Plans revealed for MAJOR safety improvements on Cornwall's busy A3058
Cornwall Council has launched a consultation after securing £1.1m from the Safer Roads Fund
Residents and stakeholders, including emergency services, are being asked for their views on proposals for new safety measures on a busy back road in Cornwall.
Cornwall Council has secured £1.1 million from the Safer Roads Fund for the A3058 between Quintrell Downs and Summercourt and the plan is going out to consultation.
What improvements can we expect to see on the A3058?
• Improvements to existing pedestrian refuge crossing points and new footways
• Vehicle activated signs to act as a visual cue and reminder to road users of the speed limit.
• Village gateway features to remind drivers they are entering a 30mph zone, including signs and road markings
• Widening the road at specific points to provide a filter for traffic turning right
• Bus stop improvements
The full list of improvements and the link to the consultation, which runs until November 10, can be found at the link below.
What is the Safer Roads Fund?
The government’s Safer Roads Fund was established to put in place remedial road safety measures on sections of the 50 highest risk local A-road in England as determined from a study of collisions by the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).
The funding will be used to deliver as many of the proposed road safety measures as possible, within the budget available, aiming to remove known risks and ultimately the occurrence of fatal and serious collisions and injuries over the next 20 years.
Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, Philip Desmonde, said: “We’re committed to improving the safety of the road network in Cornwall for the benefit of all road users.
“We want your views and priorities on the proposals that have been developed for the A3058, which include new footways, improved crossing points and various traffic calming features to improve road safety and prevent collisions along the route".
Councillor Dick Cole, Cornwall Council local member for St Dennis and St Enoder, said: “It is great news that money from the Safer Roads Fund has been allocated to improvements along the A3058 between Quintrell Downs and Summercourt.
"I am grateful to officers from Cornwall Council who have worked with me to prioritise measures within Summercourt, including the extension of the 30mph limit on Beacon Road, an associated vehicle-activated speed sign and signalised pedestrian crossings on the crossroads at the heart of the village.
"I am especially pleased that additional funding has also been found for a vehicle-activated speed sign further south on St Austell Street.
“I hope that the proposed measures will be welcomed by local residents and construction works will be able to commence early in 2022".
Councillor John Fitter, Cornwall Council member for St Columb Minor and Colan, said: “I welcome the consultation on the measures being planned to make the A3058 a much safer road for pedestrians, especially in the built up area of Quintrell Road south.
"This is something that residents will also welcome and I take this opportunity to thank them for all the efforts that they have made in helping us to get to this point".
When will the safety work start and finish?
Once finalised, work is due to begin in February 2022 with scheme delivery being phased to target a Summer 2023 completion, primarily due to the A3058 being a traffic sensitive route.
Traffic sensitive routes are subject to embargo dates when construction working hours are restricted to minimise disruption during peak times throughout the year.
Cornwall Council has also been successful in securing around £1.9 million from the Safer Roads Fund to deliver similar improvements on the A3071 between Penzance and St Just.
The council says a consultation on proposals for this stretch of road will be launched shortly.