PLANS for improvements on a notorious stretch of road have been met with a mixed reaction from concerned residents.
PLANS for improvements on a notorious stretch of road have been met with a mixed reaction from concerned residents.
Transport chiefs unveiled the plans (shown right) for the £6.3 million improvements on the A57 at a meeting with Todwick residents la
st week.
But they were met with a mixed reaction from villagers who highlighted a number of problems with the new layout.
"We asked for this meeting to tell the people of Todwick what is happening and let them have their say on the plans," said Todwick parish councillor Mary Gregory.
"We are all on the same side and want to stop the deaths and accidents on the road, but these changes will have a big impact upon the village."
The proposed plans will see a dual carriageway built from the roundabout at junction 31 of the M1 – which will run past Todwick – and finish just before Anston.
The new road will take a different route just north of the existing road, and will cut out the notorious bends, and see Todwick crossroads replaced with a new roundabout.
Engineers had planned to close the right turn into Goosecarr Lane forcing villagers coming from the motorway to travel further east along the A57 to the new roundabout.
But this proposal angered residents who said this would increase traffic on the already busy Kiveton Lane, and would also affect access for buses and emergency services.
"The cars on Kiveton Lane are already bumper to bumper in a morning. My main worry about the improvements would be increasing traffic on this road," said Todwick resident and lollipop lady Carole Havard.
"There is a school on the road and drivers already will not give way for me at the crossing even though they're not going anywhere. We don't need any more traffic," she said.
Many residents suggested planners consider building another roundabout at the junction with Goosecarr Lane.
They told planners this would help to reduce traffic speeds as drivers come off the motorway and would also mean motorists could make a right turn into the road.
They also said it may help reduce congestion and queuing at the junction as traffic tries to join the main A57 road.
Villagers also complained that the planners had made no provision for people crossing the busy dual carriageway.
Engineers have now said they would look into the option of building a footbridge over the road, but it would depend on the cost which they estimate to be around £500,000.
Residents also asked engineers to confirm what the speed limit would be on the road, with many asking for it to be reduced from the expected 70mph.
"We thought the meeting went very well. Residents put forward some excellent ideas and told us what they thought of the plans," said Coun Gerald Smith, cabinet member economic and development services.
"They made some good suggestions, such as the roundabout, and our officers are now looking into them and we will bring a reply back to residents at the next meeting," he said.
The planning application was submitted last month and planners predict the improvements will be completed in 2006.
