Launch of Tactical Urbanism Trial at Signature Bridge
Key Highlights
- First-ever Tactical Urbanism trial to reduce road accidents launched on a bridge in India by DDC in partnership with Save Life Foundation and BYPL
- Between 2018 and 2021, Delhi’s Signature Bridge–also a tourist attraction–witnessed 53 road crashes and 17 fatalities
- The structural changes undertaken through redesigning under the project have already led to an 83% increase in the availability of safe pedestrian zone and public realm at and around the Signature Bridge
- This is the fifth Tactical Urbanism trial in Delhi, with the four previous ones conducted at Bhalswa Chowk, Rajghat Intersection, Gandhi Vihar and Burari Chowk
To save lives and make Delhi roads safe for all, the Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC) of Delhi launched a month-long ‘Tactical Urbanism Trial’ at the Signature Bridge, connecting Wazirabad across Yamuna to East Delhi, under the aegis of its' Delhi@2047 'initiative on October 14, 2020. DDC has been working to reduce all preventable road crash fatalities and injuries at the selected high-fatality intersections in Delhi by facilitating their adoption for tactical urbanism trials.
Between 2018 and 2021, the Signature Bridge witnessed 53 road crashes and 17 fatalities. The structural changes undertaken through redesigning under the project have already led to an 83% increase in the availability of safe pedestrian zones and public realm at and around the Signature Bridge. The impact on reducing conflict points on the bridge, being undertaken by the narrowing of merging and diverging angles and approach lanes, will be quantified after the trial concludes on November 6, 2022.
This is the fifth Tactical Urbanism trial in Delhi, with the four previous ones conducted at Bhalswa Chowk, Rajghat Intersection, Gandhi Vihar, and Burari Chowk. These trials were aimed at transforming high-fatality intersections in Delhi into safe intersections that are accessible to all, as well as enhancing appreciation for road safety among road users through a large-scale public awareness campaign.
The Tactical Urbanism trial at the Rajghat Intersection reduced pedestrian conflict by 32% and vehicular conflict by 81%. Similarly, at Bhalswa Chowk, the Tactical Redesign led to a 50% reduction in pedestrian conflict with fast-moving traffic. At Burari Chowk, the intervention resulted in reduction of pedestrian exposure distance by 51% and exposure time by 52%. Based on the findings of these trials, permanent interventions have been suggested to the civic agencies.
SaveLIFE Foundation (SLF), BSES Yamuna Power Limited, Delhi Traffic Police, the Delhi Transport Department and road owing agencies including PWD (Central and Northeast) and Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) are working in close partnership for carrying out these trials.
Inaugurated in November 2018, Delhi’s Signature Bridge cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge is India’s first asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge. Launched as both a tourist attraction and a means of reducing travel time for commuters plying between north and northeast Delhi, the Signature Bridge connects Wazirabad across the Yamuna to the inner city.
Innovative, low-cost measures have been adopted at the bridge temporarily to measure their impact on the following issues identified as possible causes of accidents there:
- Over-speeding: 9 sets of Transverse Bar Markings (TBMs) have been used along the main carriageway of the bridge as speed-calming measures. Each set of TBMs comprises six bars that are 150 mm wide, 300 mm apart, and 5 to 7.5 mm high, with an additional layer of thermoplast applied over existing rumblers to enhance their effect. These will encourage motorists to reduce speed through a rumbling effect felt while they drive over them. Additionally, all the measures mentioned below help reduce speeding.
- Lack of safe space to stop/halt (for a short time span): Provided dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones. In addition, provided mixed-use space for the short-term halting of vehicles away from the carriageway.
- High conflict at merging and diverging approaches: Extended diverging and merging edges through temporary measures such as spring posts, road dieting/road geometry correction, and reduction of diverging and merging angles
- Lack of information signage and hazard markers/delineators: Installation of signs like hazard markers, directional signage, informational, under-surveillance signage, and those prohibiting wrong-side movement. In addition, horizontal directional signage has also been painted.
- Insufficient lighting/lack of illumination: In one zone towards Khajoori Khaas, insufficient lighting/lack of illumination was observed and addressed by the installation of cat-eye/road studs and the demarcation of edge lines.
Tactical Urbanism (TU) is an on-ground test of urban infrastructure, street design, and other public amenities to improve road safety and walkability. It is an internationally proven technique for testing quick, cost-effective, temporary alterations and improvements to the existing infrastructure and urban design of dangerous crash-prone areas, also known as 'Black Spots,' to make them safe for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-motorized transport users.
An essential component of these trials is road space redistribution to ensure modal equity; road geometric modification; traffic channelisation; vehicular speed reduction; and the addition of pedestrian and cyclist safety infrastructure. After documenting the public’s response, if the trial is successful in its goal, it can be made permanent via the implementation by appropriate authorities.
Road safety is a critical public safety issue and the Delhi government is committed to continuously finding unique, innovative solutions for the same. DDC has envisaged the ‘Tactical Urbanism’ trials under its Delhi@2047 initiative, which leverages deep, sustained collaborations between government, civil society and private sector to realize CM Arvind Kejriwal's vision of making Delhi the no. 1 city in the world by 2047. The trials are aimed at proposing and finding proof-of-concept for solutions that address the challenges identified on Delhi’s roads, and these solutions have the potential to impact millions of beneficiaries for a long period of time. The trials so far have proven that such low-cost solutions can have a significant impact by reducing the number of road crash fatalities on target sites and stretches to zero.
Signature Bridge is an architectural landmark in India, it should also become a benchmark for road safety across India. I congratulate Save Life Foundation and BSES Yamuna for joining hands with the Delhi Government to make this vision a reality. Unfortunately, 53 road crashes and 17 fatalities have taken place here over last 4 years. The 'Tactical Urbanism' approach especially focuses on safeguarding the most vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists and other two-wheeler riders. By testing out and scaling up effective urban design, transportation planning and infrastructural changes, such as this under the ‘Dehi@2047’ initiative, we will be enhancing road safety for all road users.
Ever since its inauguration, the Signature Bridge has experienced a high level of overspeeding, especially of goods/ commercial vehicles and two-wheelers. The speed limit in this section is 40 km/hr for HCVs and 60 km/hr for cars. This unsafe road practice has been witnessed both during the day hours as well as night time leading to multiple road crashes and fatalities as per the FIR data shared by SHO Timarpur Tribhuvan Negi. The reduction of speed through the additional speed calming measures put in place during this trial will help reduce over-speeding and make the stretch safer for all road users visiting the Bridge. It is important that motorists take cognisance of these speed calming measures and signages and use them correctly for a safer commute for all.
Road crashes are a significant cause of death and disability in India. Under SLF’s ‘Zero Fatality Corridor’ model, data and evidence is used to ascertain the best possible solution for saving lives by minimising road crashes and consequent fatalities. Proven solutions are shared with the Delhi Government to make these measures permanent and replicate them. We are grateful to DDC, BSES Yamuna Power Limited, Delhi Police, Delhi Transport Department, PWD (Central and Northeast) and DTTDC for working with us towards improving road safety in Delhi.
