New crossing to be installed on Billacombe Road

Work to install a long-awaited pedestrian crossing over Billacombe Road will get under way on Monday 13 June.

The news will be welcomed by residents in the Saltram Meadow estate, who have been calling for the developer to install a crossing since the first homes were occupied last year.

Councillor Patrick Nicholson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport, Housing and Planning, said: “Providing a new crossing at the entrance to Broxton Drive was one of the planning conditions for the Saltram Meadow site and we are pleased the developer is finally complying with its obligations.

“This will be a huge relief to people living on the estate, especially those with children who have to cross this very busy road every day to get to and from school.”

The crossing will be a toucan, which is wider than other crossings and provides enough room for cyclists to ride across alongside pedestrians. It is named the toucan as the ‘two can’ cross together.

Councillor Steve Ricketts, Cabinet Member for Transport and Housing Delivery, said: “Ideally the crossing would have been installed long before the Sherford works began but I’m sure everyone will agree that the safety of pedestrians – especially children – is a priority and we want the work to be finished in time for the start of the new school term.

“We have been working with the contractor to keep disruption to a minimum and although there will be single lane closures for two weeks, most of the work will take place in the hatched area of the road and will not affect traffic.”

From Wednesday 15 to Wednesday 29 June the inside lane will be closed on both sides of the road. However, traffic on the outbound side will be allowed to use the hatched area during the closure.

The bus bay opposite Broxton Drive will be moved forward slightly to make way for the new toucan crossing and will be out of use from Monday 13 June until Monday 18 July. The nearest alternative bus stops are at the junction Garden Vale and outside Morrisons.

Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout.

The work is scheduled to be completed by Friday 26 August.