Call For Change to Highway Access

City officials are looking at access arrangements as congestion continues to build on the egress to Ashmore Park, Wyvern Park and the Lichfield Road.

Councillor Phil Bateman said " There is concern from Wednesfield North residents about their ability to access and egress the Lichfield Road safely during peak periods.

Residents are highlighting the fact that in Walsall they have re-engineered an island at the junction of Essington Road and Cannock Road, and placed lights on Coppice Farm Road/Lichfield Road. But Wolverhampton has not made any highway arrangements to ease the flow of traffic that pours out of Linthouse Lane, Peacock Ave or for that matter Broad Lane North.

All this traffic creates congestion and increases the chances of collision. City Officials inform me that they understand the concern, they state there were plans for a roundabout at the junction of Linthouse Lane and Lichfield Road a few years ago. However, the plans were for a mini- roundabout, and when we consulted the feeling locally was that traffic signals would cope more effectively with traffic flows in this vicinity. We accordingly designed a suitable traffic signal scheme which also incorporates the junction with Stubby Lane. The cost of this scheme, which requires widening the road into the adjoining verges and footways but does not affect adjoining properties, is unfortunately substantial and to date we have been unable to recommend its inclusion in our Works Programme. However it is considered when priorities are reviewed.
(Widening would be essential to ensure that queues in the area would not be unacceptable.)

City Officials state that they have no current proposals for the junction of Peacock Avenue and Lichfield Road.

The records of accidents involving casualties at this junction over the last 5 years shows that only one involved a
vehicle turning out of Peacock Avenue. The remainder all involved 'nose to tail' collisions on Lichfield Road.

Improving safety is a major consideration when the City Council propose junction improvements. Traffic signals and roundabouts are the measures which are of most help to drivers entering a major road from a side road, but they do not usually affect 'nose to tail' collisions significantly. City highways and safety experts although aware that there are some delays to traffic exiting Peacock Avenue, are currently unable to recommend the provision of either traffic signals or a roundabout at this stage.

I am keen to find out what Wednesfield North residents feel about the need to improve these three junctions, Linthouse Lane, Broad Lane North and Peacock Avenue. I have opened a discussion page for all your comments. Go to the 'Home Page' and click on Discussion leave me your views, or contact me by e-mail."