A number of residents have raised concerns about the changes for traffic since the new railway crossing barriers were installed on Cornton Road. On some occasions queuing traffic has stopped on the rail tracks. This has been covered recently in the Stirling Observer.
Why was the crossing replaced?
Back in 2017 plans to replace the crossing with a road bridge were objected to by many, including the Community Council.
Cornton Crossing was due for renewal by 2020, and with changes in safety requirements, a like for like replacement was not possible. The barrier work was completed in May 2021 with the aim to increase safety for rail and road passengers. The crossing now includes obstacle detection measures, meaning that in the case of any obstruction the train will not pass through. This safety improvement has come at a cost of increased barrier down time from 38 to 132 seconds on average per train.
Driving over the Crossing
It is very important that when driving this route you do not enter the railway crossing without knowing that your exit is clear. So please be patient and be aware that vehicles in front of you may not move until they are sure they can safely exit the crossing.
The crossing has the latest obstacle detection technology that scans the area of the crossing to ensure that it is clear before trains are permitted to approach. So you are not at risk if you do unfortunately need to stop there.
Impacts on the surrounding roads
Dealing with any impact of the crossing changes on the surrounding road network are the responsibility of Stirling Council. The main impact has been for traffic on the north side of the rail crossing, where with turning vehicles and parked cars around Westerlea drive vehicles may need to wait.
The pinch point by the Westerlea Drive junction was visited by Stirling Council in November after we raised the issue with them. Their response was that at this point the road is 6.4m wide which should allow for 2 way traffic and for HGVs to pass parked cars. The current format and extent of the cycle way/footpath and road junction is required for visibility of pedestrians and cyclists by drivers leaving Westerlea Doad. At that time parking restrictions were not considered necessary. However it was indicated that the situation would continue to be monitored.
The Community Council and Ward Councilors have raised the issue again with Stirling Council to bring recent events to their attention.
What has been your experience?
What has your experience been of living nearby, walking, cycling or driving this route since the crossing changes? Leave a comment or feel free to get in touch via contact@ccbridgeofallan.org.uk
The problem here can be attributed to the buildout/nibs which were created by Stirling Council, with funding from SUSTRANS, at the end of Westerlea Drive. This narrows Cornton Rd for a short distance at the junction to the extent that if cars are parked in the area there is insufficient space to pass through the area. The nibs were created to improve visibility at the junction but unlike every other junctions in B of A this junction has an area of grass which was created with the junction to ensure a good line of sight was established. SC state that the road is 6.4m wide at this point. Many private cars are in the region of 2m wide and HGV’s much wider. Clearly if there are parked vehicles then to maintain safety one way traffic is the only option. .
There is one simple solution. Remove the build outs and reinstate the kerb to the previous position.
There is another simple solution: If drivers parking on Cornton Road outside the flats between Carsaig Court and Westerlea Drive are making it difficult for other drivers to pass then some double yellow lines to remove the parking sounds an appropriate solution. That may also encourage some of the drivers to use the car park to the rear of those flats. It must also be rememberd that Highway Code rule 243 says DO NOT stop or park….. opposite or within 10 m of a junction