Traffic Calming - Russell Road, Moseley
Results updated 21 Mar 2024
The Russell Road Traffic Calming scheme proposal has been developed into a fully designed scheme, with a final delivery cost of £612,500.
The stated objectives and outcomes for the scheme were as follows:
- Improve driver behaviour, by reducing 85th percentile vehicular speeds below the 20mph limit,
- Reduce the volume of vehicular traffic routing via Russell Road, to improve safety and environmental quality for all users,
- Improve access and safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
It was clear that the proposed scheme would have reduced 85th percentile vehicular speeds below the 20mph limit, and the provision of additional facilities would have significantly improved access and safety for pedestrians.
Unfortunately, the design of this scheme would not have had a material impact upon the high volume of vehicular traffic using the route. This is significant, because traffic volumes using Russell Road are currently excessive, given that the route is not classified as an A or B class route. Maintaining the current volume of vehicular traffic, combined with the provision of speed humps at regular intervals along the route would have resulted in a worsening of conditions for cyclists and other non-car modes, and would also result in no overall improvement in vehicular traffic-related noise and emissions.
The provision of full width speed humps along the route would have also impacted upon street drainage and cleansing, and so increased maintenance would have been required, with an additional ongoing maintenance cost, to keep Russell Road clean and ensure adequate drainage for operational safety reasons.
The high scheme delivery cost has been caused in part by recent sharp increases in the costs of commodities and services. This is as a direct result of high inflation impacting upon the national economy. Unfortunately, this issue is affecting all highways and transport schemes across the Council’s Transport and Highways Delivery Programme.
In light of this information, the Council has taken the difficult decision to pause scheme development for the time being. However, if suitable funding is identified in future, the Council commits to revisit this proposal.
The Council recognises that local residents will be disappointed by this decision and apologises for this.
Overview
As part of an area-wide safety scheme, the speed limit on Russell Road, Moseley and surrounding roads was reduced to 20 mph in October 2016. However, traffic surveys carried out in September 2020 show there are still some issues with vehicles speeding along the road.
There have also been concerns in recent years regarding a number of collisions along the road, with the most up to date data from the last five years (May 2017- 2022) showing there were 30 reported personal injury collisions. There has however been a reduction in the number of collisions reported on Russell Road since the city council implemented a safety scheme at the junction of Russell Road and Moor Green Lane in 2018.
Three options have been developed with the aim of moderating vehicle speeds, continuing to reduce the likelihood of collisions and preventing dangerous overtaking along Russell Road. All three options, as part of the traffic calming measures, propose to introduce a new zebra crossing at the southern end of Russell Road, as well as link into existing proposals for a zebra crossing with parallel cycle crossing facility at the northern end of Russell Road which is part of the proposed Cannon Hill park to Moseley cycle route.
This consultation is part of the design process, to gain feedback on a preferred scheme from residents, businesses and people in the local area who could be impacted by the scheme.
The three options are outlined below:
Option 1
Option 1 – proposes to introduce road humps along the length of Russell Road, spaced at approximately 40-80m intervals (variable intervals are proposed to avoid introducing humps where there are existing dropped kerbs for private accesses or in the middle of a junction). They would however still be close enough together to slow traffic speeds and reduce the likelihood of collisions.
road hump - a continuous artificial hump with gaps either side for drainage on the surface of the highway, designed to control the speed of vehicles
Option 2
Option 2 – proposes to introduce speed cushions along the length of Russell Road, spaced at approximately 40m intervals. The cushions are likely to have a lesser impact on vehicle body noise than road humps, as larger commercial vehicles and emergency vehicles are able to straddle the cushions. This design would slow traffic speeds and reduce the likelihood of collisions.
speed cushion - a short, raised, rounded section of the carriageway, normally in the centre of each road lane, designed to be slightly wider than a car
Download Option 2 plan (opens new browser window)
Option 3
Option 3 – proposes to introduce gateway features and entry treatments at the north and south end of Russell Road, to indicate the approach into a traffic calmed area and encourage drivers to reduce their speed. These would include coloured surface treatments to maximise the visual impact of the features. Additionally this option proposes to introduce:
- a combination of road humps and speed cushions, along with kerb build outs along the length of Russell Road, spaced at approximately 40m intervals.
- kerb build-outs to reduce the carriageway width so only one vehicle may pass at a time. Build-outs could also incorporate a tree or planter.
- raised tables, colour surface treatments and removal of road markings at junctions of Russell Road with Moorcroft Road, The Russells and Goodby Road.
- additional raised zebra crossings near Cannon Hill Park car park entrance/exit and access to Moor Green Allotments.
- changes to Edgbaston Road/Russell Road roundabout, including narrowing of east and south approaches to roundabout, reduction of right-turn lane on Edgbaston Road, relocation of zebra crossings further from roundabout and surface treatments to visibly reduce circulatory width of roundabout, but still allow use by large vehicles.
gateway - used to signify the approach to an urban area or into a traffic calmed area. They most commonly incorporate a change in road surface colour or material, or a prominent sign to alert drivers to the calmed area or measures
entry treatment - can include features such as raised crossings, which give drivers further encouragement to decrease their speed
build-out - a section of kerb built out into the carriageway on one side only to narrow the road
Areas
- Balsall Heath West
- Moseley
Audiences
- All residents
- Councillors/MPs/MEPs
- People with Disabilities
- Cyclists
- Motor Vehicle Drivers
- Pedestrians
- Local Residents
- Businesses
Interests
- cycling
- Health & Wellbeing
- Environment
- Transport (Including Walking)
- Business
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