Improvement Works
Cromwell Avenue / Westbrook Crescent
Download the information leaflet here. Click here for an alternative route for Gullivers World Traffic.
Frequently asked questions
Why were traffic lights put in?
The scheme was primarily put in to improve pedestrian access to the Westbrook Centre.
Written requests for controlled pedestrian crossings on Westbrook Crescent date back to 2001. In addition in 2001 an area-wide Transport study, which included a two stage consultation process, prioritised improvements for pedestrian and cyclists along the Cromwell Avenue corridor, including crossings of Westbrook Crescent and Cromwell Avenue. Initially it was proposed to install stand-alone pedestrian crossing facilities on Westbrook Crescent and A574 Cromwell Avenue. However in 2002 a preliminary design was carried out to assess the feasibility of installing a pedestrian crossing on Westbrook Crescent and this showed that it was not possible to locate a crossing on the Westbrook Crescent arm of the roundabout
The design process then looked into other options, the preferred option being to install traffic signals with pedestrian phases.
It was acknowledged that the signals would increase journey time at the junction for cars but the intention was to keep this delay to an acceptable level. The scheme, as built in May 2007, did not do this and this is why the changes are planned.
What went wrong?
The design and development process leading to the scheme being implemented in May 2007 was flawed. The level of delay was underestimated and pedestrian accessibility was not optimised.
The council has acknowledged this and this has been reported in the local media on a number of occasions in the last 12 months
Why has it taken 12 months to get to this point?
After the junction was opened in May 2007 and problems became evident, independent consultants were commissioned to undertake a review of the junction operation. The consultants confirm the original junction did not have sufficient capacity to cope with the demands and recommended short, medium and long term changes to the junction. As a result, short term changes were made in November 2007. The medium term changes have now been developed, taking on board the range of comments received to date. The works are programmed to start Monday 23 June 2008.
Why do pedestrians get the priority?
The council’s policies are not just concerned with accommodating existing pedestrian movement but encouraging more walking and cycling activity by making access easier, quicker and more direct. The council’s policies on assessing the need for a crossing take account of the following criteria:
- waiting time to cross road
- time taken to cross road, especially for young and elderly
- surrounding buildings affecting pedestrian activity
- carriageway width
- carriageway type
- nature and type of any adjacent crossings
- pedestrian flow and composition, including number of schools and pupil catchment areas.
- speed and volume of vehicles
- location of bus stops
- accident record either side of the proposed crossing
- police advice/recommendations
Pedestrian access has been improved as a result of the changes. This is particularly the case for children and people with impaired mobility.
During the recent surveys over 750 pedestrian and cycle movements were observed at the junction on a Friday weekday. The highest pedestrian demand is across Cromwell Avenue were approximately 30 people per hour cross over a 12 hour period. At peak times this rises to approximately 60 per hour in the evening peak.
The level of demand on a weekend is similar.
How do you use the crossings properly?
The type of crossings installed at this junction are called ‘Puffin’ crossings. They are relatively recent developments from the Department of Transport and different from traditional Pelican crossings in a number or ways. Most notable is the lack of a far-sided display to inform you when it is safe to cross. Pedestrians should pay attention to the display on the push button unit and cross when the green man displays. For a copy of the Department for Transport information leaflet on the use of Puffin crossings please follow the link below:
http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/advice/puffin/pdf/249.pdf
Doesn’t the council have a duty to keep traffic moving? What are the council’s responsibilities?
The responsibilities of the council as Highway Authority are varied and dictated by legislation. These responsibilities are not based solely on maximising highway capacity. Traffic is not just limited to motorised vehicles it also includes pedestrian traffic and cyclists. Therefore we have a requirement to balance the movement of all traffic in a safe manner.
Some of the key duties include:
- The Traffic Management Act 2004 - imposes a duty on all local traffic authorities to secure the expeditious movement of traffic on their road networks so far as may be reasonably practicable, having regard to the local authority's other obligations, policies and objectives
- Highways Act 1980 - imposes a duty to maintain public highway and gives us authority to built highway infrastructure and place furniture were required
- Transport Act 2000 - imposes a duty on authorities to prepare and publish a local transport plan setting out policies for the promotion of safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities in their area. Follows the Government's strategy for an integrated transport policy set out in the White Paper "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone" (Cm 3950) published in July 1998
- Disability Discrimination Act - imposes a duty to account for accessibility of ALL users of the highway were reasonably practical so as not to discriminate against disability
The council sets out its Transport Policies and Priorities in its Local Transport Plan. This includes a balanced set of measures to address congestion, accessibility by public transport, walking and cycling, safety and quality of life. For more information about the Warrington Local Transport Plan 2 click here.
Why not just put the roundabout back in?
