Work begins on new A48 road safety measures

Work starts this week on a range of new road safety improvements along the A48.

The £290,000 project, which is being funded by Welsh Government, will target a 5km stretch of the A48 between Laleston and Waterton.

It will see a new 50mph speed limit replacing the 60mph that is currently in place on the westbound approach to the Broadlands estate which will extend as far as the existing 40mph limit near Ewenny roundabout.

Undergrowth has already been cleared to help improve driver visibility, and pedestrian crossing points near the Broadlands roundabout will be enhanced along with crossings at Heronston Lane.

Better street lighting and fresh signage advising drivers to be alert for pedestrians will be installed at key points, and a three metre wide combined footway and cyclepath will be created on the verge between Heronston Lane and the Picton Court roundabout – an unofficial but popular route which is regularly used by school children and residents who live at Picton Gardens.

Existing road markings will be adjusted to provide a safety zone for the combined footway and cyclepath, and the works will take place between 8am to 5.30pm and on Saturday mornings in order to minimise disruption.

These changes are designed to greatly improve the safety of drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, and have been made possible thanks to funding from Welsh Government.

The work follows an independent report commissioned by Bridgend County Borough Council which revealed that there were 32 collisions along this stretch of the A48 between 2011 and 2015.

Half of these collisions involved a ‘rear-end shunt’ between vehicles, and nine per cent were between vehicles and pedestrians. Three of the collisions involved fatalities, seven were classed as ‘serious’, and 22 as ‘slight’.

Councillor Richard Young, Cabinet Member for Communities.

Councillor Young added: “While the study found that the collision rate was less than the national average for corresponding types of road, nine of the 32 collisions occurred at night, six took place during wet weather, and alcohol, driver error and illegal manoeuvres were also significant factors.

“It is clear that the works are necessary to help improve safety along this busy route, and we will do everything we can to keep inconvenience to a minimum while the project is underway.”

The road safety improvements are expected to be completed by early October.