THE COUNCIL says options are still being looked at to ease congestion at Dodworth Road crossroads after a document surfaced this week that showed proposals for a roundabout on part of a park next to the junction.
The council revealed proposals for a major £2.6m scheme to improve traffic flow at the congested crossroads in May last year. At that stage detailed plans had still to be drawn up but works would involve ‘junction improvements’ to enhance traffic flows at the junction of Dodworth Road and Broadway.
There has been little movement on the scheme since then and a document sent to the Chronicle this week, which is a funding bid made to the Department of Transport, said the proposal would involve the ‘construction of a new gyratory’ - which is larger or more complex than an ordinary roundabout - ‘on public open space which is likely to result in public concern’. The closest piece of public open space to the crossroads is Penny Pie Park.
However, a council spokeswoman has told the Chronicle that document is no longer relevant as the funding bid was declared unsuccessful last November. She said officers have now gone back to drawing board to work on a suitable scheme.
Council boss Matt Gladstone told the Chronicle a range of options are being considered.
He said: “We need to make it easier for people to get in and out of Barnsley from the M1 at J37. At the moment there’s a lot of traffic congestion which is causing air pollution. Better roads will lead to faster travel times, cleaner air and more businesses investing in Barnsley.
“So we’re working with Highways England and Sheffield City Region to make the A628 Dodworth Road a quicker and easier route between Barnsley town centre and the motorway.
“It’s very early stages, so we’re currently exploring a range of options. As soon as we’re clear on what the options are, we’ll be talking directly to local residents. Once we’re clear on the proposed scheme we’ll hold a planning consultation.”
Dodworth Road and the junction with Broadway and Pogmoor Road suffers from heavy congestion at peak times and is a designated AQMA - air quality management area - which means the council is working to reduce air pollution in that area.
It snarls up with traffic from 8am-10am and at 2pm-6pm.
The funding application submitted to the Department of Transport warned that a ‘do nothing’ approach was not an option as traffic modelling shows congestion on Dodworth Road and queuing at the crossroads is ‘reaching critical levels and will soon extend back to the M1 slip road’.
