The resident's picture of the way the junction is currently.
* Their interpretation of the many ways pedestrians and drivers will have to assess the re-modelled junction before negotiating it.
A Llangollen resident has voiced concerns that the work currently
being carried out to re-shape the junction of Hill Street and the A5 could be “very
dangerous” for pedestrians.
Contractors for the county council and working on
behalf of the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent moved in on January 9 to
begin a six-week programme at the busy junction.
This will include the creation of three new
signalised crossings.
Two of these will be on the A5, one from the
front of number 4 Berwyn Street to the side of the Armoury, and the second from
the front of M’Eating Point to the front of the Welsh Methodist Chapel.
The third crossing will be on Castle Street,
near the A5 junction, running from the side of the chapel to the front of the
shop opposite.
The priority of the junction of Hall Street and
Hill Street will be amended, with the existing island there being removed. A
new uncontrolled crossing will run between the Armoury and the Grapes.
There will be a new stop-line position marked on
the A5 in front of the junction.
The concerned resident, after a long study of the issue but does not wish to be named, says they have expressed their fears about the work to the county council and the Welsh Government.
They explained: “I've been trying to raise concerns for over a
year. I have just been passed around. I was told the plans would be revised.
They haven't been.
“I have now been forwarded to the Welsh Government but they
won't be back for comment for 15 days. It's too late then. Plans need to
be changed now.
“Pedestrians crossing from bottom of
Hill Street will have to look for traffic coming from five directions at any one
time from a 315-degree radius, on a very busy junction.
“As it is at the moment it can be dangerous to cross to the
island, having to assess for traffic from three directions, the other two being
on other side of island as the current layout is now.
“People are limited to concentrate on only a few things at any
one time. Putting this fact in a scenario for pedestrians to cross the road is
very dangerous.
“It is dangerous because not only will the pedestrians have to assess
dangers from five possible directions but also and a driver will have to assess
vehicles and pedestrians from five possible directions. Drivers will fail to
see pedestrians crossing if they are concentrating on traffic from four directions.
“To add, the crossing will be longer than what it currently is
now.”
The resident added: "The 'keep clear' area will get blocked as
there is only space for one car in front of the traffic lights (which already
partially blokes the exit from Hill St).
"With a flow of traffic, I doubt very
much that vehicles will wait for the space in front of lights to clear before
they proceed to it. It is inevitable that when the lights turn red that at
least one car will be in the 'keep clear' area, blocking off exit and
entrance.
"In the new plans there will be no space for
vehicles caught in the 'keep clear' area to move to, in turn completely
blocking the junction every time the lights are red. I think there should be a box junction instead
of 'keep clear'.
"I also think it is vital that a pedestrian refuge island is placed halfway across the crossing at bottom of
Hill St crossing."
* Llanblogger has asked the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent to comment. A spokesperson said: "The correspondent will receive a reply to his
letter/e-mail very soon. We won’t be providing a separate response."
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