Campaigner warns that crash 'is sad reminder' of dangers at road junction

AN A1 crash that left a Retford man hospitalised is a sad reminder of the dangers posed by the road, a local campaigner has warned.

The collision between a bus and a lorry, which took place at the end of June, occurred close to the junction with Elkesley, in an area that has seen decades of campaigning.

After calls from residents for a bridge over the A1 instead of the existing A1 junction, and subsequent consultation on the scheme, work is scheduled to begin by the end of the year, for completion in 2011 to 2012.

Head of the Elkesley Bridge Campaign Dr David Pell said residents are shocked by the crash, but added it demonstrated the dangers of the current road layout.

"We were very distressed to hear of the accident," he said.

"It is extremely difficult for people to get out of the verge with any certainty of safety onto what amounts to a motorway.

"It's been a talking point for the past few days since the accident."

The Highways Agency, which had prioritised the situation as a special case, has been in regular contact with residents and articles about the plans progress have featured in the village newsletter.

Dr Pell said: "It is the first major incident that's happened since the campaign started.

"Although it's a 50 miles-per-hour limit, that is very often exceeded by the traffic, which has grown tremendously over the years.

"It's very sad this happened so close to the alteration."

Road users in Elkesley heading in the direction of Retford are forced to use Twyford Lane, which directly joins the A1, giving a stationary start to join fast-moving traffic.

Under the alteration plans, Elkesley's northbound slip roads would be linked to Coalpit Lane, avoiding the need for a roundabout south of the A1.

The proposed A1 bridge, which would link Coalpit Lane and Jockey Lane, would instead see a new roundabout north of the A road.

A new road would run parallel to Coalpit Lane, beginning from the end of High Street to the west of Pepperly Rise.

Entrance to the A1 via Twyford Lane would then be cut off to all but emergency vehicles.