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Introduction | The Trial | Results
The A534 Nantwich Road, Crewe, was chosen as one of the Department for Transport's Mixed Priority Routes (MPR) demonstration schemes for casualty reduction. As part of the design solution it is proposed that a series of raised crossing points be introduced. To ensure that the design of these crossings could be perfected to minimise the disruption to vehicular traffic six different styles were installed on Richard Moon Street, Crewe. The County Design Team and Crewe Area Highways Office of Cheshire County Council carried out a trial in November 2003.
Cheshire County Council's design team and the Crewe Area Highways office carried out the research in November 2003. Statutory and non-statutory organisations were invited to take part in the trial.
Questionnaire Surveys invited these organisations to drive over the raised crossings at various speeds, recording appropriate information that would then be fed back to the researches.
38 responses were received, which included:
- Emergency Services
- Freight Operators
- Passenger Transport Companies
- Disabled Groups
- Cycling concerns
13 different types of vehicles took part in the trial:
- Emergency Service vehicles (Police Car, Fire Engine and Ambulance)
- 3-axled arctic and trailers
- Dennis Dart/Daf Buses
- Volvo coaches
- Private cars
- Bicycles
Speed of vehicles - drivers were invited to travel over the raised crossing
- at their own chosen speed
- at 20mph
- at the speed they felt most appropriate
The survey has recommended Raised Crossing 4 be adopted as the preferred design. This was 70mm high, 'S' style raised crossing.
The outcome of this Mixed Priority Route project and the results of the Raised Crossing Trial will eventually form part of a Department for Transport 'Traffic Advisory Leaflet', which will be made available nationally to Local Authorities and other interested parties.
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