Highways Agency

• Area Road Users’ Satisfaction Survey
• Why are There Cones on Our Roads?

Introduction

Area 1 consists of the A30 and the A38 trunk roads to the west of Junction 31 of the M5 near Exeter, incorporating 110 miles and 70 miles respectively.  In managing this part of the trunk road network, the Highways Agency is supported by its Managing Agent Contractor (MAC), EnterpriseMouchel.

The A38 travels through South Devon via Plymouth and across the Tamar to South East Cornwall to link with the A30 at Bodmin. The A30 crosses mid Devon to skirt Dartmoor, accessing Cornwall at Launceston before crossing Bodmin Moor and on down to Penzance.

View the map of Area 1.

The Tamar Bridge, which carries the A38 over the River Tamar is owned and operated by the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee.  Adjacent to this suspension bridge is the Saltash Tunnel, which is unique in Europe incorporating as it does a 3 lane tidal flow system, controlled by overhead signs and illuminated road studs. The tidal flow system extends across the Tamar Bridge. Information about the Saltash Tunnel, and how to use it safely, is provided on our website in the Saltash Tunnel Safety page.

The operation of Area 1 is monitored by the Network Control Centre (NCC) based in Exeter, and manned 24/7.  Information is obtained from staff out on the network, the South West Regional Control Centre, emergency services, CCTV and the media.  Contacts from members of the public are also channelled via the Highways Agency’s Information Line (HAIL).

The information is processed and passed on to relevant personnel. In the case of instant response, NCC operators will mobilise our Incident Support Units.

Incident Support Units (ISUs) represent the front line face of the Highways Agency in Area 1. There are 8 ISUs and 24/7 coverage is provided across the network.  They impart a primary response to incidents, either clearing the carriageway themselves or working with the NCC to co-ordinate an appropriate secondary response.

The A30 East of Exeter

The A30 from the M5 junction 29 to the eastern end of the Honiton bypass and the A35 Honiton to Bere Regis is operated and maintained by Connect A30/A35 Ltd.

The project began on the 1st October 1996 as part of the Government’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI) The road is run as a private venture and the contract runs until 2026.  The contract was let by the Highways Agency, on behalf of the Secretary of State, who remains the highway authority for the route.  In April 2008 Incident Support Units (ISUs) will begin to operate on this part of the route.
 
Connect undertakes all the operation and maintenance of this route, supported jointly by their managing agents South West Highways and Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Services (SWH_BBISjv).

Road Safety

The Road Safety Team in Area 1 have overall responsibility for making the roads as safe as possible for all road users.  Their key aim is to achieve the Highways Agency’s National Road Safety Targets of a 33% reduction in the number of people being killed or seriously injured, and a 10% reduction in the rate of slight casualties, and also to contribute to the national target of a 50% reduction in child casualties; all these to be achieved by 2010, working from a baseline figure of the average for 1994-1998.

The Safety Team, which includes two ex-Police Road Safety Officers, are responsible for investigating collisions, identifying cluster sites and suggesting solutions; either quick fix, medium or long term.  These solutions are incorporated into forward scheme programmes and driven through the Value Management process, which prioritises network needs against available budget. 

The A30 and A38 all purpose trunk roads in Devon and Cornwall have a unique topography with certain junctions which are not up to current specifications.

Vital to the role of the Road Safety Action Team is the Area Safety Action Plan (ASAP). Working in partnership with all neighbouring authorities, emergency services and the safety camera partnership, the plan is a key element in reducing the KSI (killed or seriously injured) figures in line with the government 2010 PSA safety target.

Consultation with stakeholders takes place to ensure the plan is as comprehensive as possible.  It sets out a range of road safety initiatives, from safety improvement schemes to educational awareness campaigns.

As further data is gathered and initiatives progress, the ASAP is reviewed and updated regularly to ensure it remains current and reflects the present safety needs of the network and its stakeholders.

The various stakeholder meetings held within Area 1 are also an ideal opportunity to share safety knowledge for the greater benefit of the network, road users and local communities.  This includes assisting with the distribution of the Highways Agency’s “Safety Toolkit”, an educational pack consisting of DVDs and other aids to help spread safety messages.

The Team are working with the Police to improve the quality of collision data and training is planned for 2008.  Furthermore, the Team continue to work with the Police and accident investigators, attending the scenes of road traffic collisions whilst still under total road closure to significantly aid the understanding of causation and thus lead to the future prevention of collisions.

The Team also work with the Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association in order to reduce the number of collisions involving HGV's on the Area 1 network.

And Finally…

Did you know that in the last 4 years the numbers of people killed and seriously injured on Highways Agency roads has been reduced by 53% in Area 1?  With your help we can reduce this further.

However much we do to improve our network, driver behaviour will always be a crucial factor.  Drivers can help us reduce accidents further by adhering to the standards in the Highway Code.