Saving lives and catching speeding drivers are behind a proposal to install average speed cameras at an accident hotspot between Chester and Flintshire.
Flintshire County Council is exploring a “number of options” to further improve safety on the A548 Sealand Road, which last year had its speed limit slashed from 60-50mph.
The single carriageway is the main route linking Flintshire with Chester and already has one fixed speed camera near the Wales/England border.
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The council’s highway department, North Wales Police, Go Safe and county councillors Christine Jones and David Wisinger met on the road this week to discuss what can be done to improve safety.
Saving lives
Cllr Wisinger said: “It sounds very positive and I’m incredibly hopeful that we will get an average speed camera as something needs to be done to reduce the number of fatal accidents on the road.
“We had the speed limit reduced last year and we are starting to see the benefits of that, but a speed camera will complete the work that we have been campaigning for over the years.”
Cllr Jones said: “It was a very productive meeting and it was proposed to put forward a business case for an average speed camera and if agreed to apply for funding as it will be costly, but it will be worth it if lives are saved.”
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Two men were killed there in separate crashes just days apart back in 2010 and between then and 2014 there were four other serious collisions and nine minor smashes recorded on the Flintshire stretch, according to Crash Maps.
The council says three of the serious classified accidents involved right turning vehicles at the junction of Seahill Road which have since been addressed via the recent Welsh Government funded traffic signal upgrade.
If the council goes ahead with plans for an average speed camera, they will need to apply for funding from the Welsh Government.
Other options being considered
Other options that are also being considered by the council, police and GoSafe include double white lines on the road which ban motorists from overtaking, as well as more regular cleaning to get rid of mud on the single carriageway.
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Steve Jones, chief officer Streetscene and transportation, said: “A meeting has taken place to explore a number of options to enhance safety measures on the route.”
Cllr Bernie Attridge added: “I have asked officers to produce options appraisals in readiness for a future funding bid to the Welsh Government - all safety measures will be considered.”
