Shropshire Star

Shifnal traffic lights look set to stay after terrifying crashes - with pictures and video

They are a daily frustration to motorists, traffic lights set up for no apparent reason.

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Motorists travel through the lights at Upton Crossroads

But it is likely the lights, on a popular commuter route between Telford and Wolverhampton, are here to stay.

A plan for the future of the dangerous traffic junction on the A464 will be put together later this month, it has been revealed.

The 'temporary' traffic lights have been up at the Upton Crossroads near Shifnal for more than a year.

And they to remain a while longer while a final plan is prepared for a permanent solution at the accident black spot.

Accidents at the junction are so regular that the lights were put purely to force traffic to slow down.

The stretch of road is straight, encouraging motorists to speed up, and a number had lost control with disastrous consequences.

Now, a comprehensive report on the junction is set to be completed in the coming weeks, with a view to providing a permanent solution to make it more safe.

Gareth Proffitt, a spokesman for Shropshire Council said: "Earlier this year, Shropshire Council commissioned our consultants, Mouchel, to provide a comprehensive report on the feasibility for a permanent traffic signal installation at this junction, to improve road safety.

"The report – due shortly – will determine whether permanent traffic signals at this location would be possible.

"In addition a further assessment is being provided in May with the final recommendations for improving safety at this location.

"As soon as the information is available from our consultants this will be discussed with the local councillor and the cabinet member to agree the way forward with timescales - this will be made public.

"We’re aiming to remove the temporary traffic signals as soon as we can, however we firmly believe that they need to remain in operation to ensure that further accidents are prevented."

The council has previously said that the crossroads experiences regular accidents due to poor road alignment and high traffic speeds.

It comes as Shifnal Town Council has joined the national "20's plenty where people live" campaign in a bid to reduce speed limits throughout the town.

Mayor Robert Harrop wants everyone driving through the town today to adhere to the lower speed limits and representatives from the council will be visiting town primary schools to make children aware of the campaign.

A petition, launched by the council on Sunday to gather support for the campaign, has already gathered a number of signatures.

Crashes at the Upton Crossroads

Crashes at the crossroads
Crashes at the crossroads
Crashes at the crossroads
Crashes at the crossroads

These are just some of the accidents that have happened at the Upton Crossroads.

A couple of these dramatic images came from security cameras fitted to the side of the house owned by Tony and Kelly Honicke.

They have been used to hearing the screeching of tyres and the cruncking of metal.

But since the traffic lights were put up there has not been a single accident.

The couple today described the experiment with the lights “100 per cent effective”

Mr Honicke says he and his wife are delighted with the temporary traffic lights.

He also also runs his construction company Trio Construction Services from the site in Upton Lane and said the family had been plagued by car accidents in the past, resulting in the emergency services being called out on multiple occasions.

But he said in the months since the lights were put in there have been “zero” accidents at the junction.

Mr Honicke, who has two children, Isabelle and William, said: “The lights were put up as a safety trial and I think they have been up for about 14 or 15 months.

“In that time we have had zero accidents, for us it has been absolutely fantastic.

“I’m not aware of any plan but we are very satisfied with the way it is now. As a safety test it has been 100 per cent affective.”

One accident caught on the couple’s CCTV camera incolved a car travelling at speed, clipping a kerb and turning over multiple times and apparently disintegrating. Amazingly, the driver escaped with a broken leg.

In another case, a car crashed into the side of a barn, leaving a perfect hole in the side.

Mr Honicke said that before the lights were put in place, the junction was “terrible”.

He added: “We had cars inside the house, cars in the barn, one car was upside down.

“Even today I’ve been out working on the junction and even with the lights up they come through at quite a speed.

“But as a test, for us, this has been 100 per cent effective. We’re perfectly happy with the way it is now.”