Rowley Regis accident blackspot ready for £100,000 revamp
An accident blackspot where 26 people have been injured in crashes since 2009 is set to undergo a £100,000 revamp, council chiefs have revealed.
Plans to overhaul the junction of Doulton Road and Dudley Road, in Rowley Regis, are set to be given the go-ahead at a council meeting next week.
Council bosses said the revamp of the junction - which will see traffic lights installed - came in the wake of a review of accidents on the stretch.
This found that between December 2009 and February 2017 there were 13 separate incidents which led to 26 casualties.
Councillor Chris Tranter, who represents the Rowley ward, said: "It's a very nasty junction especially coming up the road. It's a steep hill and was originally brought to my notice due to the housing developments there.
"We intend to install traffic lights that will allow the big vans to cross on the other side of the road and swing around to Dudley. They will be set back further down the road to allow access for the traffic.
"The houses in the vicinity will have sensors put in their driveway and they will turn red to allow them to get off their drives when they leave. Everything will be in sync.
"We are also asking for the zebra crossing nearby to be turned into a pelican crossing.
"One of the biggest dangers has been that there is a school just down the road too, we have had a lot of near misses and people tend to avoid it because they know how tricky it is."
If the plans get the go ahead, Councillor Tranter said he hopes that work could start at the end of July.
He added: "We are desperate for this to go ahead. Myself and Councillor Eaves will be present to discuss it."
Around 56 letters were delivered to residents earlier this year stating the proposals.
Thirteen emails were received in favour of the scheme, with just one objection which raised concerns about increased delays and congestion.
The report states: "The implementation of the traffic signal scheme at the junction of Doulton Road and Dudley Road will assist in reducing vehicle speeds approaching the junction and crossing areas and help with “Reducing the number of children killed or seriously injured on our roads”.
The scheme will be discussed at a Highways and Environment cabinet meeting on Thursday (JUL 13).
