Safer pathway to Bel Royal School

16 January 2015

The pavement on Rue de Haut in St Lawrence is being widened to make it safer for pedestrians and provide a safe pathway to Bel Royal School.

Transport and Technical Services will start on the project on Monday 19 January 2015. The road will be closed between Little Grove and Kincaid Gardens from 7.30am to 6pm. Access to properties will be maintained during the road closure times by arrangement with the contractor.

The road will be open to through traffic at other times.

Work to be carried out

The road is narrow, so the new footpath will be built flush with the existing road surface, with timber bollards placed at intervals between the footpath and the road.

Once the work is finished, in about seven weeks’ time, the road will only be wide enough for one car to pass at a time. Cars will have to give way to each other by driving on to the 'virtual' pavement, similar to the way they do in the narrower sections at the moment.

This will slow down the traffic along the road and is similar to existing schemes in St Mary, Jambart Lane and West Hill.

Result of a public consultation

Pedestrian safety in the area was highlighted in the development of a sustainable travel plan for Bel Royal School and the need for improvements supported by the connétable and deputies of St Lawrence in late 2013.

A public consultation took place about the introduction of traffic calming measures and improved pedestrian facilities and the proposals were amended following public comment.

Transport and Technical Services Assistant Minister, Deputy Richard Rondel, said “The existing footpath is really narrow which forces pedestrians, especially family groups and parents with pushchairs, to walk in the road. Once the work is finished, they will be able to walk entirely on the footpath. Drivers will have to give way to the pedestrians.”

St Lawrence Connétable Deidre Mezbourian said “I am very pleased to see these improvements which will make a great difference to the safety of pedestrians including children and their parents walking to and from Bel Royal School, as well as people from the nearby residential home.”