As part of the recently completed Bidston Viaduct refurbishment project, it was agreed that the main contractor (Costain) would undertake additional works to realign the entry leg to Dock Links North to try and address a proven history of recorded personal injury accidents resulting from traffic carrying high speeds from the A554 southbound approach through onto the roundabout and up the slip road to the Docks Link North.
In conjunction with the entry-leg realignment, screening has also been provided (to Highway Agency specification) to deliberately reduce visibility and thereby force traffic to slow down and give way before entering the roundabout. The provision of such screening is a recommended method (see note re: 'Specialist advice' below) of restricting approach visibility where the approach visibility of traffic on the circulatory carriageway (or preceding entry) is too generous and results in vehicles adopting an inappropriate high entry speed.
IMVHO rumble strips would have been the cheaper and safer option.
Rumble strips wouldn't have been cheaper than a wooden fence lol. Traffic lights would have been the best option but obviously the dearest.
That fence doesn't slow the traffic, everyone still pelts it towards the roundabout and if they need to, brake hard once traffic from the right is visible past the fence.
Agree with Ste. The fence that they have put up DOES THE JOB and in my view is NOT a hazard. Maybe they should have put up some equivalent of "new road layout" for the first couple of months just to pacify those who drive that route without total attention because of habit. However, by now the habit should be past.
I do not hang about at that junction and will admit that in the past I have viewed the traffic approaching on the roundabout and have adjusted my speed to merge into the flow - accepting the risk that this was not the brightest way to do things. Now I have to slow and LOOK - no bad thing either. Maybe now I "lose" a few seconds on the journey but it is safer.
As for speed bumps/ rumble strips - NO NO NO. Absolute menace they are.
Snod
5 Precepts of Buddhism seem appropriate. Refrain from taking life. Refrain from taking that which is not given. Refrain from misconduct. Refrain from lying. Refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness