Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
ENDOFTHE ROADFOR CHICANES
Controversial traffic-calming features will be removed
Work will begin on Monday to remove controversial traffic-calming chicanes from a busy Airdrie road following a survey of residents and road users.
The chicanes on Woodhall Street in Chapelhall are to be replaced with speed tables and a traffic island after a study found that they were “not achieving the desired levels of speed reduction”.
Nearly 95 per cent of survey respondents voted for the chicanes, installed less than two years ago, to be taken away – although some of the area’s councillors suggested that local opinion is actually more evenly split.
A proposal to introduce miniroundabouts further along Lauchope Street in the village was narrowly outvoted – but there was widespread support for plans to introduce new roundabouts and traffic lights in Calderbank.
Residents there had similarly raised concerns about traffic speeds and volumes on its Main Street, and will now see a pedestrian crossing being installed close to Calderbank Primary as well as the junction improvements and new speed limit signs at each end of the village.
Traffic-calming chicanes are to be removed from the main road through Chapelhall less than two years after they were installed, following an overwhelming public consultation response.
Four out of five local residents who took part in a North Lanarkshire Council survey supported their removal, with that figure rising to nearly 95 per cent of the total number of respondents, including road users living further afield.
Work will now begin on July 5 to take away the existing eightmetre by four-metre chicanes from the southern end of Woodhall Street, to be replaced by three speed tables plus a new traffic island at adjoining Bo’ness Road.
However, proposals to install three mini-roundabouts at key junctions on Lauchope Street are not being progressed after a narrow majority voted against their introduction.
The month-long public survey was carried out “in response to safety concerns raised by local residents” – with the related traffic study having established typical speeds through the village of 28mph to 30mph and determining that “the chicanes have not been as effective in controlling vehicle speeds as anticipated”.
From the total of 265 survey respondents, 215 voted for the chicanes to be replaced by speed tables, with only 39 wishing to keep them; while 188 of the 227 Chapelhall residents giving their opinions wanted them removed.
Now they are to be replaced with two speed tables located between Glenavon Drive and Woodneuk Street, and another placed south of the latter junction; with the existing speed tables in place being considered “effective in reducing speeds to 20mph”.
Council officials say: “It is proposed to commence construction of the road safety improvements during the week commencing Monday, July 5.
“Works have been scheduled during the school holiday period to minimise disruption to local residents and businesses; it is anticipated that [these] will be completed by mid-august.”
The chicanes had first been put in place in October 2019 as part of a wider road programme in Chapelhall, aiming “to address local community road safety concerns”, which included residents highlighting the number of HGVS travelling through the area heading to and from the M80.
A 7.5-tonne weight restriction previously in place on Woodhall and Lauchope streets and described in the traffic study as “not [having] a significant impact in reducing HGV movements” is to be discontinued and replaced with improved signage directing lorries and non-local traffic onto Lancaster Avenue rather than through the centre of the village.
With 144 people favouring that option compared to 104 who supported the weight limit, the forthcoming work will include the installation of prominent new signs declaring the local road a “traffic-calmed area unsuitable for HGVS” at both Main Street and the southern end of Bo’ness Road.
Views were similarly split on the introduction of the trio of roundabouts at key junctions, originally proposed for Kennelburn Road, Gibb Street and Honeywell Crescent – with 126 people against the idea, compared to 114 voting for it.
The post-consultation report stated: “It is noted that there is no clear majority view; [and] of the 227 respondents who live in the village there is similar consensus – 107 opposed and 100 in favour.”
North Lanarkshire Council said: “The public consultation gave the community the opportunity to provide feedback on a range of potential road safety improvements.
“All feedback was carefully considered prior to finalising the proposed improvements, and the council would like to thank everyone who participated in the consultation.”