Highways Agency

• A456 Grange Road Junction Improvement
• Contact Information

A456 Public Information Event FAQs

Questions and Answers

Q1. Why are there no proposals to install a pedestrian/pelican crossing at the roundabout?

Following detailed traffic data analysis, including pedestrian movement, a pedestrian crossing did not appear warranted at the island. Further to this, installing a pedestrian crossing at the island is likely to cause substantial delays to motorists using the route. We have taken on board the large proportion of public concerns regarding this and will look into the issue further.

Q2. Why are there no plans to install traffic lights at the roundabout?

Unfortunately, due to the small size of the island, traffic lights are not a feasible option. If traffic lights were to be installed on the island itself, the result would be traffic queuing around the island creating further delays to the motorist, as queues on the roundabout would block entries onto the roundabout. In order to have an island with traffic lights at this location land would need to be acquired in order to construct a much larger island.

Q3. Why are there plans to change the speed limit along the length of the A456?

The changes to the speed limit are designed to provide more rational limits along the whole stretch. At present the limits vary greatly creating difficulties for the driver in terms of the speed that they should not be exceeding. The review has also looked at the suitability of each speed limit for each section of the route, and taken this into account when amending the limits. These more rational speed limits should help enable smoother traffic flow along the route, whilst also dramatically improving safety.

Q4. What is the point in changing the speed limits, everybody breaks them on the A456 anyway?

The police have been consulted during the review and full support has been given regarding the proposed speed limit changes. The Police have also confirmed that they will be carrying out regular periodic enforcement on the stretch to ensure that the limits are adhered to.

Q5. Why not build an underpass at Grange Road?

The building of an underpass at the junction with Grange Road would have massive financial implications. The costs of construction of the tunnel alone would be staggering but such a layout would also require use of land currently taken by many private dwellings within close proximity. Unfortunately this is not a viable option at this stage.

Q6. Why can't you just replace the island with traffic lights?

Again due to the limited space available because of the close proximity of private housing to the road, replacing the island with a traffic light controlled crossroad is again not really an option. Traffic data has shown there to be large numbers of vehicles making right turning movements off the A456 to Halesowen at the junction. Widening of the road would be required to allow for a designated right turn lane whilst keeping two lanes of forward flowing traffic. Unfortunately there isn't sufficient space to widen the road at this location so again, this option is not a viable one.

Q7. Will there be traffic lights at the crossing at Lutley Lane?

At present there are no plans for traffic lights to be installed at the crossing close to the junction of Lutley Lane due to pedestrian movement data being very low at this location.

Q8. Why can't we just have the whole of A456 as a 50mph limit, that way everybody would know how fast they could go?

The speed limits that are to be used along the route have been carefully considered so as to be appropriate for each section. A blanket 50mph speed limit would not be appropriate on rural dual carriageways and bring into disrepute the limit on other sections where it was applicable. This would mean too high speeds being driven through some sections, whilst drivers are unnecessarily held up in others. All speed limits will be well signed along the route and the changes that are to be made will be well communicated prior to them being made.

Q9. Why not use traffic lights during peak hours to prioritise flow of traffic approaching island?

This would require signals probably on the side roads approaching A456 which would have to be set back some distance, probably at least 50 metres from the roundabout give way line to avoid any confusion to drivers who see a green signal then go thinking that they have priority at the junction. Because these signals would be on the side roads they would be on the local authority network. It would also be likely to cause queues back into Halesowen the peaks, particularly in the evening, to be effective in restricting the flow across the A456 westbound approach.
 
This idea was tried at Five Ways B'ham, with signals on the ring road approaches, in the 1980s but after some initial success the signal control was ignored by drivers who realised there were no opposing flow or pedestrians. I think the signals put in at that time have now been replaced by a pedestrian crossing set further back from the junction which does not have the same effect.

Q10. When is all of this work supposed to take place?

The improvements at Lutley Lane are due to commence before the end of March 2006, and the work is likely to take around 6 weeks.

Funding for the proposed speed limit review shall be bid for in the next bidding round (2006-2007) with works planned to commence in spring/summer 2007.

Funding for the design of the Grange Road Improvements shall be bid for in the next bidding round and should commence in autumn 2006. Funding for the construction works will also need to be bid for, with works proposed to commence in summer 2007.