Three-week road closure for safety improvements at ‘suicide corner’ in St George

Long-awaited work to improve safety on a dangerous road corner dubbed ‘suicide corner’ near Conham River Park will finally start next month.

The layout of the bend where Conham Road becomes Crews Hole Road in St George will be changed slightly to increase visibility for pedestrians who cross it to join the River Avon Trail.

The work starts on July 18 and will result in a three-week closure of the road.

This news was welcomed by members of St George Active Travel Group at a meeting last week. Suggestions were also made for a picnic or tea party along the stretch of road during the time of closure.

Detailed plans show the road will be widened slightly to remove a kink in the corner while the footpath will be extended on the woodland side. A kerbed edge will then provide a pedestrian crossing point with better visibility.

A seperate cycle entry point will be created at the crossing for the River Avon Trail and overhanging vegetation will be cleared.

The work comes after the plans were put out for consultation last year. They follow earlier ideas for a zebra crossing and the relocation of the road footpath.

St George Active Travel Group chairman Lyndsey Melling told the meeting last week: “I’m really pleased that something is finally being done about this corner.”

She added: “It has been a problem for a long while.

“The issue is that on that corner, where Crews Hole Road becomes Conham Road, if you are walking along the trail and you want to continue along Conham Road toward Conham River Park you need to cross.

“It is not too bad if you are going from left to right, but if you going back up, you can’t see around the corner and that road has an issue with speeding traffic.”

Ms Melling said the road closure will impact vehicles, which will be signposted on a diversion around Troopers Hill, but not cyclists and walkers.

She said it was a ‘fabulous opportunity’ for people to enjoy the area without worrying about a ‘car window clipping you as you walk along the footpath’, and that the group will encourage people in St George to come and use the stretch of road during the closure.

The group is to also look into one member’s suggestion that a tea party or picnic be held.

To find out more about St George Active Travel Group, visit its website here.