‘Death trap’ Scunthorpe junction to get road safety improvements

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A junction described as a “death trap” where a garden wall has twice been smashed to pieces in crashes will get a major safety upgrade, it was announced today.

Following a campaign by residents and ward councillors, Ashby Councillors Max Bell, Andrea Davison, Mick Grant and Judith Matthews announced that North Lincolnshire Council highways officers have delivered letters to local residents, proposing to make overdue road safety improvements focused on the junction of Grange Lane South and Bransdale Road in Scunthorpe.

Speaking to Scunthorpe Live in October after there were two crashes within two weeks, resident Eric Maw said: “Somebody’s going to get killed, and I don’t want it to be me.”

Mr Maw’s garden wall was smashed to pieces in one crash. Campaigners have suggested traffic-calming measures to slow the speed at which drivers approach the junction, while others have called for barriers. The current plan is for better lighting and signage.

Cllr Andrea Davison said: “The junction of Bransdale Road and Grange Lane South has been the site of many accidents over the years. We have consistently asked for additional signage as the road layout is not always clear to drivers, and too many are illegally turning right off Grange Lane South. The revised signage is long overdue.”

A road sign that was struck in a crash in Bransdale Road, Scunthorpe
(Image: Donna Clifford/GrimsbyLive)

Councillor Judith Matthews said: “There have been numerous major traffic collisions on Grange Lane South recently, and this issue is rightly very important to residents. After significant pressure and press coverage in the BBC and Scunthorpe Telegraph, we are thrilled that North Lincolnshire Council have finally agreed to take overdue action to make the area safer.

“We would encourage residents to closely read the consultation documents sent by highways staff, alongside the letter Max and I have written. The proposal doesn’t include every measure we put forward on behalf of residents, but we believe it’s a positive start and we strongly support the measures.”

Councillor Max Bell added: “Judith and I hope that the new road markings, wider hatched area, improved lighting, repainted yellow lines, and more than a dozen new road signs (including reminding drivers of the ban on right-turns on to Bransdale Road) will help tackle the unacceptable dangers residents have been forced to suffer for years.

“If these measures don’t deliver the road safety improvements we want, then we will go back to North Lincolnshire Council and lobby them to revisit the additional proposals to consider making Bransdale Road one-way, installing a new traffic island near Westerdale Road, and physical barriers on the corner of the junction.”

Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe

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‘Death trap’ Scunthorpe junction to get road safety improvements

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