New Orbital Park junction layout on A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road in Ashford branded “confusing”
Published: 10:14, 08 May 2023
Updated: 10:41, 08 May 2023
Anxious drivers have raised more concerns over the safety of a new junction after another crash caused major delays.
An accident involving a white BMW is the latest in a string of incidents reported at the Orbital Park junction on A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road in Ashford.
The former roundabout has been replaced with four-way traffic lights as part of a road improvement scheme named “Bellamy Gurner”.
Some drivers have branded the new layout “confusing” and an “accident waiting to happen”, but bosses at National Highways say it is “too early to speculate” on the causes of the accidents.
Harish Popat, National Highways programme delivery manager, said: "We thank road users for their patience and understanding while we create a new signalised junction on the A2070 in place of the existing Orbital Park roundabout and Avocet Way junction.
“The work - which is part of the new Finberry housing development - will help create a smoother flow of traffic along the route, and is expected to finish mid-May.
“At National Highways safety is our top priority, and our vision is for everyone who travels on our network to get home safe and well.
“It is too early to speculate on the potential causes of these collisions but we will work with the police and other stakeholders involved in road safety partnerships across the region to continuously improve the safety of our roads.”
A pedestrian barrier and a set of new traffic lights were damaged during the crash on Friday, April 28.
A woman was taken to hospital after a three-car crash in September.
In March, police were called to the scene of a crash involving two vehicles.
A woman was then injured following a crash involving a car and a lorry last month.
Also in April, further up the stretch towards Ashford Retail Park, emergency services descended on the A2070 following a multi-vehicle crash.
Commenting on Facebook, drivers have criticised the new junction saying it’s no surprise there have been a number of accidents with one person questioning “how long until this horrific junction takes a life?”
One person said there are so many traffic lights, “it’s clearly confusing for some” with another simply saying “put the roundabout back, problem solved.”
After hearing of the accident, one person said: “What a surprise, yet another accident at that junction.
“Better off leaving it as it was!”
Another said: “I’ve never seen or been delayed by an accident in the 15 years before they “improved” it.”
However there are other regular users who feel that layout has brought improvements with some saying it is “so much better” than the former roundabout.
One said: ”There were accidents on that roundabout all the time which is probably part of the reason they put traffic lights up.”
Another motorists believes it’s ”nothing to do with the road layout, it’s down to people jumping red lights, traveling too fast and ignoring road markings and signage.”
Another regular user said: “So many use the slip road for the Finberry estate to get in front of the rest of the traffic waiting at the lights, this was just waiting to happen and will probably happen again, it’s bad driving not the road layout.”
The roadworks were initially scheduled to take place over six months, but several delays mean it is now set to finish on May 15, a year after it started.
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Liane Castle