Highways England is improving Norcross roundabout along the A585
in Lancashire. It had already enlisted ten local primary schools
to design the safety signs before a spate of
driving-through-roadworks incidents at the site. Similar
incidents had also occurred at another congestion relief project
at junction 3 of the M55.
The winners of the poster competition have now been unveiled with
Stanah and Sacred Heart primary schools, both in
Thornton-Cleveleys, scooping the two prizes – a chance to visit
the site and see full-size versions of their signs on display
next week.
More than 200 Highways England staff – many of them roadworkers –
from across the North West voted for their favourite designs.
There were two themes in the competition with Stanah winning the
‘Please drive safely’ competition and Sacred Heart the other with
its ‘Thank you for driving safely’ design.
All ten of the schools taking part in the competition have been
rewarded with vouchers, construction-themed goody bags for the
children and have also taken delivery of full-size versions of
their entries. The competition was sponsored by construction firm
Carnell which is the lead contractor on the Norcross roundabout
project.
Highways England senior project manager Steve Mason said:
It’s fair to say we got a brilliant response from children at
every one of the ten schools involved and who would win the
competition was anyone’s guess as the entries were all
fantastic.
The competition was very timely as we did have issues at the
beginning of the project with a small minority of drivers
cutting through roadworks and jumping temporary traffic lights
with little regard for their own or our road workers’ safety.
Highways England’s Lucy Gurney, who organised the competition in
partnership with Carnell, said:
The competition was designed to help promote safer driving
generally but especially around road workers. Getting local
school children involved enabled the message to be taken home
to families and friends – some of the schools set the
competition as homework – and helps encourage a generation of
future drivers to think ‘safety first’.
The competition was linked to the schools’ Key Stage 2 curriculum
work.
Hamish Clough, head teacher of Stanah, said:
We are delighted that one of our pupils has won the
competition. The prize money will enable us to buy some new
play equipment for our children to use at break times.
A visit to the site is exciting for our children as they will
learn how the new road has been planned and constructed. They
will also have opportunity to discuss the roles and
responsibilities of staff on the site. It will help enrich
their Summer term topic on our locality and its development.
The Norcross project has had a dedicated safety van on site to
record incidents of drivers breaching roadworks. In response to
the incidents, Highways England adjusted its construction plans
and closed access off the A585 during overnight work.
