County Council secures £11.5m for four road safety improvement schemes

North Yorkshire County Council has secured more than £11.5m for road safety improvements from the Government’s Safer Roads Fund.

The money, announced by the Department for Transport, is for work to upgrade four stretches of road in the county over the next five years. The County Council submitted bids for each of the projects and has been awarded 100 per cent of the money requested.

Announcing the allocation of £100m across the country in the Safer Roads Fund, Roads Minister Jesse Norman said in a written ministerial statement: “The UK has some of the safest roads in the world, but every road death is an unnecessary tragedy. That is why the last government set out an ambitious range of further measures to enhance the safety of UK road users.”

The funding has been allocated to 50 of England’s A roads where the risk of collisions causing death or serious injury are highest, according to a list drawn up by road casualty reduction charity the Road Safety Foundation.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Highways, said:

I am road safety champion for the county, so any targeted funding for areas where there are proven road safety concerns is very much welcomed by me. This is a significant amount of money, which will be important in terms of improvements to our highways infrastructure and particularly for road safety.

Money for three of the schemes was announced this month in the second round of funding. Finance for the fourth was announced earlier in round one of the funding.

The three second round schemes are in the early stages of development and will go through the County Council’s normal design processes, which will include public consultation where necessary.

The four schemes are:

A682 Barrowford to the A65 at Long Preston (£615,000)

This funding will be available during the current financial year. Work includes:

Improved skid resistance at the junction with the B6253 and at Swinden Bends.
Crash barrier along 700m of the west side of the A682 between the junction with the B6252 and Swinden.
Improvements to visibility at the junctions with the B6253, C400 and C402.
Signing and lining improvements along the length of the route.

A684 from Leeming Bar to junction 37 of the M6 (£7.06m)

This funding will be available in 2018/19 and 2020/21 and work will include:

A complete overhaul of the one-way system in Hawes to introduce new footways, a pedestrianised area and traffic signal control.
Traffic signals at Appersett Bridge.
Amending a roundabout where the A684 meets the A6108.
Introduction of right turn lanes at Newton le Willows crossroads.
Junction improvements at Cuebeck Worton, Burtersett and Brentwood, where a new roundabout will be installed.
Traffic signal improvements at Spennithorne Bridge.
Numerous drainage, delineation, signing, kerbing, footway and skid resistance improvements.

A6108 from Ripon to Scotch Corner (£2.97m)

This funding will be available in 2020/21 and work to be completed over three years will include:

An off-road route for cyclists and pedestrians from Bellerby to Leyburn.
Improved traffic signal equipment in Richmond, along with new signals in Richmond and at Skeeby Bridge.
New lighting and an improved zebra crossing in Leyburn.
Improving and extending the crash barrier at Swale View Caravan Park, Richmond.
Junction redesign at Sharrow Lane roundabout, Ripon.
Various signing, lining, traffic calming, parking and priority system works throughout the route.

A167 Topcliffe to Carlton Miniott (£900,000)

This funding was announced in round one of the Safer Roads Fund, so is in place and much of the work has been done. The work includes:

Busby Stoop roundabout: improved signage on all approaches.
Bend north of Waters House: resurfacing with higher skid-resistant material, increased slope on the bend and improved drainage.
Bend west of River Swale bridge, Topcliffe: crash barrier and signing and lining improvements.
Allanbrooke Barracks junction: central islands and bollards to prevent overtaking and provide a safe route across the A167 for bus passengers.
Resurfacing of A167 throughout 30mph limits of Topcliffe village and at other locations where the surface is poor, to provide a quieter, safer surface.
Improved drainage throughout this section of the A167 and refreshing of signs and lining.

A report will go to the County Council’s Business and Environmental Services Executive Members on 29 June, when they will be asked formally to accept the offers of grant funding for the A682, A684 and A6108.