TMS Consultancy

Stage 3 Road Safety Audit on Aberdare Footbridge, Wales

Stage 3 Road Safety Audit on Aberdare Footbridge, Wales

One of our Road Safety Audit teams, consisting of Richard Marriott and Tara Jowett, headed to the beautiful area of Aberdare, South Wales to carry out a Stage 3 Road Safety Audit on a newly constructed footbridge spanning the river Cynon.

 

The footbridge, located in Mountain Ash, links up the extensive cycle network and Cwn Cynon Business park on the North side with Harcourt Terrace on the South side. Located between Penrhiwceiber and Mountain Ash Train Station the bridge crosses the Aberdare branch of the Merthyr Line.

The river Cynon (Welsh: Afon Cynon) is a main tributary of the Taff.  Its source is the rising of Llygad Cynon at 219 metres (719 ft) above sea level at Penderyn, Rhondda Cynon Taf and flows roughly southeast, into the Taff at Abercynon in the same district.  The newly installed bridge replaces the previous one and allows users to traverse the railway line and river connecting to an extensive cycle route network. These improvements should hopefully encourage more users to make use of the extensive cycle network and improve access to Mountain Ash and Aberdare.

 

Aberdare Footbridge Close Up
Aberdare Footbridge

The works have been carried out in conjunction with the electrification of the existing railway line owned and operated by Transport for Wales.

The audit team were fortunate enough to have gorgeous sunshine for their site visit to allow them to appreciate the new and improved footbridge in its beautiful surroundings.

At TMS, we carry out Road Safety Audits throughout the UK and have carried out over 100 audits in Wales. If you have a scheme that requires a Road Safety Audit in Wales, or anywhere else in the country, then please contact us by filling out the form here or by emailing Lorna Styring.

Road Safety Audits

Road Safety Audits in Northamptonshire

Road Safety Audits in Northamptonshire

TMS regularly visit Northamptonshire carrying out Road Safety Audits, at all stages, across the whole county.  A large proportion of our total annual road safety audits are carried out within Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas.

Northampton Road

TMS carry out the road safety audits for a variety of clients ranging from small independent to large housebuilders, designers for multi-discipline national companies and the local highway authority themselves.

Schemes range from simple priority junctions and pedestrian crossings to major new infrastructure schemes for new housing developments, such as Stanton Cross, Wellingborough (circa 3500 houses), improvements to various grade separated junctions on the A14 at Kettering to realignment and dualling of the A6 at Burton Latimer.  Our auditors have also been involved in various elements of the HS2 Enabling Works, Priors Hall Park in Corby, Symmetry Park, Kettering and the Northampton West SUE project.

The road safety audit process for Northamptonshire follows very closely to that of GG119 for National Highways.  CVs of the proposed audit team and Road Safety Audit Brief are submitted by our clients for their approval, on a scheme-by-scheme basis. Similarly, it is a requirement that the reports must be approved by Northamptonshire Highways before being issued to the Design Organisation.

Northampton Map

TMS has become very familiar with their internal safety audit process over recent years and have built good working relationships with West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire Councils.  This enables us to have a fundamental understanding of the process and allows us to offer help and guidance to our clients, who are unfamiliar with some of the procedures in place.

If you would like some more information on Northamptonshire’s Road Safety Audit process, please call us on +44 (0)24 7669 0900 or email Lorna Styring.  Alternatively, if your scheme is ready to be audited, you can request a quote.

Road Safety Audits

A465 Heads of the Valleys Road Safety Audits

A465 Heads of the Valleys Road Improvement Scheme

TMS have recently started to undertake Stage 3 Post Construction Road Safety Audits on the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road at Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. The scheme will see the dualling of Sections 5 and 6 (Dowlais Top to Hirwaun) of the A465 which will improve capacity and journey times through the Valleys, improve overtaking opportunities and improve overall road safety benefits.

To facilitate the dualling, the scheme will also include some major bridge structures and grade separated junctions. It is expected that the scheme will be completed and open in mid-2025.

TMS will be providing Stage 3 Road Safety Audits in the short term for the side road improvement schemes which are necessary to facilitate construction of the mainline.  TMS will then be involved in auditing onto the mainline itself when works are complete.

