Highways Agency

Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Executive summary

Executive Summary

The A6 Rushden & Higham Ferrers Bypass officially opened on the 14th August 2003, as illustrated in Figure 0.1 below. The scheme consists of a 5.5 km long new section of road, 2.3 km 2 lane dual carriageway and 3.2km single carriageway.

The bypass diverges from the current A6 south of Rushden and rejoins the A6 via a roundabout at the junction of the A45 and A6 north of Higham Ferrers.

'Before' and 'After' traffic data was collected immediately prior to and after scheme opening to monitor the effects of the new scheme. Traffic data from surveys on County roads from Northamptonshire County Council and existing Highways Agency permanent count sites was obtained to evaluate the effects of the opening of the bypass on strategic routeing patterns in the area

The main objectives of the scheme were to:

• Improve the reliability of the journey times;
• Improve the air quality in the towns; and
• Reduce the volume of traffic through the towns in order to increase safety on roads and of pedestrians.

The traffic impact study (TIS) report summarises the main effects of this scheme which are as follows:

• 9,270 vehicles per day (vpd) were recorded using the A6 Rushden Bypass, a month after opening, on an average weekday. Traffic volumes on the old A6 South of Rushden dropped from 15,000 to 9,000 vpd, a reduction of 40% or 6,000 vehicles. Similarly, traffic volumes also fell by 40% north of Higham Ferrers, reducing from nearly 21,000 vpd before opening to 12,400 vpd after opening;
• Traffic volumes also fell on the A5001, west of Rushden by 11% from 18,600 to 16,000vpd as traffic re-routed onto the bypass and A45 to avoid the town centre;
• Therefore the scheme has been successful in reducing traffic volumes in the towns of Rushden and Higham Ferrers; and
• Journey time savings of over 4 minutes are possible for vehicles that previously used the old A6 through the town.

The Rushden Link Road is due for completion in Autumn/winter 2004. It will be a major link for Rushden to the A6 Rushden bypass. It should further reduce the impact of traffic in both towns and increase traffic flows on the bypass.

1. introduction

1. Introduction

1.1 This report outlines the results of traffic surveys carried out to monitor the effects of the recently opened A6 Rushden - Higham Ferrers Bypass. The location of the scheme in relation to Rushden and Higham Ferrers can be seen in Figure 1.1 below.

1.2 The scheme officially opened on the 14th August 2003. Journey time surveys were carried out in June 2003 for the 'Before' surveys and repeated in September 2003 for the 'After' surveys.

1.3 Traffic data from Northamptonshire County Council and Highways Agency count sites has been used to evaluate the effects of the opening of the A6 Rushden & Higham Ferrers Bypass on local traffic routeing patterns in the area.

1.4 Chapter 2 of this report discusses the data collected as part of the TIS study. Chapters 3 and 4 summarise the main results and conclusions.

2. data collected

2. Data Collected

A6 RUSHDEN & HIGHAM FERRERS BYPASSS

2.1 The Traffic Impact Study (TIS) for the A6 Rushden & Higham Ferrers Bypass included the following surveys:

'Before' Surveys

• 3 Highways Agency permanent automatic traffic count (ATC) site;
• 3 Highways Agency temporary ATC sites;
• 1 Northamptonshire County Council permanent ATC site;
• 5 Northamptonshire County Council temporary count sites; and
• Journey Time Surveys (JTS) undertaken in June 2003 on three routes.

'After' Surveys

• For the 'After' surveys the above surveys were re-done, plus an additional Highways Agency ATC on the new A6 Rushden - Higham Ferrers Bypass, and an additional Journey Time Survey route via the new bypass.

2.2 The details for the 'Before' and 'After' surveys are described below, and illustrated in Figures 2.1 and 2.2 below.

AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC COUNTS

2.3 The 'Before' study comprised surveys at 13 Automatic Traffic Count (ATC) sites, the locations of which are illustrated in Figure 2.1.

2.4 There were four sites on the 'old' A6 route:

• One south of Rushden (but north of the location where the new bypass ties in);
• One in Rushden (north of the gyratory system);
• One immediately north of Higham Ferrers; and
• One near Irthlingborough north of the A6 junction with the A45.

2.5 There were two count sites on the A45:

• One to the west of the A6 and one to the north of the A6 near Raunds.

