R549 Development

True to their word, South Derbyshire County Council are installing a new pedestrian crossing on the A5132 Hilton to Willington road at Birch Trees Farm.  This forms an important link for cyclists on NCN Route 549 the Dove Valley Route (Derby to Uttoxter).



And here we are, at Birch Trees Farm, with Egginton Junction Bridge to the left, and the entrance to the Hilton Greenway to the right. We await to see what markings will be painted on the road. The "SLOW" sign was there before work started, being a vain attempt to reduce the speed of traffic approaching the blind summit of the old railway bridge.



The new tarmac on the South side of the road sweeps round into the entrance of the Hilton Greenway, and a nice length of tarmac on the opposite side of the road (at the yellow sign) replaces the narrow gravel path which leads onto R54 heading towards Etwall.

The view looking towards the bridge from the entrance to R549.  Note the well positioned dropped kerb and the word "HELP" scrawled on the new tarmac (don't ask!).  Looking at this message again on a later occasion, I see that alongside the word Help is another scrawling in smaller letters saying " Too late, I am being raped."

A similar road crossing will shortly be installed in Etwall, taking pedestrians and cyclists across Derby Road, from Old Station Close to the entrance of the Leisure Centre, and on  to the entrance to John Port School.