Why Do We Need the Improvements
Aim of the project
The project aims to improve access and road safety for all road users. Whether you drive, walk, cycle or ride the bus, you should experience a safer and more pleasant street environment.
Congestion
Survey results show that there are significant delays for both car and bus users on all radial routes in Leicester and London Road is one of the worst roads for longer journey times.
London Road traffic is tidal, flowing into the city in the mornings, and out again in the evenings. Peak hours are congested, with surges caused by congestion and queuing, as well as 'undertaking' and weaving past turning vehicles.
Buses are often stuck in traffic queues as shown in Picture 1. During off-peak hours, the light traffic flow and poorly defined carriageway encourages speeding and poor lane discipline.
Road Danger and Casualties
The accident record on London Road is very poor, as shown in the tables below. Table 1 shows 109 recorded accidents and Table 2 shows 138 road casualties due to those accidents along London Road in the five- year period between 01/01/1996 and 31/12/2000.
The accident record on London Road is very poor, as shown in the tables below. Table 1 shows 109 recorded accidents and Table 2 shows 138 road casualties due to those accidents along London Road in the five- year period between 01/01/1996 and 31/12/2000.
Table:1 Recorded Personal Injury Accidents Involving Vehicles in London Road Between 01/01/1996 And 31/12/2000.
Vehicular Accidents | Fatal | Serious | Slight | Total |
Vehicles only | 1 | 8 | 69 | 78 (72%) |
Motor Cycles | 0 | 1 | 7 | 8 (7%) |
Bicycles | 0 | 2 | 21 | 23 (21%) |
Total | 1 | 11 | 97 | 109 |
Table:2 Road Casualties due to the Above Accidents
| Casualties | Fatal | Serious | Slight | Total |
| Vehicle Driver | 0 | 5 | 61 | 66 (48%) |
| Passenger | 0 | 2 | 28 | 30 (22%) |
| Motorcyclist | 0 | 1 | 7 | 8 (6%) |
| Cyclist | 0 | 2 | 21 | 23 (17%) |
| Pedestrian | 1 | 2 | 8 | 11 (8%) |
| Total | 1 | 12 | 125 | 138 |
One objective of the project is to reduce road casualties by 50%, which if successful, would mean that the project would recover its cost within approximately 18 months.
Collisions are frequent in traffic queues, with injuries to vulnerable road users. Pedestrians and those on two wheels are often trapped and / or hidden by other traffic, or are less visible to drivers who are turning or surging through traffic queue.
Collisions are frequent in traffic queues, with injuries to vulnerable road users. Pedestrians and those on two wheels are often trapped and / or hidden by other traffic, or are less visible to drivers who are turning or surging through traffic queue.
Pictures 2 & 3 show pedestrians running across London Road highlighting the danger involved due to the lack of pedestrian facilities at the Mayfield Road roundabout.
Pedestrian Access & Street Lighting
Lighting levels on the tree-lined road are patchy. Pedestrian facilities are inadequate on certain sections of London Road, especially at the Mayfield Road roundabout, between the roundabout and Holmfield Avenue, and around the Stoughton Road junction.
Lighting levels on the tree-lined road are patchy. Pedestrian facilities are inadequate on certain sections of London Road, especially at the Mayfield Road roundabout, between the roundabout and Holmfield Avenue, and around the Stoughton Road junction.
The existing traffic islands around the roundabout used by many pedestrians do not have dropped kerbs. Also, there are no tactile paved crossing points to help blind and partially sighted people to cross the road.
Pedestrians are required to cross two to three lanes of moving traffic before reaching those islands. This is very dangerous for pedestrians, especially, people with disabilities. Table 2 shows 11 recorded road casualties involving pedestrians in the five- year period.
Bicycle and Motorcycle Users
Facilities for cyclists using London Road are also very poor. Better facilities are needed to provide links to schools, colleges and universities and halls of residence. Picture 4 shows a cyclist masked by overtaking vehicles in London Road. Here, a cycle lane for cyclists would help drivers to keep their vehicles away from the cycle lane. Table 2 shows 31 recorded road casualties involving two-wheelers in the five- year period.
Consultation
Please note that as a large number of consultees (approx 10,000 households) are contacted in the consultation process, acknowledgement would not be made to letters received and no further consultations would be carried out on the project due to constraints on completion of the project, staff time and administrative costs. Instead, views and comments received from all consultees would be analysed collectively. The results obtained would then be reported to the Service Director of the Highways and Transport Division, who would decide whether or not the project should go ahead.
Also, please note that no further consultations would be carried out on the project in light of any modifications, where modifications have taken place as a result of consultations for the reasons stated above. However, any comments on Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) will be responded and dealt with separately. If there are no undue difficulties, the remaining construction work for PHASE TWO & THREE could start in January 2005 and finish by March 2006.
Also, please note that no further consultations would be carried out on the project in light of any modifications, where modifications have taken place as a result of consultations for the reasons stated above. However, any comments on Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) will be responded and dealt with separately. If there are no undue difficulties, the remaining construction work for PHASE TWO & THREE could start in January 2005 and finish by March 2006.