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Property and Infrastructure

Gilwilly Access Improvement Penrith, Cumbria,

Road Safety Audit (Stage 3)

November 2015

Contents 1. Introduction 2 2. Road Safety Audit Team 3 3. Site inspection 3 4. Scope of Road Safety Audit 3 5. Declaration 4 6. Site Specific Comments and Recommendations 5

Appendices

Appendix A - Figure 1 - Reference Plans

Notice: This report has been prepared for the exclusive use of Cumbria County Council and unless otherwise agreed in writing by Cumbria County Council or Capita Ltd, no other party may use, make use of or rely on the contents of the report. No liability is accepted by Capita Ltd for any use of this report, other than the purposes for which it was originally prepared and provided. Opinions and information provided in the report are on the basis of Capita Ltd using due skill, care and diligence in preparation of the same and no explicit warranty is provided as to their accuracy. It should be noted and it is expressly stated that no independent verification of any of the documents or information supplied to Capita Ltd has been made.

Document History:

Project Ref: CS072479 Document Ref: Gilwilly Access Improvement, Penrith, Cumbria

Rev Description Originator Checker Reviewer Authorised Date

0 RSA 3 RA KJ BB GO 20.11.2015

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Gilwilly Access Improvement, Penrith. Road Safety Audit Stage 3

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1. Introduction

A Stage 3 Road Safety Audit for the scheme was commissioned by Richard Arnott, Senior Engineer, Capita, on behalf of Cumbria County Council. The scheme comprises of junction improvements associated with the Gilwilly Industrial Estate Access Improvement Scheme. A Road Safety Audit is defined in Standard HD 19/15 as "The evaluation of Highway Improvement Schemes during design and at the end of construction (preferably before the scheme is open to traffic) to identify potential road safety problems that may affect any users of the highway and to suggest measures to eliminate or mitigate those problems. The audit process includes the accident monitoring of Highway Improvement Schemes to identify any road safety problems that may occur after opening.” The procedures and practices associated with Road Safety Audits are set out in Standard HD 19/15 and the CIHT Road Safety Audit Guidelines. The main procedural and practice features recommended in these documents include:

• Road Safety Audits should be undertaken at pre-set times in a schemes planning and implementation;

• Road Safety Audits should be performed by a team which is independent of the design team;

• The Audit Team should have specialist expertise in the fields of Road Safety Engineering and Accident Investigation and Prevention;

• Road Safety Audits should be carried out with the purpose of identifying design and/or construction features which should be modified in the interests of road safety and should seek to provide constructive recommendations as to how any design or construction difficulties can be resolved; and

• The Audit should be carried out on the basis of the information supplied to the Audit Team and should only address matters that have an adverse bearing on road safety in the context of the chosen design, with no attempt to comment on the justification or appropriateness of the chosen scheme.

In addition to the above features, Standard HD19/15 includes a model illustrating the recommended layout of the report document. In view of the above points, no responsibility for the design or construction of the scheme can be accepted by the Auditors. It is also confirmed that this is a Stage 3 Audit, i.e. one carried out on a completed design.


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2. Road Safety Audit Team The Audit Team consisted of:

Glynn Olive, M.SoRSA (Team Leader) Highway Safety Coordinator, Capita, Blackburn Bryn Buck, AMIHE Traffic Engineer, Traffic, Capita, Blackburn Observer :-

Tim Coates, Highway Network Officer Highways, Environment & Community Services, Cumbria County Council, Skirsgill Depot, Penrith, Cumbria. CA10 2BQ.

3. Site Inspections

A site visit was made at this concept design stage. The Road Safety Audit was conducted at the offices of Capita.

Day/Date Time Light Weather Conditions

Wednesday 18th Nov. 2015

Wednesday 18th Nov. 2015

13.30 – 1600 hrs

17.00-17.50hrs

Daylight

Darkness

Rain and wind.

Rain and wind

4. Scope of Road Safety Audit 4.1 This Audit reviews, from the Road Safety aspect the following proposed changes:- (i) Provision of new “Toucan” crossing on the A592 Ullswater Road.

(ii) Changes to the existing road layout including two small roundabouts and improvements to cycle and pedestrian facilities at the existing roundabout at the A592 Ullswater Road. (iii) Replacement of existing and introduction of new street furniture, including traffic signs and street lighting columns. These changes have taken place at the following locations:

• B5288 Newton Road junction with Gilwilly Road.

