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Campaign for traffic lights at Coventry bridge rejected by council
Overview
A petition signed by nearly 150 people calling for traffic lights at the St James Lane bridge in Willenhall, Coventry, to improve visibility and prevent collisions has been rejected by the city council. The council stated that lights would increase congestion, cost about £150,000 to install, and have no measurable impact on road safety, noting that accident logs showed only one personal injury collision in the last three years, which was linked to a police pursuit.
Key points
- A petition with nearly 150 signatures requested traffic lights at St James Lane bridge in Willenhall to address limited visibility and a blind spot.
- Coventry City Council rejected the proposal, stating it would cost around £150,000 and cause increased congestion without improving road safety.
- Council accident logs recorded only one personal injury collision at the location over the past three years, which was associated with a police pursuit.
- A temporary trial of portable signals showed a significant increase in queue lengths throughout the day.
- A local consultation found that 60% of people opposed permanent signals due to concerns over delays and congestion.
- The council is exploring alternative improvements, such as amending the kerb line near the London Road approach to increase carriageway width, subject to National Rail approval.