2.6 There are a further six sites on adjoining roads:

• A45 at Raunds;
• One on Stanwick Road south of Stanwick;
• One on Avenue Road, Southeast of Rushden;
• One on Raunds Road north of Chelveston (this site was requested to monitor flows throw Chelveston);
• One on the B645 Kimbolton Road between the 'old' A6 and the new bypass;
• One on Newton Road in Rushden between the bypass and the 'old' A6; and
• One on the A5001 Wellingborough Road, Rushden.

Data from these temporary sites were collected for a two week period from 23rd June 2003 prior to the scheme opening.

2.7 For the 'After' study, all of the 'Before' ATC sites were repeated in September with an additional Highways Agency permanent site on the new A6 bypass north of Rushden. Data was collected for a two week period from the 15th September 2003.

JOURNEY TIME SURVEYS

2.8 'Before' journey time surveys were undertaken on Monday 23rd June 2003 and Tuesday 24th June 2003 and the 'After' surveys on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th September 2003.

1.1 Journey time surveys were undertaken on four routes, identified as 'blue', 'pink', 'orange' and 'yellow' routes which are illustrated in Figure 2.2 above.

• The 'blue' route represents the route from Wymington to the A45 junction near Irtlingborough via the 'old' A6;
• The 'pink' route is the route from Wymington to the A45 junction near Wellingborough via the 'old' A6 and the A5001;
• The 'orange' route runs along the A45 from the A45 / A6 junction to the A45 / A14 junction; and
• The yellow route is an 'after' only route running from the A6 in Wymington to the junction with the A45 near Irtlingborough via the new A6 bypass.

The surveys were undertaken over the morning (0800 - 0900 hours) and evening (1700 - 1800 hours) peak periods, as well as an inter-peak period (1000 - 1400).

3. summary of results

3. Summary of Results

AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC COUNTS

3.1 Figure 3.1 below summarises the 'Before' and 'After' ATC information using the 24 hour, weekday two-way traffic volumes. A summary results table is included in Annex A of this report.

3.2 Figure 3.1 shows the 24 hour two way traffic flow for an average weekday at thirteen locations around the Rushden and Higham Ferrers area. Following the scheme opening, approximately 9270 vehicles per day were recorded using the new bypass in September.

3.3 On the bypassed section of the old A6 (High Street), traffic volumes have reduced

• North of the Bypass and south of Rushden 15,000 vehicles per day were recorded before opening and 9,000 vehicles per day after opening a reduction of 40% or 6,000 vpd;
• In Rushden, north of the gyratory system, 21,700 vpd were recorded before opening and 15,900 'After' opening, a reduction of 27%, or 6,000 vpd; and
• North of Higham Ferrers and south of the A45, 20,700 vpd were recorded before opening and 12,400 were recorded 'After' opening, a significant reduction of 40% or nearly 9,000 vpd;
• On the A5001, west of Rushden traffic volumes have fallen by 11%, reducing from 18,600 vpd to 16,660 vpd

3.4 On the A6 north of the A45 at Irthlingborough, there was no change in traffic volumes before and after opening, suggesting that no additional traffic has been drawn into the A6 corridor as a result of this scheme.

3.5 There is a reduction of vehicles using county roads at four locations namely:

• B663 North of Chelvaston, where traffic volumes reduce from, 3,330 vpd to 2,870 vpd, a reduction of 14%;
• B645 inside the bypass at Higham Ferrers, where daily traffic volumes have reduced from 7,120 to 5,390 a reduction of 1,800 vpd or 24%;
• U/C West Street, South of Stanwick, where traffic volumes have reduced from 7,500 vpd to 6,760, a 10% reduction; and
• Avenue road, southeast of Rushden, at Higham Park, where traffic volumes have reduced by half from 3,200 vpd to 1,700 vpd.

3.6 On the A45 and A6, north of Higham Ferrers there seems to be no change in traffic volumes, shown by the site on the A45 north of Raunds, which indicates a 1% reduction. The only site that shows an increase in traffic volumes is at Newton Street, accessing Rushden from the bypass, where traffic volumes have increased from 3,500 vpd to 4,500 vpd.

JOURNEY TIMES

3.7 In order to look at changes in journey times, data collected in June 2003, as part of the 'Before' surveys, has been compared to data collected in September 2003. In addition an 'after' only route was carried out using the new bypass.

3.8 A summary table of results from the journey time surveys is included in Annex A for comparison between 'Before' and 'After' results.

