A LOCAL resident has called for action to be taken to improve the safety of the A36 at Black Dog Hill following a fatal traffic collision early this month.
a Warminster man was killed after his car collided with another on the stretch of the A36 known as Black Dog Hill, between Frome and Warminster on Monday 11th September.
Following the accident, Fraser Mills, who lives near the road at Black Dog Farm, has written to Highways England asking them to update the road markings, suggesting that the dotted white lines on the downhill lane be changed to double white lines, to prevent overtaking from vehicles travelling downhill as he believes that visibility is not good enough for this manoeuvre.
In his letter Fraser said, “I have emailed and phoned Highways England at Bristol on several occasions to request most urgently that the road markings on the stretch of road known as Black Dog Hill be upgraded. It is a three-lane single carriageway with solid white line and dotted white line markings on the downhill lane, therefore permitting a legal approach speed of 120mph in the centre lane should vehicles overtake in both directions.
“The topography and visibility on this stretch of road are inadequate for such manoeuvres and increase the liability of collisions occurring.
“The line markings have been repainted twice in recent years but there has been no reaction to my pleas, or those of the Police to upgrade the downhill dotted white line to a solid white line.
“I ask that you urgently direct a rapid response to redress the inadequate road markings on the downhill stretch of the A36 (Black Dog Hill) with the aim of implementing double white lines with immediate authorisation.”
Neil Winter, Highways England route manager of the A36 said, “Safety is our top priority and we have recently carried out an assessment of the A36 with a view to determining what broad measures could be introduced to improve its overall safety.
“Following this assessment we have identified areas for further consideration and a feasibility study looking at the three-lane sections, including Black Dog Hill, will be carried out in due course to inform any future improvements.”