£2.1 million secured for A3056 safety improvements

A main road on the Isle of Wight will get new safety measures thanks to a multi-million-pound injection of government cash.

The Isle of Wight Council has been successful in its bid to the Department for Transport's Safer Roads Fund and has been given £2.1 million to drive forward safety improvements to high-risk areas of the A3056, between Blackwater and Lake.

Proposed safety measures and upgrades include:

• a reduction in speed limits and the introduction of variable speed limits near schools; 
• improved pedestrian facilities, including new footpaths and bus stop upgrades;
• speed reactive signage;
• improvements to road markings and signage;
• additional street lighting at key junctions.

Following today's (Thursday) announcement, detailed designs will be drawn up and there will be a period of consultation for some of the proposed changes.

Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said: "The intention of the scheme is to reduce identified high-risk areas and to improve the overall safety of the route for all public highway users.

"Any targeted funding for areas where there are proven road safety concerns is very much welcomed by me. This is a significant amount of money, which will be important in terms of improvements to the A3056 and particularly for road safety.

"We will continue to work closely with local communities and parish councils to deliver these safety measures as efficiently and effectively as possible.”

The council's bid was supported by the Island's MP, Bob Seely, who said: "I’m delighted the Department for Transport has agreed to finance the £2.14 million road safety scheme on the A3056.

“The council put together a strong bid and I was pleased to support it.  

“I have no doubt that this scheme, combined with the excellent work being done by the new Isle of Wight Roads Policing Team, will make our roads safer.”

Announcing the allocation of £47.5m across the country in the Safer Roads Fund, transport secretary Mark Harper said: “Britain’s roads are some of the safest in the world, but we are always looking at ways to help keep motorists and all road users safer.

“That’s why we’re investing £14.4 million across the South East and this is the first crucial step to ensuring local councils have the support they need to keep everyone safe, while also reducing congestion and emissions.”

The funding has been allocated to 27 different schemes around the country where the risk of collisions causing death or serious injury are highest, according to a list drawn up by road casualty reduction charity the Road Safety Foundation.