Extra lanes to boost safety at roundabout
The number of lanes at one of the Bath area's busiest roundabouts has been increased to a mind-boggling 14 in an attempt to reduce the accident rate.
And council chiefs are also hoping that a new stretch of bus lane at Hicks Gate at Keynsham will encourage more people to use public transport between Bath and Bristol.
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Thousands of people use the junction - where the A4 meets the A4174 - every day and there have been 38 accidents in the last five years, causing 45 injuries.
Bath and North East Somerset Council has now increased the number of lanes from 10 to 14, adjusted traffic light timings, cut the speed limit on approach roads and laid down new anti-skid surfacing.
The authority is targetting the route used by the X39 bus service as one of a number of showcase routes in which it is investing money as part of a £60 million package of schemes which also includes the controversial Bus Rapid Transit scheme and park and ride facilities at Bathampton.
Around 875,000 passengers use FirstGroup's X39 services every year.
B&NES cabinet member for transport Cllr Charles Gerrish (Con, Keynsham North) said residents in his town had been calling for improvements to the roundabout for many years.
"We believe both road users and commuters using public transport will experience improvements in traffic safety and journey times at this congestion hotspot. Another part of the council's plan to help cut traffic congestion is complete."
The operation of traffic lights at the roundabout will be coordinated with timings of signals further up the A4 at Brislington so that drivers have a smoother journey.
There is also an extra length of bus lane which will link up with the one serving the Brislington Park and Ride site.
First's managing director for Avon and Somerset, Justin Davies, said the work would help the firm give a better service to passengers.
"The investment will help bus operators and local councils improve passenger convenience and timetable reliability."
And Alan Peters, who runs the rival A-Bus firm, added: "Any initiative which benefits our passengers getting to their destination on time and makes their journey more convenient and reliable is welcome."
The Campaign for Better Transport pressure group has backed the work, saying it would improve air quality.
The showcase routes will all have raised pavements at bus stops, Tube-style real time information boards, and new bus shelters.











18 Comments
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by Ann, Bath
Tuesday, June 30 2009, 4:31PM
“Not wishing to boast but on the London Road in Bath there have been 69 accidents in the last 5 years mostly people turning right at junctions with side roads. Luckily there have been no fatalities but injuries, damage and delays have accompanied these incidents involving 10 pedestrians, 15 cyclists/motorcyclists and a mere 3 oaps !
What do B&NEs Highways suggest to help the situation ? They want to add the so called 'Bath Rapid Transit' into the mix. With even more buses trying to keep to their 12 minute timetable and hurtling down the partial in bound bus lane and with no possible outward bound bus lane, even more accidents are likely to occur. Cyclists and motorcyclists are again being squeezed out of the picture so no encouragement to take to two wheels here.
As others have suggested the millions could be invested much more wisely.”
by Bubba, bath
Tuesday, June 30 2009, 10:27AM
“Woop woop de doo. Lets not be pedantic about a few messed words. I was tired after doing a 15 hour day, well 6 were on a bus. I notice quite a few spelling mistakes on here, and even in my own posts but does it really matter, picking up on a little misreading. The article is about a 14 lanes roundabout which as you say it doesnt really need. The fact still remains that the driving standard in Bath is s%^t. Ive just seen another collision today funnily enough, no one injured but someone definatly to blame. More insurance rises for us all. I can see an RTC happening as the lanes merge going in toward Bristol as the usual arrogant driver feels that it is his road while the one not looking drives into him. Lets hope its none of you.”
by Referee, Bath
Tuesday, June 30 2009, 8:41AM
“Ding Ding, end of round one, and sorry bubba, mate, but you lost that one on points. Thomas read properly you didn't twice!
1. Sam said "is a danger not only to herself," (indicating a lady)
2. You said "As is an elderly man knocking you off." (wrong gender).
3. Thomas corrected you with " He did not say that the LADY who clipped him was playing with anything,"
4. You came back with "Thomas, you never read my post properly either, I said guy not lady" which was exactly his point! You should have said lady for "herself".
Now we have that cleared up, maybe we could depart the world of make believe and get back on topic!
Does any road really need 14 lanes???? Sounds to me like a collision/incident waiting to happen!”
by Bubba, bath
Monday, June 29 2009, 7:10PM
“Thomas, you never read my post properly either, I said guy not lady. I wasnt saying it literally, I was saying "As you state" as in that is what he said, not necasarilly what happened. Luckily for me and many other drivers, I am able to drive forward using both my feet and my hands while using my eyes to look around and take in all the information I see. It comes wirth doing 2 lgv tests and a bike test having 4 different instructors who are well trained and experienced in what to look out for. They pass on this info which I take on board and use it in my day to day life. Its called good driving. When I ride my push bike around bath and I am approaching a junction cotrolled by lights and the lights are red, why is it a car races past me nearly taking me off and then jamming their brakes on at the red light only for me to trundle along and pass them to sit at the front of the queue. Why not just hang back and overtake me once. Its because people dont look at anything other than what is right in front of their bonnets. Any Bath cyclist more than likely see's this daily. So if they knock me off, is that an accident?? Is it avoidable?? The Police do not call and accident an accident, they call it a collision. They no longer have AI's, "accident Investigator, it is a CI, Collision investigator. Funny how the very people that investigate an crash dont call it an accident, they call it a collision. I agree that not every collision can be blamed on someone. A man on his phone who kills someone, a man who falls asleep on the motorway and kills someone, a pedestrian who walks out in front of a truck, 2 drunks who drive head on into an artic, a motorbike crossing a white line and hitting someone head on, a woman who turns in front of an artic then her son gets killed, all avaoidable and wether someone meant it to happen or not isnt really a defence. Im quite sure if I killed a member of your family and said sorry it was an accident, it went to court and the judge threw it out saying it was an accident and I didnt mean it you wouldnt accept that. Someone more often than not is to blame.
I usually find that when I talk to someone about a subject and they appear sheepish that the reason is they are guilty of what I am talking about. On this subject it seems that some of you have had a collision that has been entirely your fault and that it why you are taking this attitude. For the likes of Sam, I truely feel bad for them for their experiences, I too have been in a severe head on collision when I was minding my own business. If everyone actually concentrated on what they were doing when behind a wheel "Driving", then most of these "Accidents" wouldnt occour. JM and Thomas, Good Night.”
by JM, Bath
Monday, June 29 2009, 5:46PM
“Sorry Sam, didn't intend to trivialise but the way you described it initially it didn't sound that serious. I do commiserate fully, as you may remember from posts a while back, my son was involved in two accidents on his bike, one caused by a white van (him again!) pulling out of its lane without signalling or looking, and the other by a teenager running across traffic and causing him to crash into railings. And yes, Bubba, they were "accidents" even though caused by stupidity. If you are still in any doubt, here are the dictionary definitions:
1. an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss.
2. any event that happens unexpectedly, without a deliberate plan or cause.
In other words, nobody does it on purpose!!”