10:40am Thursday 9th July 2009
NEW speed restrictions are being introduced on a dangerous stretch of the A35 where several people have been killed.
Highways chiefs plan to reduce the limits on two sections of the trunk route between Chideock and the Crown Roundabout at Bridport.
Members of the town council’s highways and transportation sub committee were told that the proposal is to extend the exiting 40mph limit east of Chideock all the way to the 50 mph limit at Miles Cross – a notorious accident blackspot where there have been several deaths.
The 50mph limit would be extended from there to cover the whole of Bridport bypass up to the Crown Roundabout.
The highways Agency says it hopes to have the new speed limits in place within the next six months.
Town Surveyor Daryl Chambers said the reductions were something the authority had been lobbying for.
“It’s got to be good – let’s hope it reduces the accidents,” he said.
West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin, who has been calling for safety improvement along that stretch of road for several years also welcomed the plans.
He said: “It is very good news that, after a long campaign to get safer speed limits on this dangerous stretch of road, the Highways Agency is taking steps in the right direction. They have listened to what we have been saying – and I strongly welcome this.”
Over the years the road between Chideock and Bridport has claimed many lives – including two double death crashes.
In 2005 two pensioners from Lyme Regis Rhys Lloyd, 89 and Popsy Hopkins, 87 died when their car was involved in a three vehicle crash at the Miles Cross junction.
The junction at the turning to Eype claimed the lives of two young doctors shortly after the bypass was opened.
Road safety campaigners have called for a roundabout at Miles Cross.
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