£2m safety scheme for busy Sandwell route
A £2 million scheme to improve the safety and appearance of a major route in Sandwell is to begin next month, it has been announced.
Work will take place at Bearwood Road and Cape Hill, in Smethwick, over the coming year after funding for the project was earmarked from Sandwell Council's revenue surplus.
Approval has already been given for the first phase of work in Bearwood Road which will see pedestrian crossings and lighting upgraded.
Pavements and street furniture along the route will also be improved.
Council officials today said preliminary work was already taking place along the route with the main work to take place in phases over the coming months starting in April.
Bosses are also working on junction improvement plans for Bearwood Road with preliminary designs still being worked on.
Once completed these will go out for residents to have their says and to be approved by councillors. This work will also take place in phases and is expected to begin later this year.
The authority said improvements along Cape Hill were also in the pipeline with detailed designs now being worked on.
Public consultation will take place later this year and work will begin in the Autumn.
Cape Hill has one of the highest numbers of recorded road accidents in the borough with 34 incidents involving 40 casualties reported over the five years to the end of November last year.
Among the plans for the section of road include the installation of a controlled pedestrian crossing in the main shopping area and bus stops relocated to either side of the proposed crossing.
Better lighting would also be installed along the route and 20mph introduced along Cape Hill and its approaches.
Sandwell Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper said: "This is a very busy route and I am pleased a timescale has now been set for these works to take place.
"It will be a major project to take place in phases.
"It will be of enormous benefit to both pedestrians and drivers using the route."
Funding for the scheme was approved earlier this year.
A council report revealed along Cape Hill, speed was either a cause or a contributory factor in most accidents which took place between Raglan Road and Salisbury Road.
Between Rosebery Road and Windmill Lane all except one of the 14 accidents there involved pedestrians and almost a third of total accidents were in the dark.
It said alongside improving safety the scheme would see the 'timely repair and renewal' of pavement surfaces, drainage covers, kerbing and street signs.
Other phases of work have been planned but will depend on further development and design work.
These would include improved bus facilities and better links to Lightwoods Park.
