Council starts £250,000 series of environmental improvements

Contractors have just started work on a major project designed to make it safer and easier for pedestrians to negotiate the high street.

And changes to the road layout and other carriageway alterations are expected to improve traffic flows and reduce the chance of hold ups.

Transport spokesman Cllr Russell King said:
“This is an important scheme that aims to tackle some of the issues that affect the southern end of the high street.

“We are removing much of the unnecessary street clutter and guardrails that hem people in and obstruct them as they walk along this part of the high street.

“We are also widening footpaths where we can and changing the layouts of some bus stops and also moving the taxi rank in a bid to free up road space and remove some of the high streets pinch points where vehicles can be held up by buses and taxis.

“As well as reducing delays for other roads users the changes should also speed up journey times for bus passengers.

“Improving traffic flows and keeping cars, buses and lorries on the move should also have a positive impact on local air quality levels, which is something we are committed to improving.”

The changes include installing new pavements between Norroy Road and the Upper Richmond Road, removing unnecessary guardrails, widening the footway outside Putney Station and installing new cycle parking stands where space permits.

The footway opposite the station will be realigned to minimise the risks of large vehicles and buses blocking traffic, while the taxi rank outside the station will be moved to the Upper Richmond Road to free up more road space.

Ther Council says that pedestrians will also benefit from safety enhancements being installed at Norroy Road plus the widening of the high street pedestrian crossing near this junction. Once these works have finished the carriageway between Norroy Road and the Upper Richmond Road will be resurfaced. However on the PutneySW15 forum there have been comments about the current dangers due to these works.

The works are expected to continue until April 2013. Every effort will be made to minimise disruption to traffic and pedestrians and avoid noise disturbance.

For more information regarding the works, please contact Jonathan Sanders on (020) 8871 6538.

October 25, 2012