Kirkby Thore onto the A66, a dangerous junction!! ?

This video was taken over a couple of hours observing the traffic movements into and out of Kirkby Thore from the A66 near Penrith.

To the locals this is a very frightening and most concerning very frequent experience. The A66 carries 10's of thousands of vehicles daily a large proportion being HGV's.

The visibility line for drivers joining the A66 from Kirkby Thore is very very short, to the left (east) probably around 25 metres to the right (west) probably 40 metres.

Whilst the speed indications on the easterly and westerly approaches request 40 miles per hour and signs indicate that drivers should be aware of traffic entering, my experience and other locals confirm that vehicles go through much faster than 40mph.

Considering that vehicles travelling from east to west have no visibility of traffic entering the main road until they can see the junction which is about 25 metres at say 40 miles per hour that equates to about 1.5 seconds before potential impact. That takes account of the onslaught to the left when joining the A66 but the wary driver also has to be very conscious of traffic bearing down the hill with a view of about 40 metres and about to take a left curve in the road.

The junction has no lighting whatsoever and a bus stop on both sides of the road.

I think that the video clearly demonstrates that from every possible viewpoint or angle this junction is a complete nightmare!!

Children, elderly people have to cross this highway and take into account three way traffic and with very reduced visibility.

Despite questions to the Highways authority and attempts by Kirkby Thore Parish Council, County councillors and our previous MP no changes or improvements will be made!!

This junction is a disgrace, it must rank as one of the worst highway junctions in the world.

Maybe the new Member of Parliament, Rory Stewart could give the long suffering users of this horrendous junction some support, help or raised profile?

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Kirkby Thore
• Temple Sowerby
• A66
• Crash
• Rory Stewart
• Member of Parliament
• dangerous
• junction