Totnes Bridge

Presentation toTotnes Town Council

5 November 2012

John Fewings

Totnes Bridge

Problems – A

• Footways over the Bridge are too narrow for pedestrians (currently both footways are between 1.1 and 1.2 metres wide)

• Department for Transport guidance recommends a minimum width of 1.5 metres for a pedestrian to pass a pushchair or wheelchair, or 1.7 metres for pushchairs and wheelchairs to pass each other

Problems – B

• Totnes bridge provides the only realistic pedestrian link between Bridgetown residential area and goods and services in the town centre

• Totnes Bridge provides a key tourist link between Steamer Quay and the town

User Comment 1

Issue was raised during TotM consultation day on the 28 April

Sample comment

“We urgently need changes to be made to the Bridge… a wider footpath for pushchairs”

User Comment 2

“I walk in almost daily from Bridgetown across the Bridge with my daughter Emily in a sling. I find threading my way past others means stepping off the narrow pavement into the fast traffic from behind. There’s no protection and I feel very vulnerable, particularly for my baby.  I dread the time when Emily is walking, with cars roaring past inches from her.”

Natalie Waldbaum, Bridgetown resident

Pedestrian counts

Count undertaken on Wednesday 4 July 2012

7am to 7pm

• North (upstream) Footway – 899 pedestrians• South (downstream) Footway – 2,901

pedestrians

So over 75% of pedestrians use southern footway

Phase 1 proposal

• Widen southern (downstream) footway to a width of 1.7 metres

• Leave northern (upstream) footway at its current width

• Signing, lining and lighting improvements• Retain two way vehicle traffic• Approximate cost: £75,000

Bridge sketch

Looking towardsBridgetown

Road width

• The proposal will retain a 5.6 metre road width, allowing two way traffic.

• Design Bulletin 32 states “5.5 metres – allows all vehicles to pass each other – below this width passing places may be required depending on the frequency of use by large vehicles.”

Plan View

Existing Elevation

Proposed Elevation

Dimensions used

Photomontage 1

Southern (downstream) footway widened

Photomontage 2

Northern (upstream) footway unaltered

Summary

• Southern footway will be widened from 1.2 metres to 1.7 metres

• Materials will match existing• Two way traffic will be retained

Future Proposals

These future proposals will only be considered once they have been

properly drawn up and after further consultation has taken

place.

Phase 2 proposals - A

• Modify “Seven Stars” roundabout to provide a better gateway into the town

• Consider change in surfacing levels and/or materials

• Consider traffic calming and 20mph speed limit

• Alterations to Bridgetown Hill junction to reduce through traffic

Phase 2 proposals - B

• Provide pedestrian crossing at Bridgetown end of bridge, or both ends of bridge

• Cycle lanes could be considered if traffic flows and speeds are significantly reduced