Speed limits are to be reduced on parts of the 35 mile stretch of the A47 from Peterborough to King’s Lynn after 118 reported injury crashes in 5 years with 234 casualties. “Safety is and will always be our number one priority; that is why our ambition remains that no-one should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads,” says Adrian Clothier of National Highways.
Mr Clothier is engineering team manager (road safety), and the proposals were announced by him in a letter published this week.
He has written to various authorities explaining that “we have identified this area as one in need of these measures based on the use of Department for Transport (DfT) collision data between 2017 and 2021. This will help contribute to a safer journey for our customers.
“The improvement has been assessed to deliver the highest reduction in serious injury and deaths at a local level, to the east region”.
He says the proposals aim to improve road safety for all road users by the introduction of a safer speed of travel for drivers “which we anticipate will reduce the frequency and severity of collisions”.
National Highways propose to implement the following speed limit reductions together with speed camera enforcement measures:
Section 1 – Between A15 Paston Parkway to Oversley Lodge roundabout (a distance of approximately 7.09km):
Reduction of the existing National Speed Limit (60mph) to 50mph,
Section 2 – Between Thorney New Cut roundabout to Thorney Toll (a distance of approximately 2.42km):
Reduction of the existing National Speed Limit (60mph) to 50mph,
Section 3 – Thorney Toll village (a distance of approximately 568m):
Reduction of the existing National Speed Limit (60mph) to 40mph,
Section 4 – Between Thorney Toll to Guyhirn (a distance of approximately 4.5km):
Reduction of the existing National Speed Limit (60mph) to 50mph,
Section 5 – Between Guyhirn to Wisbech (a distance of approximately 14km):
Reduction of the existing National Speed Limit (60mph) to 50mph,
Section 6 – Between Saddleboat Roundabout to Pullover roundabout (a distance of approximately 3.3km):
Reduction of the existing National Speed Limit (60mph) to 50mph,
“A total of 118 reported injury collisions were recorded on this route over a 5-year period with 234 casualties,” says Mr Clothier.
“Safety is and will always be our number one priority; that is why our ambition remains that no-one should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads.
“Extents of the proposed speed limits and positions of enforcement cameras are indicative at this stage and could change as a result of customer feedback and through further development of the design process.
“Proposals are still in a formative stage, and as such we would like to encourage any organisations, businesses or individuals affected to communicate their views on these proposals.
“We will endeavour to incorporate your feedback as far as practicable and subject to meeting value for money and budgetary constraints.”
You can respond to the consultation via email or post, using the subject line “PROPOSED SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION ON THE A47 PETERBOROUGH TO KINGS LYNN”:
Email: eastproactivecomms@nationalhighways.co.uk
Post: Road Safety East
National Highways
Woodlands
Manton Lane
Bedford
MK41 7LW
Your response much by received by Friday 20 September 2024.
Next steps
Following receipt of comments, National Highways will finalise design proposals and submit a Permanent Traffic Regulation Order (PTRO) application, which is the legal mechanism for implementing any permanent changes to the highway network.
A statutory notice period lasting a minimum of 21 days, where further comments can be made, will start upon the submission of the application. As part of this process, we will make information publicly available in person at local venues, as well as on a dedicated webpage.
National Highways expect to start this process in the late autumn 2024.
If significant changes are needed after the consultation stage, National Highways will restart their 21-day consultation period at a later date. Once statutory consultation exercises have been completed, further details will be shared on delivery timescale
How to find out more
To find out more about this project, please contact 0300 123 5000, or by email eastproactivecomms@nationalhighways.co.uk
To find out more about road improvements National Highways is carrying out across the East of England, please visit their website at www.nationalhighways.co.uk/our-work/east/.
