New Velder Avenue junction Key New left turn lane New crossing
For more information or to comment on the plans, call 023 9268 8020. Or email cityhelpdesk@portsmouthcc.gov.uk See more detailed information at www.portsmouth.gov.uk/living click on 'Getting around', then see 'Road improvements 2011/12'. If you have a comment, please get in touch by 23 September 2011. ä à å ã You can get this Portsmouth City Council information in large print, Braille, audio or in another language by calling 9268 8020. Document Ref: TSM_Eastern Road improvement leaflet-0611 www.portsmouth.gov.uk
Improvements to the Eastern Road and the Velder Avenue junction View from junction of Eastern Road/Tangier Road We ve improved traffic flow on the western side of the city by changes such as a new link road into the naval base. Now we re planning to improve the Eastern Road and the Velder Avenue junction. The changes would cut the kind of queues seen above. We plan to make the Eastern Road two lanes southbound for its whole length. We also plan to change the Velder Avenue junction to reduce delays and make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to cross. This leaflet explains our plans. www.portsmouth.gov.uk
1. Removing the island on the Eastern Road near Sword Sands Road We re sorry about this, but we need the space to create another southbound lane. There are proper, safer controlled crossings at Kirpal Road and Tangier Road to use instead. 2. Extending the 30mph section of the Eastern Road It would start about 500m earlier, at Sword Sands Road. This would help traffic turning right into the side roads or emerging on to the Eastern Road 3. Removing the island on the Eastern Road near Stride Avenue We re sorry about this, but we need the space to create another southbound lane. There s a proper, safer controlled crossing nearby at Kirpal Road, which we re improving. 4. Removing the traffic lights on Kirpal Road and East Shore Way, where they join the Eastern Road. These lights are a major reason for delays on the Eastern Road. We plan to remove them, but sensors would still pick up traffic waiting to come out of Kirpal and East Shore. These sensors would turn the pedestrian crossing lights red, so drivers would still be able come out on to the Eastern Road safely, as before. 5. Modernising the pedestrian crossing at East Shore Way/Kirpal Road This would be made into a toucan crossing, which has sensors that can tell if people are still walking across the road. It would also be suitable for cyclists. It would no longer have a central island this space is need for a second southbound lane but because of the sensors there would be more time to cross. The crossing would be moved further south for safety reasons. 6. Changing some signs and road markings along Velder Avenue This would help drivers make the most of the road space. Key Vehicle detection zone Improved crossing (moved south for safety reasons) Traffic lights activated by traffic leaving side roads
New East Shore Way/Kirpal Road junction
7. Changing the Velder Avenue/ Milton Road junction. When we stopped the right turn from Rodney Road, used by very few drivers, it reduced the number of vehicles waiting at red by about 210 vehicles in the morning rush hour and 420 vehicles in the evening rush hour. Now we plan to stop other manoeuvres made by very few drivers. This would free up the junction even more. Reducing the number of manoeuvres at the junction would mean drivers on the busier approaches wouldn t have to wait so long for their green light. This should cut the number of vehicles waiting at red by about 1,110 in the rush hour. To help free up the junction, we plan to ban the right turn from Velder Avenue into Milton Road northbound. Now St Mary s Hospital is less busy, fewer drivers make this turn only about 90 out of 3,000 vehicles using the junction in the morning rush-hour and 35 out of 3,000 in the evening rush-hour. To help free up the junction, we plan to ban vehicles from coming out of Alverstone Road and going on to Milton Road or Velder Avenue. In the rush-hour, only about 50 out of 3,000 vehicles do this. Drivers coming out of Alverstone Road will need to use Priory Crescent instead. However, we plan to create a new left-hand turn on to Rodney Road, with no traffic lights. And getting out of Priory Crescent should be easier, because the changes we re planning to the Velder Avenue junction should mean less congestion on Milton Road. If we make these changes, there will be more time for traffic to go through the junction enough for 1,470 more vehicles an hour. However, the changes wouldn't create more traffic. They would simply allow it to go through the junction without having to wait in long queues. At the Velder Avenue junction, traffic flows and delays would be similar whether it was a roundabout or used traffic lights. But traffic lights are much better for pedestrians and cyclists. Now we re planning more green man crossings at Rodney Road and at the northern Milton Road junction. These changes should lead to fewer people using rat-runs, because the junction would be less congested. But we would monitor nearby roads carefully to see what happens. We re reviewing the location of the bus stop on Milton Road northbound. We plan to make these changes later this year or early next year. There will be some disruption while we make them, but the result will be a better journey into the city and a better environment for nearby residents.