Hi Wayne, as requested here is a copy-paste of the email I sent to the local pm for that constituency. No names or personal details were given out you will note other than my own.Date: 5 Oct 2016 11:08
Subject: Dangerous road condition - A6
To: <amanda.solloway.mp@parliament.uk>
Cc:
Dear Amanda,
I am writing to you to report a dangerous road condition within your local area. I note that your catchment on your website does't not cover the exact area in question but perhaps you could forward this on to the relevant party/ parties?
I was travelling in a convoy of several cars at around 0800 on Sunday morning in damp but not wet conditions, temperatures were well above freezing.
After exiting Thulston Roundabout off J2 A50 east and accelerating to approximately 35mph the car in front of me lost control and mounted the nearside curb and impacted the steel barrier with the front end of the car followed by the rear. No injuries were sustained although the car was damaged but drive-able.
Approximately 30 minutes later another member of the group who was joining us lost control at low speed on the same spot and sustained minor front end damage. Our immediate thoughts were a diesel spill or similar but subsequent digging suggests a fault with the road surface.
We cleared the road of any debris and noted at the time that accident debris was everywhere from several makes and models of cars which I found unusual.
Upon studying google street-view imagery from September 2013 and April 2016 it shows recent evidence of recent crash damage and debris (including a freshly replaced section of Armco barrier and coned/ netted railings) as shown in the attached images.
I have also spoken to a civil engineer who worked on highways for over 3 decades and he suggests that the road may have been laid with SMA (Stone Mastic Asphalt) which comes pre mixed with chippings and is quick and cheap to lay. It has been since identified to be problematic.
The reasons are 3 fold.
1. The surface 'polishes' by traffic over time causing a very slick surface. (you will note the shiny surface in dry conditions in the attached imagery)
2. The 'matting' is laid in such a manner that it creates gullies in the middle of the road as the joins erode (plucking) which in turn effect the tyre contact patch in very specific areas (see attached image)
3. It's properties do not support adequate drainage or evaporation of surface water.
I noted that the braking zone on the adjacent carriageways has been re-surfaced with the lighter high-grip surface perhaps as a result of similar incidents?
In addition a google search brought up two incidents including a 34 year old woman and a 45 year old man who crashed in the same spot.
"A 45-YEAR-OLD man was in hospital with "serious" injuries following a car crash. The incident happened at the roundabout where the A6 meets the B5010 to Thulston at about 12.40pm on Friday. The collision involved a Ford Fusion and an Audi A6."
Read more at
http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/driver- ... uhEZAxS.99http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/driver- ... story.htmlhttp://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/woman-3 ... story.htmlSorry for the long winded email but I'm wondering who would be held accountable in the result of a death on this stretch of road?
I have contacted Leicestershire police, Derby council and Balfour Beatty, none of whom seemed interested although BB did take down some information.
If you would like any clarification please do not hesitate to ask. Could you please confirm receipt of this email?
Location of incidents (travelling North off Thurlston roundabout)
Matting lines/ joins
September 2014 debris and recent Armco
April 2016 debris and repairs to barrier in progress.
Skid marks and impact marks on curb and barrier September 2014 view
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