Following a long-running campaign, Hampshire County Council have agreed improvements to the Cart & Horses A33 junction in Kings Worthy.
The scheme will see the central reservation (where cars wait to turn right) enlarged, vehicle activated warning signs installed on the A33 approaching the junction and coloured bar markings set at decreasing intervals to help reduce vehicle speeds, plus a proposal to lower the current 50mph speed limit to 40mph.
Work is due to start before the end of this year, at an estimated cost of £103,000, part-funded from developer contributions, and should be completed by June 2015.
Steve Brine said: "It is true I have devoted a great deal of energy to this campaign since I was elected which I think was right given the wide level of public anxiety about safety here, including among my own family who use the junction on most days.
"It is good that we now have a promise of action from the county council and I pay tribute to local councillors from all three parties who've worked (more-or-less) as one with me to make the case for these changes.
"I do extend my thanks to Cllr Sean Woodward, from HCC, as well who visited the junction at my request within an hour of being appointed as Executive Member for Transport last year. He has listened to the concerns – and seen the plans - of local residents.
"And also to the Secretary of State, Patrick McLoughlin, whose visit to the spot last year was certainly a turning point. If you remember he took one look and called it a "nasty junction."
"However, as I have said in the press since these plans were revealed, I would prefer to see a more fundamental road layout change here, but we now have these plans from HCC and I think we should support them. Personally, I see them very much as part one of something much greater if safety analysis after the changes do not show the kind of improvement expected by HCC.
"My hope is, this programme of work will make things safer if we succeed in bringing the speed at which cars approach the junction right down. My view hasn't changed that, in the end, it is this which is the key to making this junction safer for all of us.
"To be clear, this is not a revolution at the Cart & Horses junction but it is solid progress."
Pictured; Steve Brine with Cllr Sean Woodward and Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin at the Cart & Horses junction
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You can find out more about this initial scheme at www.stevebrine.com/a33, and let Steve know your thoughts via [email protected].
