High-risk Brighton junction set to close to traffic

There have been at least six collisions at the junction between Blackman Street and Trafalgar Street in Brighton in the last three years.

Now the city council plans to improve it, saying poor visibility when exiting Blackman Street is the most common cause of vehicles hitting pedestrians or cyclists.

A council spokesman said: “The junction of Trafalgar Street and Blackman Street has been identified as a high-risk location and therefore a priority for safety work.

 “We wrote to local businesses, residents and stakeholders last month to let them know of our plans.”

These include a proposal to close Blackman Street at its junction with Trafalgar Street, extending the one-way restriction from the junction with Sydney Street to its junction with Whitecross Street.

This would mean there would be only one left turn when driving east down Trafalgar Street, into Whitecross Street.

Trafalgar street will remain open to cyclists (Image: Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership / Google)

There is a budget allocation for road safety improvements at high-risk sites, which will fund the work. If approved, it would be complete by spring 2023.

The council spokesman said: “We expect to advertise a formal Traffic Regulation Order in January. This will give interested parties a formal opportunity to have their views taken into consideration.”
Business owners and residents have until today to comment on the application, ahead of the Traffic Regulation Order.