Safety upgrades get under way on key city route

Work to install a series of safety upgrades on a key Newcastle route is getting started this month.

New or improved pedestrian crossing facilities and changes to make junctions safer for people on foot are being introduced at a number of locations along the A186.

The work is funded by £3.65m from the government’s Safer Roads Fund, which is aimed at reducing the risk of fatal or serious accidents.

The A186 was identified as a priority for the funding by the Department for Transport and the Road Safety Foundation.

Work will begin in the Ouseburn area with the installation of a new signalised pedestrian crossing outside Hotel du Vin on the A186 City Road. Work there will start from 24 February and is scheduled to last for five weeks.

In late March there will be further work on City Road, at the junction with Cut Bank. This will include new traffic signals and improved pedestrian crossing facilities. 

New crossing facilities will also be installed on the A186 West Road, in Fenham, at the junction with Gretna Road. This is close to St Cuthbert’s High School and the new crossing will help to make the journey to school safer for those pupils.

Cllr Juna Sathian, Cabinet Member for Climate and Transport at Newcastle City Council, said: “We know from the feedback we get from residents that better road safety for everyone is a big priority, so I’m delighted that we are able to make these improvements along the A186.

“It’s really important that our roads and streets are designed with everyone in mind so that people can have greater choice in how they travel.

“Making it easier and safer for people to walk, wheel and cycle will improve our city in a number of ways by enabling people to enjoy a more active and healthy lifestyle and by helping to tackle the environmental problems that are caused by traffic.”

As part of the investment, further safety improvements are also being planned for other locations along the A186, including new pedestrian crossings at Elstob Place and Wellbeck Road, a signalised junction with crossings to replace the roundabout at Wingrove Road, new signalised crossings on approaches to the roundabout at Two Ball Lonnen and new crossing facilities at Glasshouse Street / Walker Road.