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Oval traffic island
Our photograph here shows the new traffic system at one of the most hated junctions in the city at Seven Dials. Changes at the spot have mainly involved creating a longer oval traffic island to replace a mini-roundabout. Traffic engineers say this will mean vehicles from various roads will merge more gradually rather than converging on a single point. Improvements are intended to benefit all road users, particularly cyclists and pedestrians.
Involved public consultation
Other measures include replacing the old paving with a new high-quality material, removing street clutter and changing pelican crossings to zebra crossings to make it quicker and easier to cross. Many trees have also been planted to green the area and new benches and cycle racks have been added. Most residents consulted, backed the main changes during public consultation in October 2012. Councillors approved the scheme in January this year.
Long term regeneration
The junction is one of the most accident-prone in the city. Twenty personal injury accidents were recorded within a 25m radius of the Seven Dials roundabout between October 2009 and October 2012, resulting in 23 casualties. It is hoped that over time accidents will reduce and that over time the changes will contribute to long term economic regeneration of the area.
Is it an improvement?
Have you used the new system yet? What do you think of it? Has it improved the look of the area? If you would like to share your views, please leave a comment below. Please remember that we do not invite party political comments here – we are discussing the system – not a particular party.
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Yes, the area certainly gave me pause for thought when visiting nearby relatives! This looks smoother and calmer for cars, and hopefully pedestrians. Only future statistics will tell us, though!
Perhaps it’s me, but can anyone explain how “twenty personal injury accidents” can result in “23 casualties”?
Editor’s note: These are council figures so I cannot definitively explain. Maybe there were twenty accidents which involved damage to the person, rather than a vehicle – and of those twenty, more than one person was injured at the time? Who knows – we mere mortals are not privvy to council ways of calculating!
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