Wednesday, July 27, 2016

IS BRIGG CROSSING IN THE BEST SPOT?

Pedestrian traffic island near the junction of the A18 Wrawby Road and the A1084 Bigby Road, Brigg - picture one on Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog

Getting across one of the busy A-roads in Brigg does not always prove an easy, or speedy, task for folk on foot, especially at peak times in the early morning and late afternoon.
We are talking about the A1084 on Bigby Road.
At the point where it joins the A18 at the Monument roundabout, a traffic refuge (island) with bollard has been provided for pedestrians.
But it you are standing on the Wrawby side of Bigby Road and waiting to cross over towards the car sales showroom, there are two issues:

  • Because it’s very close to a 90 degree bend, you can’t see vehicles approaching behind you from Wrawby Road which are turning left onto Bigby Road.
  • Because of the nearness of the roundabout, there’s not much time to judge whether vehicles are approaching from behind the war memorial.

You can avoid both problems by crossing further along Bigby Road, near to its junction with St Helen’s Road.
But doesn’t that call into question whether the crossing place provided near the Monument is in the best, and safest, location?

Pedestrian traffic island near the junction of the A18 Wrawby Road and the A1084 Bigby Road, Brigg - picture two on Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog

The A1084 Bigby Road is increasingly busy. And this trend will continue. 
In addition to all the Bigby High Road/Westrum Lane motorists and the traffic coming from Bigby, Caistor and Howsham, there are many shoppers driving to/from the Thomas Bell Country Store and Brigg Garden Centre.
A new housing estate is also taking shape on Bigby High Road, just over the border in West Lindsey.
Considering the size of the properties being built, you’d expect them to be occupied by people with at least two cars.
We hope very much that they will all come and shop in Brigg regularly, but more car journeys along the A1084 will obviously result.
During a recent Brigg Town Council meeting, mention was made of the number of people of senior years living on the St Helen's estate who walk to/from the town centre from their homes.
At this point in the story, Brigg Blog must declare a personal interest!

Pedestrian traffic island near the junction of the A18 Wrawby Road and the A1084 Bigby Road, Brigg - picture three on Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog

6 comments:

The Independent Brigg Line Rail Group said...

I would have expected a crossing on Wrawby Road near the school, a crossing near the Garden Center, is this not West Lindsey District Councils' area ?

Unknown said...

Two points, folks....
1. People will still be tempted to cross Bigby Rd by the shortest route...i.e. school kids.
If a crossing was installed near the junction of St Helens Rd, then there needs to be road side fencing to deter folks crossing near the Monument.
However, I am aware of at least two fatalities resulting from young, energetic folks leap-flogging such barriers, unfortunately in front of vehicles.
2.Not certain of the rules re crossing sites, but the Garden Centre is outside the 30 mph restriction and there maybe technical reasons for not being able to locate a crossing in a 40mph+ site...

Unknown said...

Two points, folks....
1. People will still be tempted to cross Bigby Rd by the shortest route...i.e. school kids.
If a crossing was installed near the junction of St Helens Rd, then there needs to be road side fencing to deter folks crossing near the Monument.
However, I am aware of at least two fatalities resulting from young, energetic folks leap-flogging such barriers, unfortunately in front of vehicles.
2.Not certain of the rules re crossing sites, but the Garden Centre is outside the 30 mph restriction and there maybe technical reasons for not being able to locate a crossing in a 40mph+ site...

Unknown said...

1.to answer friends of brigg the path from garden centre is in west lindsey,the from brigg is in nth lincs as the crossing is on the borderline it be upto both councils to fund.
as a rule I've crossed over bigby high road @ clinic,cross wrawby road @ glanford road then use pelican crossing.one could cross from st helen's road side walk & to zebra crossing.

The Independent Brigg Line Rail Group said...

Thank you for the clarification Peter 😊

Ken Harrison said...

Two hedgehogs waiting to cross the A18 in Brigg.
'I wouldn't cross here', said the first hedgehog.
'Why?'..
'Look what's happened to that zebra that wanted to cross!'