• B5288 Newton Road junction with Haweswater Road.

• A592 Ullswater Road junction with Haweswater Road and Clifford Road

4.2 No departures or relaxations from standard have been declared.


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5. Declaration

We confirm that this Road Safety Audit has been undertaken on proposed works at the time of the site visits in accordance with the recommended procedures and represents an independent assessment of the road safety implications of the scheme following its construction.

No member of the Road Safety Audit team has been involved in scheme design.

Audit Team Leader Glynn Olive, M.SoRSA Highway Safety Coordinator Capita Property and Infrastructure 17 Preston New Road Blackburn BB2 1AU

19th November 2015

Signed Date

Audit Team Member

Bryn Buck, AMIHE Traffic Engineer, Capita Property and Infrastructure 17 Preston New Road Blackburn BB2 1AU

Gilwilly Access Improvement, Penrith. Road Safety Audit Stage 3.

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6. Site Specific Comments and Recommendations

6.1 Problem. Location: A592, Junction Haweswater Road.

Summary: Pedal cyclists following the shared foot/cycleway from south of Haweswater Road, meet that junction at an ‘End’ of cycleway, where they are effectively forced to turn left into Haweswater Road as they are unable to rejoin the A592 without crossing Haweswater Road at the pedestrian refuge. Risk of serious injury to a cyclist in collision with a left turning large goods vehicle Recommendation: Ensure a safe route is provided for a cyclist to cross the mouth of Haweswater Road.

6.2 Problem. Location: A592 Northbound, north of Haweswater Road.

Summary: Inadequate on road cycleway. The cycleway width is below standard despite there being a large hatched area by the central refuge. There is a risk that a driver will not anticipate a cyclist being outside of the below standard lane and collide with them causing serious injury. Recommendation: Change the cycle lane width to standard, and as necessary reduce the centre hatched area.


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6.3 Problem. Location: A592 Northbound, north of Haweswater Road.

Summary: The approach to the Cumbrian Food Centre features a Cycle Way but the entrance itself does not feature an edge line marking (Diag.1010 Traffic Signs Manual Ch.5). Nor does the Cumbrian Food Centre have an advance direction sign indicating the dedicated exit. This along with the lack of edge line could cause a driver to miss the exit until the last possible moment and collide with a cyclist continuing along the A592. Recommendation: When widening the cycle lane, provide an edge line for the exit and an advance destination sign for the food centre.

6.4 Problem. Location: A592 Northbound, north of Clifford Road.

Summary: The signal controlled crossing at this location had significant signs of ponding adjacent to the tactile paving. Pedestrians using this facility may chose to cross adjacent to the safe crossing point if deterioration occurs further putting them at risk of injury with a vehicle. The Rotating Tactile Device on the eastern side of the crossing had failed placing visually impaired pedestrians at risk of injury. Ponding also occurs at the drop kerb crossings for cyclist and pedestrians on Clifford Road, due to the crossings being ‘at level’ with no minimum upstand.

Recommendation: Address the ponding at this location and repair the Rotating Tactile Device at the crossing.


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6.5 Problem. Location: A592 Ullswater Road, opposite Clifford Road

Summary: The ‘Town Centre’ sign is masked by northbound traffic, particularly for drivers leaving the North Lakes Hotel. The sign is at a low level and placed on the opposite side of the dual carriageway. If the sign was on the eastern side of the northbound carriageway there would be a risk of a driver turning the ‘wrong’ way into traffic with resultant injury form a head on collision. Recommendation. Retain the sign in its current location but place on a pole in excess of two metres to make it more visible


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6.6 Problem. Location: A592 Ullswater Road South, roundabout with Haweswater Road.

Summary: The direction sign is angled in such a way that drivers are only able to see it fully when they are committed to leaving at that exit. The sign is so low to the ground that grass is starting to cover the base. Any reduction in summer maintenance would make this worse. A driver may make a sudden change of direction on the roundabout resulting in a collision. Recommendation. Improve the angle of the sign; raise it higher for greater visibility. The location will not affect driver’s visibility on the northern approach to the roundabout.

6.7 Problem. Location: Haweswater Road approaching B5288 Newton Road

Summary: On the approach to the roundabout is a large advance direction sign and roundabout sign; however as a distraction to these there is a large advertising sign on the verge in the foreground. Such a distraction could result in an ‘overshoot’ type collision. Recommendation. Remove the distraction and keep the highway verge free from obstruction. Also the LGV restriction sign on the opposite lamp column is turned around and in foliage.

