After requesting an update on my continued calls to improve highway safety on the B1281 in Blackhall Colliery I received an update yesterday on plans to implement improvements at the roundabout adjoining the new housing development currently under construction.
This follows concerns I've raised on behalf of motorists and local residents about dangerous driving practices and other safety issues associated with the new development.
I've published the local authority's senior highways engineer's update below in full and will report on progress as soon as I have more information from the highways office.
Background details to this issue can be found in my post dated Wednesday 6 December 2023: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2023/12/addressing-problems-of-excess-water.html
From the Senior Highways Adoption Engineer, DCC: All matters regarding the scope of works, in my original response [previously reported], have now been agreed and we are awaiting a programme for implementation.
A street lighting contractor has already been appointed; however, the materials are on a 14-week lead in, which pushes this element of the work to April/May.
The final quotation for the non-electrical work is also expected this week and it is anticipated that, on review, the civils contractor will also be appointed.
It is the developer’s preference to complete all works as a single event, rather than have intermittent incursions over a period of, potentially, months; I am minded to agree with this reasoning.
Please be reassured that we have made progress since the correspondence of 15 November last year, although none necessarily visible on site, but, as stated below, industry wide issues with procurement are impacting projects, especially when these are remediation works rather than new construction.
Senior Highways Adoptions Engineer.