A6 danger warning: Call to cut speed limit (From The Bolton News)

A6 danger warning: Call to cut speed limit

8:01am Tuesday 6th May 2008 in

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AN accident plagued road should have its speed limit cut, a councillor has said.

Cllr John Barrow, who represents Horwich and Blackrod on Bolton Council, wants the 60mph hour limit on the Blackrod by-pass reduced to just 40mph.

His call comes days after a lorry driver had to be airlifted to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester when his truck smashed through a fence on the A6 after a crash with a BMW. He suffered serious internal injuries.

The A6 has proved to be an accident black spot in recent years. In February a lorry overturned at a roundabout close to the bypass. Days after that a pensioner was hit by a car while walking his dog. He later died.

In October 2005, mother-of-two Eileen Ruxton was killed when her car careered across the road.

Cllr Barrow, a Conservative councillor, said: "The situation has improved since traffic lights were installed at the junction with Manchester Road but there are still accidents.

"The only way to help the situation is to reduce the speed limit on the entire bypass to 40mph instead of the national speed limit, which is what it is at the moment.

"I will be raising the issue at a council meeting."

Cllr Nick Peel, Labour's executive member for highways, said: "I'm very sympathetic towards this issue. This is not the first time people have brought it up.

"If Cllr Barrow puts in a request with the highways department for the speed limit to be looked at, then officers will look into it.

"The number one priority for me in terms of highways is road safety and if anyone makes a request for a speed limit on a given road to be reduced we would consider it very seriously."

Anyone with any information about Friday's crash, at about 1.15pm, is asked to call the police on 0161 856 7201.