A DECISION over whether to install crash barriers on a busy road in Worcester will be made in September, it has emerged.

A meeting to discuss the third phase of the A4440 improvement scheme took place at St Peter’s Village Hall in Worcester on Monday (June 27) to show residents the plans for the busy road.

St Peter’s Parish Council has been pushing for crash barriers to be installed the whole way along the route between the Norton Roundabout and Whittington Roundabout as part of the £33million scheme, voicing concerns for the safety of people walking alongside the busy road.

But the county council has now said a decision will only be made after an independent road safety audit.

County councillor Marc Bayliss said: “The scheme is one of the biggest road improvement schemes in Worcestershire for a generation. It will help to relieve the congestion particularly during peak hours.

"I will press for full implementation of what the road safety audit decides, but I want to have a professional opinion and then the safety audit must be listened to.

“It will not be a question of finance. If the audit states crash barriers are necessary I will completely back them being implemented.”

St Peter’s parish councillor Ross Walker, who has lobbied for the crash barriers, convinced his fellow councillors to await for the decision of the road safety audit, due in September, before making any further decisions.

The road currently sees 30,500 vehicles a day using it, and the proposed improvements hope to reduce the average journey time from 13.5 minutes to six minutes from Powick to Whittington during the morning rush hour and from 10 minutes to four minutes during the evening peak.

Phase three of the project includes a new dedicated left-hand turn from Whittington Road (from M5 junction seven) to the westbound Crookbarrow Way (A4440), removing the current give way there as well as dual-tracking of the entire length of the Southern Link Road between Whittington and Ketch roundabouts.

Residents at the meeting said they are worried about the noise pollution in the area as well as potential speeding which would result from the expansion of the road.

Jonathan Copnall, project manager for the third phase, said: “The speed limit for the central section will be 60 miles an hour, with this reducing to 40 miles an hour near the roundabouts. New noise barriers have been added and so this should ease the concerns of residents.

He added: “We are still in discussion over the long-term implementation of crash barriers.”

Cllr Ken Pollock, county council cabinet member for economy, skills and infrastructure, said: “The design of the final stage of the Southern Link Road improvement has not yet been finalised. This will be subject to a road safety audit considering the safety implications of the improvement scheme.”

It is hoped that the project will be finished in 2018.