This preliminary design showed that it was not possible to locate a crossing on the Westbrook Crescent arm of the roundabout for the following reasons. Firstly, the crossing would need to be set back, as an absolute minimum, 20m away from the junction and therefore take the crossings away from pedestrian desire lines leading to the main Shopping Centre entrance. Secondly, on the Westbrook Crescent arm, the proximity of the bus stop and Asda car park entrance add further difficulty in siting a crossing. The combination of the design standard which requires no stopping or parking for approximately 20m on the approach to a crossing and the need to retain the bus stop on Westbrook Crescent means that a crossing would need to be set back approximately 70m from Cromwell Avenue. This distance back does not provide good pedestrian access and would locate the crossing very close to the adjacent access into Asda car park. In addition, the issues of approach speed and visibility were expected to further compromise the design and siting of the crossings.
The only way in which the re-instatement of a roundabout could be considered is by a change in the policy of providing safer and more direct pedestrian access to the centre, whereby no dedicated crossing facilities would be provided. Such a reinstatement would be contrary to the council’s transport policies, as it would worsen the pedestrian access to the centre and other local destinations.
Will the changes make a difference?
The planned changes will provide additional capacity at the junction. The combination of the left turn lane, an amended signal sequence and additional vehicle detector loops will increase junction performance for cars. At the same time crossing of Ladywood Road will be improved without any adverse effect on junction capacity.
The models used to test the changes have been developed for am peak, pm peak, weekend peak and Gulliver’s World scenarios. The models show that the changes provide a benefit in all scenarios. The changes have the greatest impact on the pm and weekend scenarios when the average journey time to pass through the junction reduces by around 50%.
The left turn lane alone gives a significant benefit to the junction. Depending on the different peak periods, the most recent surveys carried out in April this year show that between 20% and 40% of vehicles turn left. The models calculate the benefit in a more involved way, but the following explanation demonstrates in basic terms how the additional capacity is provided.
As a conservative average, five vehicles turn left during each signal cycle. The left turn lane will give more queuing capacity and greatly reduce how much left turners slow down straight ahead traffic - this will allow more vehicles through in each cycle. On average there are 35 cycles of lights per hour during which an extra five vehicles minimum will get through the lights. This equates to an additional capacity of at least 175 vehicles per hour or a queue length of over 1km.
The bus lay-by on Westbrook Crescent is being provided to reduce the blocking back effect that waiting buses have on Westbrook Crescent. This will become more important with the additional service, no.17 which will run between the Town Centre, Chapelford Urban Village and the Westbrook Centre.
The bus-layby on Cromwell Avenue is a logical extension of the left turn lane and will also assist in not blocking back straight ahead traffic. This will also reduce delays to buses, currently queuing with straight ahead traffic to turn left at the junction into Westbrook Crescent.
The staggered pedestrian crossing proposed for Ladywood Road will not reduce highway capacity in any way as pedestrians will be able to cross in two stages without traffic flow being interrupted.
The small traffic island on the northbound approach is designed to better direct turning vehicles and reduce speed through the junction.
The council have made a bad decision and refuse to back down?
The objectives or the original scheme were correct and the changes which are planned for the coming weeks are designed to deliver the objectives in a more balanced way, reducing the level of disruption to car drivers.
Will there be disruption during the works? How long will they take?
The works are programmed to start 23 June and last for approximately eight weeks. During this time works will be restricted to off peak as far as is possible and disruption minimised. At certain times the works will require additional traffic movement restrictions. These will be clearly signed and kept to a minimum.
Are there proposals to ban right turns into and out of Asda?
The council did have proposals for an experimental right turn ban. The reason is that CCTV evidence confirmed that at peak times for Asda, the queue blocks back to Cromwell Avenue and reduces the efficiency of the signal junction. However, it has been decided to monitor the junction changes first, before considering this issue again. Residents who live off Westbrook Crescent will be given the opportunity to comment on this proposal if it re-emerges.
What if the improvements don’t work?
The council has given detailed consideration to the works and a benefit will be seen in terms of traffic capacity. There may still be high peaks of demand which result in excessive queuing but the additional flexibility provided by the changes in conjunction with CCTV coverage will mean that these instances are significantly reduced.
The performance of the junction will be continuously monitored for the next six months.
What about long term?
In the longer term, as stated in the consultants review, further changes are likely to be needed to the junction and the wider transport network in the area. The council is planning for the long term and is about to develop a Multi-Model Transport Model for the borough which will be able to predict the transport pressure points in future years and test different solutions to these problems. The process of developing the model will take 18 months to two years, but will result in the council bidding for large sums of money to national and regional bodies for major transport improvements.
If you have any further questions please email to ltp@warrington.gov.uk and you will receive a response as soon as possible.
Updated 10 June 2008.
