Proposed Improvements to the Junction of Ealing Road and High Street, Brentford
The Council is proposing to upgrade the junction of Ealing Road and High Street, Brentford, to provide improved facilities for cyclists, buses, general traffic and pedestrians.This junction accommodates four bus routes (65, 237, 267 and N9), and there is a strong probability that route 235 will be extended from Brentford County Court to the A4 Great West Road via Ealing Road in 2010 when the Great West Quarter development is nearing completion.Ealing Road and High Street are also part of the London Cycle Network (“LCN+”), which aims to provide “continuous, fast, safe, comfortable and easy-to use” facilities for cyclists.The current junction is of unusual design. High Street to the west of the junction is a single carriageway while to the east there is a short section of dual carriageway. This means that there is a poor alignment between the two sides of the junction, with eastbound traffic needing to weave slightly as it proceeds through the junction. The eastbound approach is too narrow for motor traffic (especially buses) to operate comfortably at current traffic volumes. None of the approaches to the junction are wide enough to accommodate cycle lanes. The proposed improvements are as follows:• The eastbound approach to the junction would be widened by approximately 4.5 metres and a small refuge island would be installed in the carriageway. This widening would provide space for two eastbound traffic lanes (left turn and straight ahead) and a short 1.5m wide cycle lane leading into an advanced cycle stop line (ACSL – the green rectangle shown on the plan). There would be one westbound traffic lane and a 1.5m wide westbound cycle lane at this point. The ACSL would assist cyclists to wait safely at the head of the traffic queue (where they can be more easily seen by motorists) when one or other of the two eastbound traffic lanes has a red signal. This new arrangement would provide a better alignment for eastbound traffic and remove the westbound pinch-point that currently affects cyclists.• The large central median east of Ealing Road would be shortened and narrowed to allow space to widen the westbound carriageway to 7.5m, to provide a 1.5m wide westbound cycle lane in addition to the two traffic lanes (ahead and right turn) and an ACSL to assist right-turning cyclists. The western end of this central median would be widened on its north side to maintain sufficient space for pedestrians. • The width of the Ealing Road approach would be unchanged (due to the presence of buried utility services in the footway) but the pedestrian crossing and stop line would be moved 2.0m south, reducing the size of the junction and improving its efficiency. While there is insufficient width to provide a cycle lane, an ACSL would be provided. Due to a change in the method of operation of the traffic signals, the small central island (which currently accommodates a set of traffic signals) would be able to be removed, so the northbound carriageway at this point would be widened from 3.0m to 4.5m, which would assist large vehicles to manoeuvre through the junction and provide more space for cyclists.• To the west of the junction, the carriageway would be widened and a new 25m long loading bay would be created in the north footway. Cycle lanes would be provided between the Ealing Road junction and Wilkes Road. A separate scheme currently at the early design stage would continue the cycle lanes through to Half Acre in due course.• Waiting and loading restrictions would be increased to “at any time” to prevent stationary vehicles obstructing through traffic and presenting a danger to cyclists. The loading bay would be available for any vehicle to load or unload at any time.• The method of operation of the traffic signals would change. There would no longer be an “all red” phase in the signal pattern. Instead, pedestrians crossing each roadway would do so with a “green man” signal, in parallel with the traffic flow. This would result in an overall reduction in waiting times for most pedestrians and more efficient operation of the junction, reducing delays to traffic. • As this scheme would significantly alter the shape of the junction, two mature trees would need to be removed. Eight mature trees along the front or rear of the northern footway between Ealing Road and Wilkes Road would remain, and new semi-mature specimens would be planted to replace the two trees lost. The footway would be repaved.Letters and plans were sent on 3 November to 350 local residences and businesses near the junction. The local consultation letter and plan are also available on the LB Hounslow website – click on Consultations under “Say it” on the home page.Subject to approval by the Council’s Isleworth & Brentford Area Committee, these improvements would be installed in early 2009. The scheme would be funded by Transport for London through its LCN+ and bus priority programmes.If you have any comments on this scheme, please write to me by 26 November 2008, or email transportplanning@hounslow.gov.uk with Ealing Road in the subject line. All responses received will be incorporated into a report to the Area Committee’s 11 December meeting.If you need further information before submitting your comments, please write or email, as above, as soon as possible.Chris Calvi-FreemanHead of Transport London Borough of Hounslow
Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6568d32 Comments ● 6530d