SAFETY measures have been introduced to deal with a problem junction on the A41 where people have been losing their lives for 30 years.

The partial closure of the gap in the central reservation has taken place on an experimental basis at the junction of the A41 with Rake Lane and Station Road in Backford.

Traffic from both roads can now only turn left onto the A41.

In a three-year period from March 2004 there were 13 recorded personal injury collisions of which 12 involved vehicles crossing or attempting to cross the gap in the central reservation.

More recently, there have been two more collisions involving vehicles crossing the gap.

The road at the junction has a 70mph limit.

Rake Lane and Station Road are both single carriageway roads which serve small communities with farmland.

Safety engineers say visibility towards Moston is sub-standard as there is a crest which dips towards the Moston traffic lights.

In recent years, a number of collisions have taken place involving vehicles crossing gaps in central reservations in Chester district, said the report.

These include the A54 Kelsall bypass which has seen six deaths and the A41 at Pearl Lane in Chester where there was one fatal collision.

A survey showed that half the vehicles emerging from Station Road crossed the gap to turn right or travel straight across to Rake Lane.

Options considered by county and city councillors included a partial closure of the gap, which would require all traffic to turn left, costing £25,000 on a permanent basis or £10,000 for a trial period, a full closure costing £60,000 and traffic lights estimated to cost £250,000.

Engineers believed other ideas including safety cameras, a roundabout and levelling the road would not be as effective.

A public meeting attended by parish councillors and 50 residents led to a mixed reception with a number of occupiers objecting to the partial closure and others welcoming the idea.

Most people believed the speed limit should be reduced to 40mph or 50mph.

Area highways manager Colin Stredder recommended a partial closure of the gap due to the number and severity of the collisions at the junction and support for a 50mph speed limit.

Councillors agreed on a 6-4 vote that public consultation should take place on a partial closure of the gap for a temporary 18 month period.

They also supported the proposed 50mph limit. The measure has now been implemented.

Mr Stredder says the situation will be monitored and councillors will have a further report.