Pedestrian works due to get underway in Stromness

Works to improve pedestrian safety in Stromness are due to get underway this week.

Crossing points are due to be upgraded or installed across the town, including dropped kerbs, which will particularly help pedestrians to cross the road whilst using a wheelchair or pushing a pram. 

A traffic island is also planned for the bottom of the Back Road.  

This crossing has proved tricky for pedestrians to use in the past – with the road being particularly wide at its junction with North End Road and traffic coming in three separate directions, with reduced visibility depending on where pedestrians are crossing from.

A traffic island will provide safe refuge for pedestrians to stop midway through crossing to allow traffic to pass. 

Work on this particular aspect has been paused however, to allow further discussion with Stromness Community Council which has raised concerns over the potential effects on particularly large vehicles turning in and out of the road – something which extensive modelling of the new road layout has shown not to be the case.

Hayley Green is the Council’s Corporate Director for Neighbourhood Services and Infrastructure.  She said “As anyone knows who lives in, works in or visits Stromness its historic layout gives rise to quirks within its roads and streets– some of which can make for challenging conditions for pedestrians to get around safely.

“As a local authority, the responsibility to ensure safe crossings lies with us.  Some problems we cannot easily solve but the issue of the Back Road junction we can. These accessibility improvements will help some of the most vulnerable in our community, incorporating tactile paving for the visually impaired and improving road safety for all road users, particularly elderly and school children.

“Our professionally qualified team has carried out extensive planning and modelling works to ensure that the traffic island can provide the safe refuge needed but also be easily navigated by those using large vehicles – albeit it at a reduced speed, which is also a positive change

“We’ll continue our discussions with the Community Council on this – but would provide assurances that the concerns they have raised have very much been taken into consideration in the development of this vital project.”

The work is being funded by a grant from HITRANS through the Regional Active Travel Grant – Path Improvement Fund