Motorists driving through red lights at a crossing in the city have led to huge improvements after several near-misses were reported.

In May last year, the Norwich Bioscience Institutes raised concerns to Norfolk County Council after it received 17 reports of cyclists and pedestrians witnessing dangerous driving in Colney Lane, near the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (N&N).

At the time, staff were warned to be "extremely cautious" at the crossing connecting the UEA playing fields with the research institute.

The Norwich Bioscience Institutes and John Innes Centre are both in the Norwich Research ParkThe Norwich Bioscience Institutes and John Innes Centre are both in the Norwich Research Park (Image: Norwich Research Park)

Now, after the county council undertook several thousands of pounds worth of work at the site, a spokeswoman for the John Innes Centre, at the Norwich Research Park, confirmed that the changes had brought improvements.

"We’ve had no further near misses reported," she said.

"We are keen to continue to improve that crossing in the future."

She did, however, raise concerns about the safety of cyclists using the road, adding: "Between the UEA and the Research Park, we have a huge community of people who cycle to work.

A spokeswoman for the John Innes Centre raised concerns about the safety of cyclists using the roadA spokeswoman for the John Innes Centre raised concerns about the safety of cyclists using the road (Image: Google)

"We would love to encourage more green travel but it is not that safe at the moment in the area.

"While there are cycle paths along Colney Lane, they are not fit for purpose, being shared with pedestrians and there are lamp posts in the middle of the pavement.

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"We are hoping that over time we can work alongside the council to improve the situation."

The 30mph busy stretch of road is the main route to the N&N and has hundreds of staff heading to work at the Norwich Research Park using the crossing daily.

17 near-misses were reported to Norfolk County Council at the site after drivers continued to shoot through red lights17 near-misses were reported to Norfolk County Council at the site after drivers continued to shoot through red lights (Image: Sonya Duncan)

A county council spokesman said: "In May 2023, we implemented minor adjustments to signal timings and signal aspect visibility following several reports of near-misses.

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"Subsequently, on January 24, the entire site underwent a complete replacement as required under Norfolk County Council’s Transport Asset Management Plan.

Norfolk County Council updated the crossing in January - and there have been no further reports of dangerous drivingNorfolk County Council updated the crossing in January - and there have been no further reports of dangerous driving (Image: Sonya Duncan)

"This recent replacement has upgraded the site with the latest traffic signal equipment, including full LED signal aspects, enhancing overall visibility and performance.

"Since the adjustments and subsequent site replacement, Norfolk County Council has received no further reports of near-misses at this location."

The traffic lights were replaced during the work, which took five days to complete and cost the county council around £21,000.