Fatal Crash on A77 - road redesign required?

[GreigM]

This from bbc this morning, was wondering why it was closed today?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3388231.stm

This quite upsets me as there are a large number of deaths on this road, it is very long, fast and winding. No crash barriers between the two sides and two lanes per side, unforunately even at the legal limit some poor drivers are continually crossing the white lines on some blind high-speed bends, and there are a lot of small junctions like the one at this crash site.

I feel I am a confident driver, but the proximity of the other cars approaching at a closing speed of 120mph+ with only a white line to separate really scares the sh1t out of me, and always stay well to the inside lanes.

No doubt this will be blamed on speeding as usual, although at the legal speed of 60mph any head on will be fatal....even at 40, or 30..?

This is an obvious place for road re-engineering being required for safety, has been for years, yet will never be done.

They won't put scameras on this road because they are well aware that the stats won't drop...and it'll be just another driver distraction on a road which really needs your full attention as it is...not watching speedo or watching for a scamera.

If the cash from scameras was used to re-engineer stretches of road like this I wouldn't be quite so against them!

[andyc16v]

Erm, don't know how often you drive this road, but surely you noticed the massive engineering constructions works that have been going on for months. For once, they seem to be doing things right, taking the opportunity to put in a number of re-alignments, slip-roads etc.

Here's the official site:-
www.m77-gso.co.uk

"The M77 extension ... will replace the present substandard A77 trunk road to a dual two-lane motorway with a 70mph limit.

[memsdesign]

Makes a change. They've just been 'improving' the A449 between Kidderminster and Worcester, not far from me. What used to be a two lane dual carriageway on both sides is now a confusingly marked single lane dual carriageway, with many marked refuge areas for adjacent junctions. Causes immense congestion, and the latest modifications have already caused one accident (addmitedly low speed) that I've seen, and I hardly ever drive it. Makes me wonder if the people who plan these things ever drive the roads during rush hour.

[GreigM]

andyc16v said:

Erm, don't know how often you drive this road, but surely you noticed the massive engineering constructions works that have been going on for months. For once, they seem to be doing things right, taking the opportunity to put in a number of re-alignments, slip-roads etc. Here's the official site:- www.m77-gso.co.uk "The M77 extension ... will replace the present substandard A77 trunk road to a dual two-lane motorway with a 70mph limit.

I understood this wouldn't stretch this far down, into what I see as the "danger" area....but I may be wrong.

[andytk]

Yeah, the A77 is a pretty scary road. I'm thankful I've only ever ridden on it once while I was motorbiking.

A lot of extra white lines have been laid down and separation zones etc, have been introduced but its still a fairly insane piece of road engineering. Worse road I've driven on by a long chalk.

Andy

[tvradict]

GreigM said:

andyc16v said: Erm, don't know how often you drive this road, but surely you noticed the massive engineering constructions works that have been going on for months. For once, they seem to be doing things right, taking the opportunity to put in a number of re-alignments, slip-roads etc. Here's the official site:- <a href="http://www.m77-gso.co.uk">www.m77-gso.co.uk</a> "The M77 extension ... will replace the present substandard A77 trunk road to a dual two-lane motorway with a 70mph limit. I understood this wouldn't stretch this far down, into what I see as the "danger" area....but I may be wrong.

The New M77 joins up with the current M77 at Glasgow and run to Kilmarnock. IIRC the stretch from Kilmarnock to Ayr has crash barriers on it seperating the two sides of the Carriadgeway. Or at least it does at Ayr anyway!

[zcacogp]

memsdesign said:

Makes a change. They've just been 'improving' the A449 between Kidderminster and Worcester, not far from me. What used to be a two lane dual carriageway on both sides is now a confusingly marked single lane dual carriageway, with many marked refuge areas for adjacent junctions. Causes immense congestion, and the latest modifications have already caused one accident (addmitedly low speed) that I've seen, and I hardly ever drive it. Makes me wonder if the people who plan these things ever drive the roads during rush hour.

A449 was a belter of a road. Could do the whole thing at 110 in my old Mk1 Golf GTi - complete hoot. Bl00dy nazis have killed all the fun there now. (Only plus-side is the interesting twinkly LED cats eyes there now ... )

Same about the main road from Blakedown into Kidderminster (not sure of the number). What happened to the days when that was a good, open, unrestricted hoon-fest?

Those were the days eh? So much for progress ...


Oli.

[Flat in Fifth]

re comments on 449 Kidderminster to Worcester.

Any comment about the recent fatal on the left hander of the double bend below Ombersley.

They must have either had a mechanical problem or been going at totally loopy speeds, or perhaps just plain bloody incompetent. Its technically possible to go round those bends even in the wet at speeds well illegal without even getting near the ragged edge.

Its the only half-decent bit of that road left, no doubt it will be re-engineered, ho hum.

Having said that the variable sign near the school further north where at start & finish times through traffic is supposed to use lane 2 leaving lane 1 for traffic visiting the school seems to me eminently sensible.

FiF

[ricardo g]

Greig,, I've just heard that they are putting speed cameras on the A77 soon. Dosn't really solve the problems though. Last two crashes I've heard about were last week when a guy trying to commit suicide drove up the wrong side of the road into a lorry...he was successful, no others were killed I think. And this new crash was under the speed limit...apparently it was mentioned on the news.

Travel the road ona regular basis and my parents do everyday on their way to work. The sooner the new road opens the better is my opinion.

Richard