Crash in which bus driver and passsenger died shows why A47 should be dualled

Bus collides with Lorry on the A47,A47, Peterborough26/06/2018. Picture by Terry Harris. (Image: © terry-harris.com)

A bus and HGV were involved in a collision between Thorney Toll and Guyhirn on Tuesday morning.It came the day before a summit discussing the economic benefits of dualling the route between Wisbech and Peterborough.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor James Palmer told delegates: 'Following the tragic road crash it is right to also mention the case for improving safety on the A47. The road is known for being very dangerous, a problem not helped by the fact that more than half of it is single carriageway.

'While we do not know the exact circumstances of the crash, I think it is vitally important that the case for better safety is also made very clear in campaigning for upgrading this road.'

Mayor Palmer is meeting with Highways England chief executive Jim O'Sullivan next month to raise the A47 directly, which will also include a discussion on funding for the project.

Bus collides with Lorry on the A47,A47, Peterborough26/06/2018. Picture by Terry Harris. (Image: © terry-harris.com)

Highways England has already committed to making the A1 Wansford to Sutton section of the A47 into dual carriageway, as well as making improvements at the Guyhirn roundabout.

Martin Wilby, chairman of campaign group the A47 Alliance, said:

'The outline business case shows there are clear benefits to the region from dualling of this section of the A47.

'That only 47pc per cent of this major route linking eastern counties with the Midlands is dualled is simply not good enough, and this report only adds further weight to our Just Dual It! campaign which is calling on the government to make funding available to dual the entire length of the A47 by 2030.'

Bus collides with Lorry on the A47,A47, Peterborough26/06/2018. Picture by Terry Harris. (Image: © terry-harris.com)

The Just Dual It! campaign, backed by the EDP, was launched at a meeting in King's Lynn in March, which was attended by Transport Minister Jesse Norman.

Bus driver Michael Elcombe, 45, of Cley Road Swaffham, died along with passenger Brian Chapman, 76, from Kettering.

A further 17 people were injured as a result of the collision. Six received serious injuries and the remaining minor. The majority of the people injured were from Peterborough, with one from Hunstanton.

Bus collides with orry on the A47, Peterborough 26/06/2018. Picture by Terry Harris. (Image: © terry-harris.com)