I have been asked by local residents why there is no barrier protecting the pavement running parallel to the A92 at Panmurefield. It is directly behind the carriageway, which has a 40mph speed limit, and as the pavement is well used by pedestrians and cyclists I agree that it would be appropriate to install a pedestrian guardrail. I raised the matter with the City Development Department and the traffic engineers undertook an inspection of the Panmurefield roundabout section of the A92.
The council’s head of transportation has subsequently reported back to me to advise that with the existing layout arrangement it will not be possible to erect a new pedestrian guardrail set back 0.5m behind the kerbline and maintain a 1.8m wide footway for pedestrians, including wheel chair users and push chairs. To erect a new section of pedestrian guardrail would also require the construction of a footway widening scheme to maintain a 1.8m wide footway.
I have been assured that the traffic engineers will continue to monitor this location and a pedestrian guardrail and footway widening scheme will be considered within a future minor improvement / road safety programme but will have to compete with other schemes within the available budgets.
