CALL FOR BRIGG TO GET NEW PELICAN CROSSING TO AID ROAD SAFETY

Brigg needs an additional light-controlled pelican-type pedestrian crossing on the very busy A18, one of our followers is suggesting.
He believes there is "an accident waiting to happen" where Bridge Street curves round to Ancholme Way, close to the Yarborough Hunt pub.
Traffic island crossing points were provided here and nearby as part of the inner-relief road scheme three decades ago, but the increase in vehicles since then and the forthcoming addition of a large housing development off Bridge Street (creating additional footfall) has prompted his call for improvements to help pedestrians cross the A18 safely, particularly elderly people and those with mobility issues.
A local resident who has been concerned about this for some time emailed us, saying: "A few months ago while driving along there I saw a person on a disability scooter unable to get across.
"Driving on the road leading towards Lidl/the bridge, I couldn't stop as I could not guarantee anyone stopping who was coming from the opposite direction.
"Also, with a new housing estate being built next to Bridge Street, and the existing estate at Scawby Brook, I feel that there will be an increase in footfall with people walking into town.
"This is getting to be quite a dangerous road to negotiate and very rarely does anyone stop on the corner for pedestrians.
"There are no traffic light-controlled crossings on the length of the road so people not so quick on their feet, or the elderly, must cross a road on foot or double back under the bridge, which is not ideal, if going to Barnards butchers or the Yarborough, for instance.
"I just thought that I'd share my thoughts with you as I feel there is an accident waiting to happen in this area."
Our informant suggests this is an interesting topic which Brigg Blog might raise through its "connections with the local council."
The curve in the A18 near Peacock & Binnington's frontage does not help pedestrians when it comes to observing traffic that is approaching them along Bridge Street from the direction of Scawby Brook.
Humberside County Council was still the local highway authority in the early 1990s when plans for the new inner relief road/by-pass were drawn up. Pelican crossings were subsequently installed on the re-aligned A18 along Barnard Avenue and at the top end of Wrawby Street (near the White Horse and the China Garden takeaway).
But as our correspondent rightly points out, the western stretch of the A18 along Bridge Street still does not have a light-controlled crossing.
For many decades a traditional zebra crossing was provided while the entire length of Bridge Street still formed part of the A18.

Since 1996 the local highways authority has been North Lincolnshire Council, which we hope will now consider our correspondent's thoughts and his suggestion for a new pelican crossing on the A18, near the Yarborough Hunt, to replace the traffic island.

Note that the vehicles seen here posed no threat to pedestrian safety.