DELAY TO REOPENING OF SPRING LANE BRIDGE….PEDESTRIAN DEATHS IN LONDON ‘SECOND LOWEST SINCE RECORDS BEGAN’….IAM PHOTO COMPETITION FOR BIKERS
DELAY TO REOPENING OF SPRING LANE BRIDGE
Unexpected ground conditions and associated challenges mean that the Spring Lane bridge will remain closed for longer than previously anticipated, say Croydon council.
The revised timetable sees the bridge, which crosses Tramlink lines, reopening on Monday July 28th..
“The principal reason for the delay has been the need to redesign the bridge foundations” said a Croydon council spokesman. “.As a consequence, a redesign of ducting carrying essential BT cabling across the bridge was required.
“Engineers from the council have had regular meetings with representatives of contractor Jackson Civil Engineering, both sides pulling together to see the completion of the works, and reopening of the bridge, at the earliest opportunity.”
Cllr Kathy Bee, cabinet member for transport and environment, said: “These important and necessary works are the responsibility of Transport for London, and, unfortunately, unexpected circumstances mean they’re taking longer than planned.
“The council is doing all it can to mitigate the effects, including the banning of all non-urgent roadworks in the area, arranging amendments to traffic light timings, and encouraging the use of alternative routes.
“While the delay means there will be an overlap of these works with the closure of Tennison Road bridge, the long-term benefits to local people and all who use both these bridges outweigh the unavoidable inconvenience they experience while the replacement work is carried out.
“Where practicable, 24-hour working is going ahead, with the aim of getting the task completed as soon as possible.
“This has been something of a learning curve for all concerned and the lessons will be taken onboard, particularly those concerning the sequencing of construction programming, and the certification of design elements.”
TfL will be distributing explanatory leaflets to all homes in the area.
Mobile electronic signs will continue in situ, giving motorists advance notice of the closures.
Alternative routes are being suggested by the council.
For those wishing to use Tennison Road Bridge, the official diversion is:
• Selhurst Road, High Street and Portland Road.
Alternatively:
• Selhurst Road, Northcote Road, Whitehorse Road, St James’s Road, Lower Addiscombe Road, Morland Road, Woodside Green, Portland Road.
• In order to ease congestion and increase traffic flow for the road network within the proximity of Tennison Road bridge, Carmichael Road has been made one-way and local traffic management is in place.
For those wishing to use Spring Lane bridge, the official diversion is:
• Woodside Green, Morland Road, Lower Addiscombe Road. (Source: Croydon council press release)
PEDESTRIAN DEATHS IN LONDON ‘SECOND LOWEST SINCE RECORDS BEGAN’
The number of people killed and seriously injured on London’s roads fell 23 per cent during 2013 to its lowest level since records began, say the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL).
The figures, which cover the period between January and December 2013, also show that the total number of road casualties in London also fell by around five per cent to its lowest ever level.
A new road safety plan ‘Safe Streets for London’, published in June last year, set out a clear path towards helping to reduce death and serious injury on the capital’s roads, say TfL.
“Earlier this year, the mayor and TfL made six key commitments which, working with a range of partners, are guiding a programme of work to improve road safety across London.
“Last year TfL carried out a wide range of road safety initiatives across London, including providing safety training for children at hundreds of schools, upgrading key junctions for all road users and funding enforcement activity with the Metropolitan Police.
“This included working closely with the Met to enforce road safety through Operation Safeway, which will continue this year and run twice a month on unannounced days, with up to 1,000 police officers stationed simultaneously at around 100 junctions.
“Earlier this year, TfL also announced world leading trials of pedestrian detection technology at crossings in central London.
“With 550 pedestrian crossings at 200 locations across 30 London boroughs already equipped with ‘pedestrian countdown’ technology, later this summer TfL will be trialling ‘pedestrian scoot’ – state-of-the-art video camera technology to automatically detect how many pedestrians are waiting at crossings.
“TfL is also set to roll out trials of detection equipment on London buses to help drivers be more aware of pedestrians and cyclists near their vehicles, which if successful could be rolled out across London’s 8,700 buses.
“The reduction in the total number of people killed and seriously injured during 2013 now means that London remains on track to achieve the Mayor’s road safety target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on London’s roads by 40 pc by 2020 (from a 2005-09 baseline), with 2013 progress meaning that London is now 36 pc below the 2005-09 average.
The road safety data from 2013 also shows:
There were 132 fatalities on London’s roads in 2013, the second lowest number since records began, with fatalities involving pedestrians down six per cent (65 down from 69 in 2012).
Deaths involving powered two-wheeled riders also fell by 19 pc (22 down from 27 in 2012), while cyclist deaths remained the same at 14.
During 2013 there were 489 killed and serious injuries to cyclists, compared with 671 in 2012 – this 27 pc reduction means that around one in every 434,000 cycle journeys made in London end in the cyclist being killed or seriously injured (KSI)
Pedestrian KSIs were also significantly down during 2013 with the total number down 25 pc compared to 2012 (838 down from 1,123). This is also 31 pc down when compared to the 2005-2009 baseline and 55 pc down when compared to the year 2000 (838 down from 1,870).
The number of children killed and seriously injured continued to fall across London in 2013, with a 31 pc reduction to 187 (down from 270 in 2012). This is also a reduction of around three quarters when compared to the year 2000, showing the continuing long-term progress in London in making its streets safer for all.
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “These latest road casualty statistics are hugely encouraging, but they are by no means the end of the story.
“Our ultimate goal is to see a London where roads are free from death and serious injury, which is why we’re investing significant funding to make the road network fit for the 21st century.”
From overhauling the most notorious junctions, to investing in the latest technology, TfL is pushing hard on all fronts to make London’s roads as safe as they can possibly be for all users.” (Source: TfL press release)
IAM PHOTO COMPETITION FOR BIKERS
As part of their quest to give bikers across the nation a superior riding experience, the Institute of Advanced Motorists are running a competition to find Britain’s best summer rides.
“We’re looking for those special runs – the ones that lift the heart, boost the spirit and leave you with goose-bumps for miles afterwards” says an IAM spokesperson. “Have you got a favourite? “Pull over, snap a photo and share it with us for your chance to win.”
The winner will clinch £250 in vouchers and the runner up will get £150. Photographs will be judged on colour, lighting, composition and what can be seen of the run itself.
Competition closes on Friday 18 July. Terms and conditions:iam.org.uk (Source: IAM press release)
