Vulnerable Road Users Awareness Week at the controversial road junction at Mountain Ash
This week marked the start of Vulnerable Road Users Awareness Week, a crucial initiative for our community’s safety.
Why did the council’s consultants design a sprawling 5-lane junction on a single carriageway?
Our dedicated MountainAsh Neighbourhood Policing Team took proactive measures by organizing a speed safety operation. This operation stemmed from growing concerns regarding speeding incidents along the A4059, particularly near the controversial road junction. Many residents had been left puzzled by the decision of the council’s consultants to design a sprawling 5-lane junction on a single carriageway. This design had inadvertently transformed the area into an accident black spot. Commuters, in a rush to bypass the queuing traffic at the traffic lights, often pushed their vehicles to excessive speeds when the lights changed. The ensuing chaos occurred when multiple vehicles in the outer lane jockeyed for position.
Community members were deeply troubled by the situation, but it was a challenging task to educate impatient drivers who seemed to have little regard for other road users.
The primary objective of the operation was to raise awareness among those who habitually exceeded the speed limit
The primary objective of the operation was to raise awareness among those who habitually exceeded the speed limit and to enforce traffic laws related to insurance, licenses, and disqualified driving. During the operation, our officers stopped approximately 50 vehicles, resulting in either education or reports for 21 drivers who committed a range of offences.
The frustration over the ill-conceived junction design was evident, with many residents suggesting that a roundabout and a dedicated left lane for crossing the new bridge would have prevented this recurring problem. Additionally, they pointed out the proposed Northern Cross Valley link, which would include a roundabout at Mountain Ash Bowls Hall—an area notorious for accidents. The need for safer road design and responsible driving behaviour was never more evident than during this operation, and the community remains hopeful for a safer future on our roads.
