We have produced the following discussion document to press for action to address the problems faced by vulnerable users of the Gallows Corner Junction.
Background
Gallows Corner is a roundabout junction in the London Borough of Havering where two major trunk roads, the A12 and A127 and two local main roads, Main Road and Straight Road, meet.
The volume of through traffic and poor accessibility mean that this junction has been a significant barrier to walking and cycling in the area for many years and has divided several local community areas.
There are seven carriageway crossings, for pedestrians and cyclists to navigate across the junction. Three of the crossings are signalised but the waiting times are set to strongly favour motor traffic.
In a simple test, a local cyclist compared the time taken in circumnavigating the junction by road (in a quiet period) with the same procedure using the crossings and found that in the road, it took 28 seconds to travel one complete orbit while using the shared use paths and crossings took 5 minutes 14 seconds.
In the past five years for which we have data, there have been eleven collisions involving cars which caused injury to cyclists and pedestrians. Four of these instances caused serious injuries. (see appendix for details)
Below is a drawing of the existing layout:
Issues with Existing layout
As local cyclists we have discussed and debated at length the main issues with this problem junction and the points highlighted are:
- Lack of signalised crossings at four of the seven carriageways means that users have to be very patient in awaiting an opportunity to cross and then have to be swift in making the crossing due to the volume and speed of the motor traffic. This is very intimidating for vulnerable road users.
- The long time delay set for users of the existing signalised crossings encourages people to attempt to cross before it is safe, sometimes with serious consequences.
- The restricted shared use path widths can cause contention between users and types of users, again making users more inclined to avoid the junction where possible.
- The lack of signage causes confusion for those unfamiliar with the area.
Proposed Layout
We understand that there are several possible plans to modify or upgrade the carriageways but all of them will take a number of years to bear fruit. We would therefore propose that these simple measures could be taken now to improve the experience for non-motorised users.
These measures would still be of benefit once the planned carriageway changes are implemented.
- Widen shared use paths to 4m
- Install signalised crossings
- Make all double crossings connected (so that the push the button on one side activates both)
- The existing pedex crossing (new type of pelican) be changed to a toucan
- Install directional signage on all legs of the junction
Conclusion
The changes above would make a positive improvement to the usability and safety of this junction and would encourage more people to walk and cycle.
Appendix
Data drawn from the TfL Collision Data Map in June 2020:
On 19 August 2018 at 18:25:00 a collision occured at Colchester Road junction with southend Arterial Road in Havering involving a car and a pedal cycle. An adult pedal cyclist was slightly injured.
On 17 June 2018 at 18:10:00 a collision occured at Southend Arterial Road junction with Colchester Road in Havering involving a pedal cycle. An adult pedal cyclist was seriously injured.
On 06 May 2018 at 13:30:00 a collision occured at Southend Arterial Road 50 metres south of junction with eastern Avenue east The Neares in Havering involving a car and a pedal cycle. A child pedal cyclist was slightly injured.
On 22 January 2018 at 05:22:00 a collision occured at Colchester Road junction with Main Road in Havering involving a pedal cycle and a car. An adult pedal cyclist was seriously injured.
On 21 March 2017 at 22:30:00 a collision occured at Straight Road junction with Colchester Road in Havering involving a pedal cycle. An adult pedal cyclist was slightly injured.
On 02 June 2016 at 13:25:00 a collision occured at Main Road junction with southend Arterial Road. in Havering involving a pedal cycle and a car. An adult pedal cyclist was seriously injured.
On 09 February 2016 at 16:14:00 a collision occured at Colchester Road 32 metres east of junction with Straight Road Slip Road in Havering involving a taxi or private hire vehicle and pedestrian(s). A child pedestrian was slightly injured.
On 07 October 2015 at 06:00:00 a collision occured at Colchester Road junction with southend Arterial Road in Havering involving a car and a pedal cycle. An adult pedal cyclist was seriously injured.
On 14 October 2014 at 06:52:00 a collision occured at Straight Road 39 metres north of Colchester Road in Havering involving a car and pedestrian(s). An adult pedestrian was slightly injured.
On 26 June 2014 at 06:00:00 a collision occured at Eastern Avenue east junction with Straight Road in Havering involving a car and a pedal cycle. An adult pedal cyclist was slightly injured.
On 09 March 2014 at 16:30:00 a collision occured at Main Road junction with eastern Avenue east in Havering involving a car and a pedal cycle. A pedal cyclist of unknown age was slightly injured.
END