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6.8 Problem. Location: Newton Road westbound, Castletown M6 overbridge.

Summary: West of the M6 overbridge is the change of speed limit (30/40mph) and the Penrith Gateway signs for eastbound traffic. The nearside sign obstructs the advance direction sign behind; there is a risk of a driver braking suddenly closer to the right turn causing a shunt type collision with resultant injury. LGV over 7.5T restriction signs are placed on the ‘wrong’ side of each carriageway in places where they are easily masked by opposing traffic Recommendation. Place the advance direction sign, in advance of the reverse of the Gateway sign; place the 7.5T restriction signs in clearly visible locations on the correct side of the carriageway.


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6.9 Location: Newton Road Castletown M6 overbridge.

Summary: Blocked gullies on the bridge increase the risk of surface water and particularly freezing water on an exposed overbridge with an increased risk of a loss of control collision. Recommendation. Maintain the gullies to a safe standard.

6.10 Location: Newton Rd. with Haweswater Rd. and Newton Rd. with Gilwilly Rd. roundabout

Summary: ‘Beany’ block type drains have been used as kerb lines at the ‘new’ roundabouts, at each end is a large maintenance access to clear the gullies, but in the centre of each length is a small access. The maintaining agent raised this as an issue that they would not be able to perform routine maintenance. Should that be the case then there would be a risk of flooding and freezing in winter on the roundabouts. This could result in a loss of control due to sideways forces resulting in a collision and injury.

Recommendation. Provide serviceable maintenance access to unblock the gullies.


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6.11 Location: Newton Rd. east of Gilwilly Rd roundabout. Summary: There is a loose access cover in the highway which all vehicles are striking, this may fail or be lifted into the path of a following vehicle particularly a two wheeler causing injury.

Recommendation. Effect a permanent reinstatement.

6.12 Location: Newton Rd. junction with Gilwilly Rd roundabout.

Summary: There are drain gratings on the shared cycle/footway which are suitable for highway with large openings which could easily trap a heel causing a pedestrian to trip possibly falling into a cyclist’s path. This was of particular concern to the maintaining authority.

Recommendation. Use a more suitable product.


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Road Safety Audit During Darkness 6.13 Problem. Location: Newton Road, east of Gilwilly Road.

Summary: New L.E.D. street lighting columns have been installed in tree canopy. During darkness there are intermittent levels of lighting which will be exacerbated when the canopy is in full ‘leaf’. This variable lighting level could mask a pedestrian or cyclist. Recommendation. Cut back the canopy on these self seeded trees in the property adjacent to the highway.

Throughout the scheme street lighting was good with no issues other than individual sign lights and lighting columns defective as below. Both ‘new’ roundabouts were effectively illuminated with the overrun areas clearly visible during day and night time conditions even in heavy rain. Lighting defects.

• Turn left arrow, Newton Rd eastbound Gilwilly junction roundabout.

• No Vehicles over 7.5T sign, S176 Newton Road eastbound. (and reverse end of restriction)

• A592 southbound adjacent to Skirsgill Gardens, column 2072.


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Other Concerns Raised by the Maintaining Agent. A concern was raised by the maintaining authority that the overrun areas of the two new roundabouts on Newton Road were beginning to lose some of the surface treatment. There were signs of material about on the highway adjacent to the overruns, but the edges of the overrun treatment were undamaged and there was no loose material on the overruns themselves. 44 tonne vehicles were observed for some time using the roundabouts and their tyres were seen to scrub the surface but there was no debris produced. The material adjacent to the roundabouts appears to be excess material used at the time of laying the surface and should be removed by mechanical sweeper.


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From a complaint to the maintaining authority regarding the ‘lay-by’ adjacent to the westbound Newton Road, that drivers were parking there causing the occupants of the address to reverse into the carriageway. No vehicles were seen to park there during the audit, day or night time, but even with a parked car there is more than enough room to reverse around it. Consideration may be given to marking the marked route in the image below for pedestrians and cyclists to dissuade parking adjacent in the future.

Reference Documents.

General Arrangements for each location.


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Figure 1. Reference plan.

A592


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Haweswater Roundabout


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Gilwilly Roundabout