Road safety measures set for accident hotspot

A local travel point with cycle and e-scooter hire and storage will be created on B4132 Great Francis Street as part of the plans

A new 20mph speed limit and bus gate is being proposed for an accident hotspot in Birmingham city centre after almost 60 accidents in three years.

The road safety measures would be introduced on Vauxhall Road between Barrack Street and Duddeston Manor Road, outside BOA Digital Academy.

The plans also include cycle and e-scooter hire and storage on B4132 Great Francis Street and three controlled parking zones in the area.

Birmingham City Council launched a consultation for the Vauxhall and Duddeston road safety and accessibility improvements project on Monday.

The council said 58 collisions had occurred in the area in the past three years, with 24 of them happening on the B4132, which includes Vauxhall Road, Melvina Road and Great Francis Street.

It is a route which is used by around 18,000 vehicles a day.

"The high traffic volumes present safety risks for the community, particularly for students attending the three schools located along this route," the council said.

"High parking demand in the area has also led to widespread pavement parking, with up to 41 per cent of all parked vehicles obstructing the pavement for people walking and wheeling."

Full proposals

• A "modal filter" (such as a bollard or planter) on Francis Street at the junction with Duddeston Manor Road, to stop cars from driving through, while still allowing walking, wheeling and cycling

• A bus gate on Vauxhall Road between Vauxhall Grove and Duddeston Manor Road, with access for buses, cyclists, taxis and emergency vehicles only

• The creation of a Local Travel Point (offering a range of transport options and community services in one place, such as cycle/e-scooter hire and storage), located outside the shops on B4132 Great Francis Street

• A new zebra crossing on Great Francis Street to provide better access to Duddeston rail station

• New raised crossings designed to slow down traffic at Barrack Street, Erskine Street, Hilden Road, Wardlow Road and Little Hall Road

• Three controlled parking zones, which could include residents' permit parking and pavement parking restrictions

The project is part of the council's broader transport plan, which says "fundamental changes" are needed to the city's transport network to tackle the climate emergency.

"Private cars will never be able to match the capacity of mass public transport for getting people to where they want to go," the plan says.

"We need to work with our partners to secure investment and make Birmingham a place where walking, cycling and using public transport are the best and preferred modes of travel for most people.

"Even then, we must all fundamentally change our travel habits, and reduce the overall amount we travel by car."

The consultation will close on 1 December.