Car accident ‘blackspot’ receives vital safety improvements

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

The junction of Spotland Road and Clement Royds Street before the recent work

A car accident ‘blackspot’ at the junction of Spotland Road and Clement Royds Street has had vital safety improvements carried out.

A previous scheme had introduced extensions to the pavement along with waiting restrictions to improve visibility for both pedestrians and drivers.

This had also helped reduce the width of the road making it easier for pedestrians to cross Spotland Road. 

But the new scheme – estimated to have cost around £11,500 – further increases the existing build outs on each of the four sides of the junction by around five metres, while also extending the no-waiting any time restrictions.

By making these existing build outs bigger and wider, parked cars are pushed back, and this significantly enhances the line-of-sight for drivers. The work was funded through Rochdale North Township after local residents raised issues with their local councillors.

Ward councillor Amber Nisa said: “Before these valuable improvements it was a bit of a safety lottery. Drivers simply could not see and would just have to pull out, at great risk of having an accident.

“Our efforts mean that there will be improved road safety and a much lower risk of collisions.”