Bridport councillor applying pressure to make A35 safer (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Bridport councillor applying pressure to make A35 safer

11:00am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News By Anne Bell

A Bridport councillor is applying pressure on highways authorities to make the notorious Miles Cross junction on the A35 safer.

Town and district councillor David Tett says that over the years the Highways Agency has ‘fobbed off’ demands for safety measures on the stretch of trunk road near Symondsbury despite numerous serious accidents.

Coun Tett will tomorrow, October 25, ask members of the Bridport Highways and Transportation sub-committee to support his call to bring back the A35 Initiative group and arrange a public meeting.

Coun Tett wants a roundabout or traffic lights at Miles Cross, where West Road joins the busy A35.

He said: “Around the year 2000 the A35 Initiative, chaired by West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin was set up to consider improvements to the road from Monkey Jump in Dorchester to Honiton and in particular, Miles Cross.

“Despite numerous improvements and a reduction in the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph at the Miles Cross junction, the problems remains and a solution has to be found. This is a very fast stretch of the A35 and the road junction was badly planned and designed. Even to an advanced motorist it becomes a dangerous and confusing manoeuvre to access on to, or leave the A35.

“Consequently this has caused many serious and fatal accidents and incidents.

“On each occasion the Highways Agency has fobbed one off and failed to install a device to combat the problem and the threat to life.”

A Highways Agency spokesman said: “We did introduce a 50mph limit some years ago, but currently have no improvements planned. We will monitor the situation.”

Coun Tett says that over the past 20-plus years since the road was opened, there has been on average six serious accidents or incidents each year involving ten fatalities and two serious injuries as well as countless less serious.

In August a young woman had a lucky escape in a crash at the junction when firefighters had to release her from her damaged car.

“Ten fatalities are ten too many,” he added.