A59 Northway / Damfield Lane Junction Improvement Scheme

Following completion of the improvements at the A59 / Dover Road junction in April 2020, further improvements were identified for the A59 / Damfield Lane junction which included the extension of the cycle routes from Switch Island to Damfield Lane. 

Damfield Lane is a priority junction with Northway (A59) and there were previously no traffic signals on the junction. Right turning vehicles also needed to cross two southbound lanes in order to proceed northbound, although there was a gap in the wide central reserve which provided some safety for vehicles to wait for a gap.

The new changes undertaken have included the following:

  • Carriageway widening;
  • Signal crossing upgrades;
  • Shared Footway / Cycleway upgrade.

The objectives of the work undertaken were:

  • To improve the safety for pedestrians with the introduction of ‘at-level’ crossing facilities to supplement the existing footbridge,
  • To improve the safety for vehicles turning into and out of Damfield Lane

The scheme has consisted of the realignment of the exit lane from Damfield Lane to facilitate a larger staggered pedestrian refuge. In addition, a traffic island has been introduced on the A59 northbound lane in order to segregate the right turn lane. Controlled crossing facilities have been introduced both on Damfield Lane east and west sides as well across the A59.

In addition to the works already undertaken, if funding allows, then there are further proposals to increase the width of the existing bituminous footpath between Damfield Lane and Hall Lane. These would subsequently become shared pedestrian and cycle facilities.