While we are concerned about safety at the Hillcroome Road / Kings Lane single track railway bridge, we have some concerns about proposals to change the layout of the Kings Lane bridge currently being put to our local committee by Sutton’s traffic engineers.
As your local Councillors, we have had discussions with traffic engineers about whether some simple steps could be taken to improve the safety of pedestrians and cars at the Kings Lane bridge adjacent to Hillcroome Road, at the far north east of Sutton South Ward.
The single lane road with no pavement means pedestrians have to walk in the road. Drivers have poor visibility as to whether a car is coming the other way and are frequently uncertain as to when to advance. The picture above illustrates the problem, as the lady with a buggy and a toddler hurries to get across the bridge while a car waits at the far side for her to get out of the way.
Some major restructuring such as putting in a separate pedestrian bridge is unaffordable and would be disproportionate. We have considered whether more minor improvements would help, such as mirrors, steps to improve visibility, better or different signage, building out the pavement at the Hillcroome Road end to alter the alignment of vehicles as they approach, etc. The changes we championed to the layout of the road passing under the bridge at Grange Vale (reported in a post elsewhere on this site, “Action to improve safety at the Grange Vale bridge”, see archive for February 2012) have shown that it is possible to make improvements through some simple steps.
We are interested in the views of local people on what is feasible or useful and would like you to contact us if you have a view.
The proposal to change the layout at the Hillcroome Road end to “straighten up” cars approaching from that end is worth considering but would probably have little impact on the risk. We favour more public consultation on possible proposals,
I have never heard of any accident on this bridge. Do you have any evidence of one ? I cannot help thinking that this is an invented problem. The lady with the buggy need not have hurried. I never do when on my bike.
As you know, this bridge was never intended to take motor traffic, but was provided for access to the farm (for horse & cart etc). I suggest that it be designated a pedestrian priority bridge and that appropriate road signs be erected at each end, along the lines \SLOW. PEDESTRIANS HAVE PRIORITY.\
Dear Keith
I have been reviewing the voluminous comments section on my website on the Kings Lane bridge issue and I’m not sure if i ever responded to your comment of a long time back. I put to the traffic engineers your suggestion to have a notice that said “pedestrians have priority” (very sensible suggestion) and the reply was that this would not be allowed under DfT guidance as, under the Highway Code, they already have priority. Not a good answer but I concluded i was not going to get anywhere with the idea.
There is no perfect solution to the bridge and as you say accidents are rare, but the current proposal to build out the kerb on one side is a small step.
Best wishes.
Richard
Need a mirror as you approach from the park side.
Dear Adam
I have been reviewing the comments on the Kings Lane bridge issiue on the website and I am not sure I ever replied to a comment you made a long time ago about mirrors.
The traffic engineers say mirrors are now contrary to TfL guidance as it seems they can confuse at night when cars have headlights. There is no perfect solution to the bridge problem except at disproportionate cost and I hope the latest proposal, building out the kerb on just one side, will be a small step.
best wishes.
Richard Clifton