Heads of the Valley

Here at TMS, our team of safety auditors have extensive knowledge and experience in carrying out Road Safety Audits on all types of highway schemes, including major road schemes like this. If you would like more information on our involvement in this project, or to discuss your requirements for a Road Safety Audit, please email Lorna Styring or call us on +44 (0)24 7669 0900

Request a quote

Road Safety Audits

Stage 3 audit on the Solihull Cycle Network

Stage 3 audit on the Solihull Cycle Network

The Active Travel Fund, first announced in May 2020,  has allowed numerous Highway Authorities to invest in schemes that help improve existing and create new walking and cycling facilities. Solihull Council secured approximately £1m to create three new cycle lanes and a borough-wide cycle parking scheme.

One of the main barriers to cycling is safety; the creation of three new cycle lanes throughout Solihull should help address safety issues and increase the use of cycling throughout the borough.

Destinations and ‘Beryl Bikes’

The cycle routes have been strategically located to improve accessibility to desired areas, such as the town centre, for those travelling by bike.

The A34 corridor is now linked to the town centre via Blossomfield Road and Cranmore Avenue. Knowle is connected to the town centre via Brueton park, while Meriden is linked with Millisons Wood.

For those who don’t own bikes, cycle hire is available across Solihull and the West Midlands. Taking inspiration from the ‘Boris Bikes’, which have proved popular in London, the ‘Beryl Bikes’ can be hired throughout Solihull. The location of docking stations, where the bikes can be hired and returned to, are strategically located throughout Solihull at critical points such as train stations, Solihull town centre, local parks and residential areas. E-bikes are also available, meaning longer trips to Birmingham become more accessible.

Tiger crossing on a quite road next to a green with large trees.

Design

The routes incorporate several similar design techniques used when introducing new cycle lanes. ‘Orcas’ and ‘Wand Orcas’ have been provided to separate the carriageway from the cycleway.

Blue treatments have been provided where the cycleway navigates a side junction; at some of these locations, a give-way line in advance of the cycleway has been giving cyclists priority over vehicles.

Some crossings have been upgraded to parallel crossings meaning cyclists are separated from pedestrians when using the crossing.

The design of the cycle routes takes its principles from LTN 1/20, the guidance for Cycle Infrastructure Design that the DfT produced in 2020.

Some routes have been upgraded from existing cycleways while others have had road space re-allocated. Blossomfield Road, for example, had an existing bus lane re-allocated for a two-way cycle route.

Tiger crossing on a quite road next to a green with large trees.

Road Safety Audit on the Routes

TMS was involved in the Stage 3 Road Safety Audit for some of these cycle lanes. During this Road Safety Audit, the audit team assessed the completed scheme for any safety problems which users may encounter.

Richard Cook, Director at TMS and Team Member for the Road Safety Audit, said:

“It’s excellent that TMS had the opportunity to be involved in the Stage 3 Road Safety Audit on this scheme in Solihull. Whenever we undertake a Road Safety Audit, we find safety problems which we may encounter on a project. To be able to improve the safety of cyclists on these routes is a great opportunity.

We want to make sure that our roads are safe for all users, including cyclists, so undertaking Road Safety Audits on cycle schemes is something we are seeing become more prevalent.”

TMS Road Safety Auditor and Team Leader for these audits, Harminder Aulak, also commented:

“The trial cycle schemes allowed us to assess the ‘Orca’ type cycle lane separators used to provide better protection for cyclists travelling within cycle lanes. They did make us feel safer against motorised vehicles, especially where speed limits were 40mph. There were some issues with the maintenance of the cycle facilities, such as ensuring the cycle separators were visible, and cycle lanes were swept. Otherwise, the cycle routes provided useful links to access local facilities, and hopefully, future development of the routes will encourage more people to cycle.”

What's next?

The cycle routes were completed in early 2022, so it is unknown how much of an impact these schemes have had on journeys made by cycling throughout Solihull. However, the cycle routes improve the safety of cyclists using these routes. Hopefully, less confident users will now feel comfortable making their trips on bikes rather than using a vehicle.

With this new addition of cycle infrastructure in Solihull and the improved facilities in Birmingham, which includes the Birmingham ‘Cycle Highway’ and a new footbridge/cycleway across the A38, it is hoped that people will feel more comfortable swapping a car/bus for a bike!

The West Midlands Combined Authority received more than £17 million from the Active Travel Fund.  This means that cycling infrastructure throughout the West Midlands will hopefully improve in the years to come.

If you are involved in a cycle infrastructure project and need a Road Safety Audit or help regarding safety on your scheme, please get in touch with us.

Road Safety Audits

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