By New safety improvements added to the A361.
The A361 was previously known as one of the most 50 dangerous A-road sections in the UK, with iRAP rating it 5 out of 5 possible stars.
Now, people who are travelling on the A361 between Banbury and Chipping Norton will benefit from the County Council’s £4.135m Safety Improvements Project, thanks to funding from the Department of Transport.
Work to the road was completed towards the end of May 2020 and includes a a brand-new Toucan crossing, south of Ell’s Lane, and a glowing 2.5m-wide, 2000m long, shared use path.
County Councillor, Cabinet member for Highway Operation and Delivery said:
“I am really happy that we have been able to deliver such an excellent list of safety improvements. We now have new facilities and features that not only make things more convenient but, far more importantly, will help to save lives.”
The Council’s Ideas for Safer Travel
As well as lower speed limits, improved signing, new lining and resurfaced stretches of road, The Council has also installed revolutionary photo-luminescent technology, known as i-glo discs. These discs glow brightly throughout the night and use natural light to recharge during the day.
The i-glow discs glow for up to 10 hours, acting as path finder at night without the need for additional street lighting. This innovation saves revenue whilst also saving carbon emissions and making the roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians..
Flexitact with glowing edges have also been installed at all crossing locations, between Crouch Cottages and Ell’s Lane, to encourage independence and aid the visually impaired during the day and night.
The full list of work completed is:
- Carriageway resurfacing – to improve skid resistance
- Surface water drainage improvements – to prevent overflowing
- Footway improvements including conversion to a shared use pedestrians/cycleway – to allow safe off-road cycling
- Vegetation clearance – to improve visibility, especially at bends
- Conversion of an existing Pelican crossing to Toucan – to allow safe connection between Ell’s Lane and Warriner School
- Reduction in speed limits from 50mph to 40mph between Banbury and Wykham Lane and from 60mph to 50pmh in southern sections.
- Road markings and signage improvements, including yellow backed and raised signs for better visibility, and introduction of road studs on all bends to better guide motorists at night.
Once the entire project is completed, the RSF will re-evaluate the overall star rating of this section of road.
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