New high visibility signs and barriers have been put up along a notorious stretch of a riverside road near Christchurch.
The signs and hazard warning checker board, at the Upwell Road and Sixteen Foot Road junction, have been installed thanks to fund raising and pressure from Fenland Road Safety campaign - Charlotte’s Way.
Also temporarily on the riverbank are eight posts awaiting strength testing to work out the best combination for design and foundation for a potential safety barrier in the area in the future.
Graham Chappell said the additions were a: “Welcome step forward for safety at this notorious junction, though the principle hazard of poor visibility when accessing the junction will remain as long as the brick barn continues to stand so close to the roadside and the junction.
“The possibility of installing a safety barrier on the riverbank at the junction head, is under consideration, as requested by Christchurch Parish Council and FRSC Charlotte’s Way.”
However it is not a funded or approved proposal, he said, and is only being tested for technical feasibility at this stage.
Ruth Raper, project engineer for local infrastructure and street management at Cambridgeshire County Council, said; “As part of the Christchurch local highway improvement application we will shortly be undertaking some feasibility studies for a vehicle restraints system at the junction of Upwell Road and Sixteen Foot Bank.
“These works are purely for investigation purposes and will involve the installation of eight posts of varying sizes.
“These will remain in place for seven days to allow the foundations to set and a push/pull test will then be undertaken to establish which foundation and post combination may be suitable.
“At this point all posts will be removed and the site will be returned as existing.
“It is important to note that funding has not been secured for the installation of any vehicle restraint system at this location and that this test is being carried out to help inform any future design works if funding does become available.”
Next on the list to improve safety is to find a way to make a dilapidated barn less of a hazard.
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