Octavius Regional Civil Engineering (ORCE) are carefully progressing towards completion of the Miners Arms junction safety improvement project.
The existing Miner’s Arms crossroads near Priddy in Somerset had a reputation as a collision hot spot, with numerous serious and fatal crashes in the area. According to Avon and Somerset Police, in the last 20 years there have been 35 collisions at the site, and it is considered likely that there may have been many more unreported incidents. To improve road safety and reduce the risk of further harm, Octavius was appointed by Somerset County Council through their New Assets Framework to replace the existing crossroads with a new staggered junction.
Nick Brooks Contracts Manager with ORCE commented. “Miners Arms was the first project awarded to Octavius through the New Assets Framework by Somerset County Council. I am immensely proud that we have been entrusted to deliver this essential project that will improve long term public safety and save lives.
Planning and undertaking a project in such a notorious safety blackspot demands great care and attention. Adopting methodologies that ensure the travelling public and our own workforce remain completely safe during the transition of the junction layout. During the five months of our project there has not been a single traffic incident. The traffic management restrictions we have applied has ensured the traffic is carefully controlled through this area and reinforces that the new staggered crossing, once completed will have a massive long-term impact on driver safety.
In addition to the distinctly challenging location, the project presented further specific issues to consider. The new junction, like the former crossroads, cannot be illuminated using traditional street lighting due to its location in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB). The former crossroads was also bordered by traditional dry-stone walls from which all the existing materials had to be painstakingly salvaged, stored for reuse in the realigned junction. We plan to have the new junction layout open on the 16th September 2024.”
