Junction of Burnt Oak Broadway with Stag Lane and Watling Avenue
Received from Barnet Council 01/10/09:
Changes at the junction of Burnt Oak Broadway with Stag Lane and Watling Avenue
Contact: Manoj Kalair
Tel; 020 0359 7341
E-mail: manoj.kalair@barnet.gov.uk
Fax: 0870 889 7458
Date: 16/09/2009
Our reference: A5CR/Brent_Inform
The traffic signals at the above junction have reached the end of their serviceable life and need to be replaced. The London Brorough of Barnet has taken this opportunity to review the operation of the junction and put forward a scheme to improve both the safety and the efficiency of the junction.
The measures include some localised carriageway widening to encourage a better use of the available road space as well as the provision of staggered pesestrian crossings across the A5. A copy of drawing number 60554_Brent Infrom_01 illustrating the scheme is enclosed for reference [attached].
Work on the scheme is anticipated to start in November/December this year. Should you need any further information of clarification, please do not hesitate to contact my colleague Manoj Kalair using the above details.
Yours Faithfully,
Neil Richardson
Acting highways manager, traffic & development
Environment and Transport
London Borough of Barnet
Brent Cyclists current opinion:
This scheme straddles the borders of Harrow, Brent and Barnet, but appears to come entirely from Barnet's planners. We have seen this scheme before via Barnet Cyclists but this is the first time we have been contacted direct by Barnet about it. It is not clear that this is a consultation as it is not worded as such. However, we believe we should write to Barnet and possibly Brent and Harrow as well strongly opposing the scheme.
So far as can be seen from the very unclear plan provided, the bus lanes on the A5 near the junction are to be removed, removing the (part-time) protection and space they provide for cyclists. The two staggered pedestrian crossings proposed for the A5 (what we sometimes refer to as "pig pen" crossings) will make it time consuming and indirect for pedestrians to cross the road, as they will be forced to cross in two stages.
The letter mentions "safety" but provides no details of what the safety problems are supposed to be or how this scheme will address them. It appears that "safety" is being used as a vague excuse to do other things Barnet wishes, namely, remove bus lanes and reduce pavement widths in order to increase the roadspace available to private motor traffic.
There is in fact very poor safety at this junction at present, with a lot of speeding and red-light running. These measures are likely to make this worse.
We should oppose this on behalf of cyclists, pedestrians and bus users, and ask Brent and Harrow Councils to do so as well.
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Comments
Same old Barnet
October 4, 2009 by paul, 2 years 17 weeks ago
Comment: 44
I whole heartedly agree with David as the junction work is all about improving motor traffic flow which obviously impacts on other road users such as pedestrians /cyclists. The pig pens are so the motor traffic are seen to be at the top of the hierarchy and removing bus lanes throws cyclists into the mealy again where they most need more protection not less.
This is a busy junction for pedestrians due to the shopping area and could do with a crossing phase which is all red to motorised traffic allowing pedestrians to cross in which direction they require in one movement.
As per usual this is a car centric plan to our roads which is not a surprise from Barnet and as half the junction is on other boroughs roads hopefully they will have a more measured view to the improvements of the junction.