A580 Speed Limit Reduction

Initiated by Worsley and Boothstown Community Committee is a proposal to change the traffic lights at the junction of the East Lancashire Road (A580) and Ellenbrook Road/Newearth Road to have a full red pedestrian phase. Schemes of this type can only be put in place, for safety reasons if the speed limit on the road is 50mph or less.

Thus, the highways and the road safety teams are currently consulting on reducing the speed limit on the East Lancashire Road from the boundary with Wigan to the junction with the M60, to be 50mph. [salford.gov.uk/a580].

The speed limit is currently 60mph, however, in the last three years there have been 45 collisions resulting in 77 casualties that include a number of fatal and serious injuries.

As the speed of a vehicle ultimately affects the potential seriousness of any collision, it is therefore proposed to introduce a reduced speed of 50mph along this length, this will make the entire length of the Salford section a uniform 50mph.

If the consultation is successful then the new will require changes to the legal order and there will need to be new speed limit signs. It will also be necessary to ensure that the new limit receives enforcement and so a range of various techniques are being investigated to determine the most appropriate one.

The most likely option involves ad-hoc mobile speed camera enforcement along the entire route. As this can take place at any time and at any point along the East Lancashire Road, the element of surprise should make drivers wary and more likely to abide by the new limit.

A public consultation on the final proposals will be undertaken in February/March 2008. Further details will be published here when we have the information.

 this page last updated 10th February 2008