New technology to improve the A500 / A34 Hanford roundabout for all users
| Published: 7th February 2008 18:35 |
Highways Agency supports local school's 'walking bus' of pupils
Work at the A500 / A34 Hanford Roundabout to improve traffic flows, increase safety, and reduce congestion, started on Monday 4 February and will take approximately 25 weeks to complete.
The work will install a MOVA (Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation) traffic signal system, which uses electronic sensors to adjust traffic light signals in response to changing traffic flows, to the roundabout. At the same time, the existing pedestrian underpass will be closed and new road-level pedestrian and cycling crossings and facilities will be installed to improve safety at this busy roundabout.
These improvements are being provided in conjunction with improvement work being carried out by Stoke on Trent City Council at the A34 Mayne Street junction, which is also providing traffic signals to improve traffic flows and pedestrian facilities. These two schemes are complementary and the two sets of traffic signals will work in tandem with one another.
The Agency has also worked closely with St Teresa's Catholic Primary School and will be providing the 'walking bus' organisers with a fob that will override the new traffic signals at crossing points to assist the pupils while they are making their journeys.
Highways Agency project manager, Karen Green, said;
"The Highways Agency and Stoke on Trent City Council have been working closely to bring forward these two safety and improvement schemes together. The work has been scheduled to overlap which will limit any delays to drivers and, when completed, the two schemes will also complement one another to provide improved experiences for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
"In particular, we have been liaising with St Teresa's Catholic Primary School regarding their 'walking bus' of pupils that crosses Hanford Island, and we will be providing the 'walking bus' organisers with a fob that will override the new traffic signals at crossing points to assist their journey and make it safer."
Headmaster of St Teresa's, Peter Thorpe, said:
"We have been lobbying for improved pedestrian facilities at Hanford Island for some time now in order to encourage parents to walk children to school, and we are delighted that these improvements are now being made. The new walkways at road level will provide a much safer and more pleasant route."
Cllr Mervin Smith, Stoke-on-Trent City Council portfolio holder for regeneration said:
"This is a great improvement to help all road users. Pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and especially bus users will benefit. Our scheme to improve the Mayne Street / Stone Road junction will greatly reduce delays at this important intersection. By working closely with the Highways Agency we will also improve traffic lights and traffic flows at the Hanford Roundabout and help do away with the unpopular subways."
To limit any delays to drivers, the majority of carriageway work will be carried out during daytime off peak hours from 9.30am to 3.30pm, and all resurfacing will be done overnight when traffic flows are at their lowest. The scheme will have no impact on drivers using the A500 through route.
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