• The goal is to improve visibility and safety in the four selected locations
- These actions stem from the results of the Road Safety Audit carried out at four points in the city with higher accident rates
- At the intersection of Clariano with Blasco Ibáñez, LED lights will be installed on the road surface in the two stop lines that replicate the red of the traffic light, to enhance visibility and safety
The City Council of València, through the Mobility Service, has started the road safety improvement works last night at the split roundabout of Blasco Ibáñez with Cardenal Benlloch and Clariano Street, similar to what was recently done at Saragossa Square and Cardenal Benlloch with Port Avenue. These actions are based on the results of the Road Safety Audit conducted at four points in the city with higher accident rates and requests for improvement.
The work began with the signaling of the lanes in the southern half of the roundabout (the closest to Cardenal Benlloch) to channel the movements of vehicles, both entering and exiting the roundabout, as well as the movements of merging into the central lanes that cross the roundabout, allowing direct connection from Cardenal Benlloch to Clariano. Some of the most significant issues detected at this intersection were weaving and turning maneuvers when exiting or merging into the roundabout, leading to collisions and hazardous situations.
Therefore, with the painting and channeling of vehicle movements, the aim is to reverse this situation, as was done at Saragossa Square. The painting work to complete the rest of the roundabout is expected to be finished, presumably, by Sunday night if weather conditions permit.
Another issue identified, in this case, at the pedestrian crossing of Clariano with Blasco Ibáñez, especially at night, is that some pedestrians cross when the traffic light is red while vehicles cross on amber and/or at excessive speed. To enhance visibility and road safety at this crossing, two 150w LED projectors have been installed that remain on throughout the night and automatically turn off at sunrise.
Additionally, a Mupi that obstructed visibility for pedestrians and cyclists at the eastern junction of the roundabout has been relocated, and a trash can that was inaccessible, requiring pedestrians to cross the bike lane without a designated crossing, has been removed.
Next Steps
In the upcoming days, apart from completing the signage and alignment of the lanes in the northern half of the roundabout, LED lights will be installed on the road surface in two stop lines replicating the red of the traffic light.
There are also plans to adjust the traffic light regulation to allow more turning time and clearance at the junction of Blasco Ibáñez with Cardenal Benlloch to prevent vehicle congestion at this point.
Regarding the signage work, it is planned to paint a hatched area adjacent to the bike lane, as a buffer zone, as it has been observed that some vehicles stop, encroaching on the bike lane in the western section of the roundabout. Additionally, at the entry to the south service road of Blasco Ibáñez, it is scheduled to reinforce the signage for a maximum speed of 30 km/h and convert the first parking space into a motorcycle parking spot to prevent the bike lane from being occupied when a larger vehicle parks.
Road Safety Audit
The selection criteria for the four locations audited (Saragossa Square, Cardenal Benlloch with Port Avenue, Blasco Ibáñez with Cardenal Benlloch-Clariano, and Ferran el Catòlic Grand Avenue with Àngel Guimerà) have considered circumstances such as: significant accident rates since 2012; issues in the interaction between the most vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, personal mobility vehicles…) and other road users (public transport, private vehicles…); requests for infrastructure improvement from the public; and ensuring that the technical solutions can be applied to similar infrastructures in the city.
