now set at 20mph ticking the first box. Traffic signals are present at the Crown, Albert and Fountain Street ticking box 2 and the crossing distance was planned to be reduced with the reduction from two lanes to one and the installation of a central refuge.
On this basis our traffic engineering advisors Ove Arup stated
"Therefore, an informal uncontrolled crossing would be appropriate [as proposed], with dropped kerbs and tactile paving as well as advanced signage warning oncoming traffic of a pedestrian crossing"
However, footfall also has to be taken into account and Ove Arups advice above was based on assumptions over cruise passenger footfall. The assumption was that there would be a maximum of 1,640 pedestrians using the crossing over the 4.5hrs making up the three main peak periods (07:30 to 09:00; 12:30 to 14:00; 16:30 to 18:00).
In practice pedestrian traffic is much greater on some days than others due to the size and number of ships and therefore the initial assumption of a fairly even split across all cruise liner days would not be appropriate. It was therefore estimated that a peak periods figure of approximately 3,500 (that included 2,700 movements from cruise liner passengers) should be used. In light of this actual information Ove Arups advised,
I would not be comfortable in maintaining our position that an uncontrolled crossing point is appropriate as the increased demand would likely encourage pedestrians to take risks to avoid accumulation and grouping. In this instance I would be leaning more towards a signalised approach.
It was in response to this advice (and the inability to quickly install traffic lights) that manning of the crossing commenced for the busiest periods.
Thus it can be seen that even without the high footfall from cruise ship passengers the previous crossing with two south-bound lanes was outside of the design guidance. The current crossing with a single lane each way was deemed satisfactory but not at the high pedestrian levels being experienced. Thus one can readily see how difficult it is likely to be to now keep the informal crossing with two south-bound lanes and the very high levels of footfall.
At this stage we can give no firm date for the works now proposed as we must schedule all the necessary changes and liaise with the contractors over availability but they will be carried out as soon as possible.
The original changes were carefully scheduled to coincide with major works in that area and hence they were delivered at minimal extra cost - circa £9,000. The costs to black out the existing road markings, paint new markings, relocate the previous barriers and pavement area, remove the flower boxes etc including overtime and Sunday working in order to reduce disruption from road closures on a Monday to Saturday are likely to be of the same order.
Both lanes from the Weighbridge to the Crown Pier will be available for those wishing to travel south.
Contact Information:
Steve Smith, Chief Officer
Environment Department
Tel: 717200