Table 3.1 - Comparative 'Before' and 'After' Journey Times

Direction	Period	Route Used		Time Saved using bypass
		Old A6 (Before)	A6 Bypass (After)
Northbound	AM	11:50	07:58	03:52
	INTER	09:41	08:13	01:28
	PM	11:54	08:44	03:10
Southbound	AM	11:38	07:09	04:29
	INTER	09:32	07:56	01:36
	PM	12:03	07:08	04:55

3.9 Table 3.1 above compares the new A6 route travel times (between the roundabout at Irthlingborough and Wymington Road) and the equivalent journey on the old A6 route measured before the A6 bypass was open. This highlights a best journey time saving of about 4 minutes in the am and almost 5 minutes in the pm southbound peaks.

Table 3.2 - Comparative 'Before' and 'After' Pink Route Journey Times

Direction	Period	Route Used		Av Time Saved After Scheme
		Pink Route (Before) Av.Time	Pink Route (After) Av.Time
Eastbound	AM	15.39	12.46	2.53
	INTER	14.13	12.22	1.52
	PM	19.59	13.09	6.50
Westbound	AM	12.13	10.40	01.33
	INTER	10.50	10.39	00.11
	PM	13.19	10.28	2.50

3.10 Table 3.2 compares the 'Before' and 'After' travel times of the pink route (between Wymington to the A45 junction south of Wellingborough via the old A6 and the A5001). Eastbound traffic shows the highest time savings, almost 7 minutes are saved in the PM peak.

JOURNEY SPEEDS

Table 3.3 - Comparative 'Before' and 'After'

Direction	Period	Route Used		Speed Difference (KPH)
		Old A6 (Before)	A6 Bypass (After)
Northbound	AM	32	53	21
	INTER	39	52	13
	PM	32	49	17
Southbound	AM	34	59	25
	INTER	40	53	13
	PM	31	59	28

3.11 Table 3.3 compares speeds 'before' and 'after' the A6 Rushden & Higham Ferrers Bypass. Average speeds on the new A6 are up to 28 kph quicker in the pm peak (southbound) and 25 kph quicker in the am peak (southbound). The new A6 shows vehicle speeds of 59 kph southbound and 50kph northbound, suggesting that the journey time reliability on the A6 will be improved.

3.12 The journey time surveys show that:

• Significant journey time savings of up to five minutes are experienced on the A6 through Rushden/ Higham Ferrers; and
• Time savings of up to seven minutes are shown on the A6/A5001 route through Rushden.

RUSHDEN LINK ROAD

3.13 The status of the Rushden Link Road is an 'A' class distributor road which links the A6 Rushden Higham Ferrers bypass to Rushden at the Station Road approach/Rectory Road junction, north of the gyratory system. Figure 1.1 shows the location of the Rushden Link road.

3.14 The link road will be the major link for Rushden, and to lesser extent Higham Ferrers, to the primary/trunk road network as well as serving as an access route for proposed residential development and an employment area. Construction is programmed to start in February 2004 with completion by autumn/early winter 2004.

3.15 The main effects of the Rushden Link Road are forecast to be:

• A reduction in the impact of traffic in both towns especially on Newton Road, Rushden;
• A reduction in the traffic flow on the one-way gyratory system in Rushden; and
• An increase in traffic flows on the bypass.

4. conclusions

4. Conclusions

4.1 The traffic data collected as part of this Traffic Impact Study has shown that the new A6 Rushden & Higham Ferrers Bypass, which opened on 14th August 2003, carried about 9,270 vehicles per day (on an average weekday) in September and this has been sustained since. In October the weekday daily traffic volumes on the bypass were 9,680 vpd.

4.2 This scheme has been successful in reducing traffic volumes on the bypassed section where traffic volumes have reduced by 6,000 vpd at Rushden and by 8,300 vpd at Higham Ferrers. Traffic volumes have also reduced on county roads around the scheme.

4.3 The scheme has therefore been successful in removing vehicles from Rushden and Higham Ferrers, which will in turn reduce the environment, safety and severance problems which existed in the towns. The opening of the Rushden Link Road is forecast to further reduce the impact of traffic in Rushden and Higham Ferrers and surrounding county roads.

4.4 From the journey time data collected we have seen journey time savings across the whole day with significant savings in the AM and PM peaks. Well over 5 minutes are being saved in the southbound direction in the peaks.

4.5 The One Year 'After' Count for this scheme's Post Opening Project Evaluation (POPE) will be undertaken in August 2004.