A Carnoustie councillor has called on Angus Council to give urgent attention to a “death trap” junction in the town before there is a serious accident.
Councillor David Cheape has been contacted by residents about the unnamed road known locally as Westhaven Road and its junction with Arbroath Road which they have labelled a “death trap”.
Car drivers travelling down the road, which connects Panbride to Arbroath Road, have poor visibility if they wish to turn left due to electricity poles and a low level wall.
Mr Cheape said drivers of heavy goods vehicles have to go into the opposing lane to get turned and the tight turn has resulted in damage to power lines and drainage work.
He said: “A wooden pole suspending electric cables with mainstays, a drainage manhole and the recently resurfaced road are all being damaged by vehicles, particularly turning lorries, on route eastwards from Westhaven Road.
“In the past turning HGV traffic from Westhaven Road have come into contact with the equipment causing clashing of overhead conductors and or breakage of conductors presenting a serious safety hazard to both vehicular traffic and the general public.
“In addition, there is damage to roadside/ field mains drainage at the junction often due to breakage from, it would seem, articulated vehicles.
“I think this matter requires immediate attention in the interest of public safety.”
Mr Cheape met with representatives from Angus Council’s roads department to discuss the issue yesterday, who have agreed to assess the junction.
The independent councillor said he would like to see the junction expanded, which would require Angus Council to obtain a small area of privately-owned farmland.
“Put simply, I think the dimension of the existing junction is inadequate for the current volume of traffic and requires pretty urgent attention to prevent the occurrence of a serious incident,” he continued.
“The absence of adequate visibility splay from Westhaven Road presents a largely blind junction in an easterly direction due to the existing visually obstructive roadside stonewall plus insufficient turning circle for larger vehicles.
“It should be noted that this junction is at the point of the very busy cycle crossing point to the cycle track.
“The ideal solution is to increase visibility for traffic by improving the bell mouth to mirror what has been done on the west side of the road.
“I understand this will require utilising a small area of privately owned farmland but an approach could be made in this regard.”
Angus Council has agreed to investigate safety at the junction after the issue was raised by Mr Cheape.
An Angus Council spokesperson said: “The council undertakes an Accident Investigation Programme and recommends accident mitigation measures and road improvements on an evidence-based approach.
“It was agreed that the council would assess the junction on this basis and would discuss the reported issues with Police Scotland partners.”
