Status unknown
A1 between A47 junction and A43 Junction . No safety barrier for 2 miles.
Reported via desktop in the Roadworks (NH) category anonymously at 15:44, Wed 20 July 2022
Sent to National Highways less than a minute later. FixMyStreet ref: 3691135.
Travelled this section of A1 on 17th July. Very shocked to find that central barriers have been removed for 2 Miles, on a stretch of road notorious for accidents over the years. Why has barrier been removed as a whole, rather than be removed as new one fitted. I consider this a dereliction of duty on the part of who has made this decision, as they are putting lives at risk for no reason. To make matters worse lorries are using the outside lane, and all vehicles are chopping and changing lanes if they see someone doing 39mph. I believe, no more barriers should be removed until the new one is ready to be installed. the outside lane should be coned off where the barriers have been removed. Failing this speed should be restricted further to 30mph, no over or under taking should be allowed, lorries to be restricted to inner lane. Signs stating safety barriers removed are a necessity so drivers take notice. I have never known a situation like this before. Having served in the Fire Service for 30 years I must state that if an accident does occur where traffic meet head on, it will be a multiple collision with fatalities. Why? because the decision maker has not Risk Assessed correctly. Please sort this out before the inevitable happens. Thank you.
Updates
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Thank you for contacting National Highways regarding the safety barrier replacements and reduced speed limit on the A1, between Wothorpe and Wansford.
We're currently replacing around 17km of safety barrier. We can’t fully replace sections of the barrier in the central reserve during any given night closure as we're unable to guarantee curing times for the concrete foundations. Therefore, gaps will be left in the barriers at times.
We've carried out risk assessments and various other health and safety activities during the planning of this scheme, and 40mph was found to be the highest safe speed when removing safety barriers in this manner. This is to reduce the likelihood of a cross-over incident, and the severity should one occur. We're aware that not all drivers will follow restrictions that we put in place, therefore we installed the average speed cameras to encourage compliance and act as a deterrent. They are in full working order, and those who do speed will be prosecuted by the police. We're not an enforcement agency and therefore don't have the power to police dangerous driving ourselves. It's up to the police to patrol problem areas, and prosecute any speeders. There's little we can do in terms of further restrictions, as the issue is with driver behaviour and compliance. A lower speed limit would only result in less compliance from the same drivers, and consequently a bigger variation in drivers' speeds. We are, however, currently undertaking a review of the current restrictions to ensure we proceed in the best and safest way. Thank you again for contacting us. If you need more information about this, please contact our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000 or by email at info@nationalhighways.co.uk. Kind regards
National Highways
Posted anonymously at 16:56, Mon 25 July 2022
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