Work to start on new pedestrian safety measures

Work to install new pedestrian safety measures at the Octagon roundabout and around the new Plymouth School of Creative Arts will get under way on Monday 24 August.

The scheme is being funded by developer contributions as one of the planning conditions for the school and will help to improve access and safety for pedestrians using the area.

The works, which are being carried out by Plymouth City Council’s highways contractor Amey, will include:

• New zebra crossings on Octagon Street and Martin Street, near the roundabout
• A new zebra crossing on Martin Street, opposite the Plymouth School of Creative Arts
• Widening the existing ‘dropped crossings’ on Millbay Road to include tactile paving and kerbing
• A signalised pedestrian crossing on Union Street, to the west of the roundabout

Temporary four-way traffic lights will need to be used on Millbay roundabout (the roundabout at the entrance to the ferry port) for around three weeks during September. These will be manually operated during the morning and afternoon peak travel times to minimise disruption.

The city centre-bound side of Millbay Road will also be reduced to one lane as it approaches the roundabout during this phase.

At the end of September there will be a directional road closure on one side of Martin Street, heading from the Octagon to Millbay roundabout. This will be in place for around four weeks. Traffic heading to the port will be diverted via Millbay Road.

In October there will be a full road closure on Octagon Street, from the Octagon to Rendle Street, while work to install the zebra crossing is carried out. This will be in place for around four to five weeks.

The works are expected to take around 12 weeks in total.

Councillor Brian Vincent, Cabinet Member for Streetscene, said: “These improvements should help to make it easier and safer for pedestrians to get around these busy junctions and to access the new school. We’d like to thank drivers for their patience while this important work is carried out.”