Traffic lights set to be installed at ‘unsafe’ underpass

By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter

Traffic lights could be installed at a narrow underpass where residents feel “unsafe” after the scheme was green-lit.

A traffic study was carried out in 2022 due to concerns raised by locals about the layout of the Culvert Road underpass, in Wandsworth borough.

The traffic signal-controlled junction would allow safer crossing for pedestrians and vehicles through the underpass by helping to separate them, according to a Wandsworth council report.

The report said “vulnerable road users and vehicles are expected to share a narrow space through the underpass”, under its current layout.

The report also described footway provision at the underpass as “inadequate, especially for wheelchair users as an absolute minimum clear width of 0.9m is required, resulting in many pedestrians preferring to use the’ carriageway instead”.

It said there had been six recorded collisions that resulted in slight injuries, involving a motorbike and vehicle – three either side of the underpass.

Nick O’Donnell, assistant director of traffic and engineering at the council, described the underpass as ‘very narrow and difficult… particularly for pedestrians and vulnerable users to navigate in light of traffic and mopeds and speeding vehicles down there’.

Mr O’Donnell said officers were exploring options for enforcement, including a red light or CCTV camera, but a decision had not been made.

The report said the scheme was put forward due to “pedestrian demand, a substandard footway, the need to safeguard vulnerable road users and mange potential conflict between all road users at the underpass”.

The scheme includes the installation of a signal-controlled junction on both sides of the underpass, along with waiting and restrictions to prevent obstructions.

The council set aside £150,000 for Culvert Road traffic signal junction improvements and £16,350 had been spent by the end of the 2022/23 financial year, according to the report – leaving £133,650 to implement the scheme.

The scheme at the meeting also needs approval from the council’s executive committee, along with agreement from TfL and Network Rail, to go ahead.

Pictured top: Culvert Road underpass (Picture: Google Street View)