£100,000 boost for a safer road

I WAS pleased to see the recent news that the Welsh Government has provided £100,000 so that Bridgend County Borough Council can make a start on preparing the A48 between Laleston and Waterton for some planned improvements.

The council is currently submitting a funding application for the full work, but was allocated the money by the Welsh Government following under-spends on other projects that have taken place around Wales over the past year.

As it has to be spent before April 1, it will be used for things like designing the overall improvements, clearing undergrowth in preparation for the scheme and reviewing speed limits between the Ewenny and Broadlands roundabouts.

Once funding for the full scheme is in place, the proposed improvements will include new pedestrian refuges at key points along the route, resurfaced footpaths, extended footway links, new signage and road markings, and more.

The improvements have been developed after the council commissioned an independent report on this section of the A48.

Among its findings was that half of all 32 collisions between 2011 and 2015 involved a “rear end shunt” between vehicles. Nine occurred at night, six during wet weather, and alcohol, driver error and illegal manoeuvres also figured prominently.

Unfortunately, while 22 of the accidents were classed as ‘slight’, three were classed as ‘fatal’ and seven as ‘serious’.

This has meant that the road had an above-average casualty severity ratio of 23%, although collision rates were found to be less than the national average for corresponding types of road.

I hope the planned improvements support drivers and pedestrians alike, and make this important local route easier and safer to use – I’ll bring you more news soon.