Safety views sought on deathtrap road
A consultation over £1million plans to overhaul an accident blackspot in Smethwick where one person has died and dozens have been injured in the past five years has been launched.
Cape Hill has one of the highest numbers of recorded road accidents in the borough which has prompted council chiefs to take action.
Proposals have been unveiled aimed at deterring motorists from speeding and helping to make it easier for people to cross the street.
Traffic calming measures will be introduced between the junctions of Montague Road and Windmill Lane where the existing 20 mph zone will be extended.
There will also be raised junctions introduced at Montague Road, Durban Road, Rosebery Road and Salisbury Road which aim to slow drivers now. A new raised puffin crossing will also be installed in an area between 55 and 62 Cape Hill.
Sandwell Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper said the plan was 'designed to keep vehicle speeds down and help people cross roads more safely and by improving lighting and creating a better environment for pedestrians'.
"Cape Hill is a busy area with schools, shops, banks and retail centres," he said.
"We want to improve safety for people in Cape Hill through a series of measures, which will include improved footways and lighting, a new controlled pedestrian crossing and putting in new traffic calming measures.
"As someone who has lived in the area for many years, I know about the need for improvements and I am very pleased there are proposals to improve safety for all road users, including pedestrians.
"I would urge local people to take part in the consultation process so that we can get as many views as possible on these comprehensive proposals to reduce the number of accidents in the area."
The plans will go on show at a consultation event at Smethwick Town Hall from 2-7pm on July 30.
New lighting will be installed and pavement surfaces, drainage covers, kerbing and street signs will also be replaced if necessary.
During the five-year period between May 2009 and April 2014, 42 people were injured in 34 separate crashes.
One person was killed, six people were seriously injured and 35 people suffered minor injuries.
The council said speed was either the cause or a contributory factor in most accidents which took place between Raglan Road and Salisbury Road while almost a third of total accidents were in the dark.
It's also believed the existing arrangement of parking, bus stops and crossing points were likely to have contributed to many of the accidents.
