There is more talk about having the road dualled from Northampton to Kettering (click here for story). The campaign as reported makes safety a major feature with some tragic stories of people who have been bereaved. It is heart-rending to hear people's stories. But the sad reality is that dualling would only make a difference for a generation of drivers who have not yet been born. Dualling would not help at all people using and suffering on the road now - in fact it would bring investment blight to the road for 15 years, locking in today's dreadful situation.
The Government abandoned dualling in 1997. It would take over 15 years to dual the road from the first plans being drawn up. The road would also fill up very quickly, as the dualled A14 has done. While waiting for dualling, at present rates there would be over 150 people killed or seriously injured on the A43 between Northampton and Kettering. More urgent action is needed.
Dualling is not always the answer either - the dualled section of the A43 at Lumbertubs Way was a very dangerous road that needed to have averaging speed cameras fitted despite being a dual carriageway. Aside from this the countryside through which the A43 runs is very pleasant with several woods, a couple of major water reservoirs and much private property that will cause all sorts of planning problems slowing the dualling process.
A more effective solution is urgently to fit some averaging speed cameras and a reduced speed limit to cover this length of road - this gives police direct control of traffic and can be delivered in months not decades.