Eagle-eyed villagers who’ve ventured down Clifton Road during the past couple of days may have wondered why men in fluorescent jackets were digging up a perfectly good pavement!?
Well, we can reveal it’s part of ‘exploratory’ excavation work to determine the depth of utility services there for ‘design purposes’ for the installation of a proposed ‘Toucan’ pedestrian crossing. As well as workers digging up the pavement area outside ‘Victoria Court’ (see photos) they’re also digging on the opposite side of Clifton Road in the grass verge and on the pavement adjacent to ‘Bella Court’ where the new crossing would be.
This exploratory work began on Monday morning (12th February) and is due to be completed by 3.00pm this Wednesday (14th February).
A ‘Toucan’ crossing is a type of signal-controlled pedestrian crossing that also allows bicycles to be ridden across it; since the “two can” cross together (both pedestrians and cyclists). These are normally four metres (13 feet) wide, instead of the 2.8 metre (9 feet) width of a pelican crossing or puffin crossing.
Certainly since the roundabout (dubbed ‘Tavern Island’) was constructed there seven years’ ago (to replace the previous T-junction) the increased speed and volume of traffic entering and leaving Clifton Road can make crossing there potentially dangerous for both pedestrians and cyclists using the cycle path at peak periods, even with the ‘central reservation’. Currently the nearest light controlled crossing on Clifton Road is at its junction with Churchill Drive and Camelot Street.
RUDDINGTON.info has asked Via East Midlands whether, if the new location near the roundabout is found to be suitable, the idea of a joint pedestrian and cycle crossing here will be put to a public consultation before a final decision is made? We have yet to receive a response, but will add it here if/when we do.
Meantime, Ellen Chamberlain comments: “About time! It’s so dangerous there seeing as most cars never indicate” and Lynn Smith says: “It would be really good – much safer!”
Jackie Farrington suggests: “Why not make a zebra crossing where the bollards are?”
However, Wayne Swift is not happy about the prospect of a new crossing there: “More chaos at the mini roundabout!” he predicts. “The island gets blocked now with the crossing just before the printers. This will make it worse. Why do they need one anyway? What’s wrong with the one we’ve got?”
What do YOU think? Would you welcome this new crossing – or does Ruddington already have two many pedestrian crossings holding up the traffic? Please leave your comments on our Facebook post >>HERE<<.
{Thanks to villager Craig Baum for alerting us to this exploratory work!}
