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Little Mill junction could get safety revamp (From South Wales Argus)
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Little Mill junction could get safety revamp
2:53pm Monday 8th February 2010
A ROUNDABOUT or improved junction layout could be installed on a Monmouthshire road after campaigners raised concerns about traffic safety.
An Assembly transport officer looking into safety on the A4042 trunk road between Mamhilad and Goytre, at the Little Mill junction, has recommended improving the layout of the right turn junction in his report.
But Gwent Police have requested further consideration is given to a roundabout and are currently finalising a report on a further study of this option.
Staff from the force will meet Assembly officers to discuss which option to go ahead with during the next few weeks.
A year ago, we reported residents were campaigning to have a roundabout and a 40mph speed limit introduced after seven accidents happened on the road in 2008, one of which was fatal.
At the Little Mill junction, traffic heading north from Mamhilad in the direction of Usk has to cross the path of traffic heading in the opposite direction at speeds of up to 60mph.
Last year, the high friction surfacing around the right turn was extended and vegetation removed to improve visibility in a bid to address residents and drivers' concerns in the short-term.
Since these works have been carried out there have been no accidents resulting in injury recorded at the junction.
Goytre Fawr ward councillor Bryan Jones has been campaigning for improvements to the road since he was elected in 2004.
He said: "I am concerned that the longer term solution that WAG refers to in their response is yet another attempt to improve the junction on the cheap.
"I agree with Gwent Police that a roundabout would be the most effective solution to this ongoing problem.
"Following the last attempt to improve the junction there was loss of life and serious injury. We simply can't afford to take further risks with road safety."
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Your Say YourGwent
Owain Vaughan, Newport, Monmouthshire says...
3:29pm Mon 8 Feb 10
tilleryvalleyboy, Abertillery says...
4:20pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Owain Vaughan, Newport, Monmouthshire says...
5:07pm Mon 8 Feb 10
tilleryvalleyboy wrote:Thank you, much appreciated! ;)
Ok Owain ... Just to satisfy you we'll have traffic lights!
independent voter, newport says...
6:18pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Dave on his Soapbox, Casnewydd, Gwent says...
9:35pm Mon 8 Feb 10
RichardEdward, says...
2:25pm Tue 9 Feb 10
westsi1983, Newport says...
9:23pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Little Mill junction will be no safer as a roundabout, as the stream of traffic that is killing people will still have to stop at the end of a long descent.... The existing layout is not that far short of a roundabout, the problem is the lunatic drivers pulling stupid impatient stunts because the road is a single carriageway becoming a dual carriageway.
The proper answer to the problem would be to reduce the road back to a single carriageway without the climbing lane all the way to the Mamhilad roundabout. The whole junction would then be far safer as people's perceptions of the road would be more appropriate! I bet that wasn't even considered by the bunch of idiots who looked at it!!
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independent voter, newport says...
3:05pm Mon 8 Feb 10