Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers
Executive Summary - Introduction
The Babtie Group was commissioned by the Highways Agency in August 2003 to produce a Route Management Strategy (RMS) for the A5/M54/A449/A5. The route under investigation lies wholly within the West Midlands and is summarised (West to East below.
- A5 from Preston Boats roundabout to M54 Junction 7;
- M54 from Junction 7 to Junction 10a of the M6 (M54/M6 Interchange);
- A449 from Junction 2 of the M54 to A449/A5 Gailey Roundabout; and
- A449/A5 Gailey Roundabout to Junction 12 of the M6.
The route is located within the counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire and passes through the local authority boundaries of Bridgnorth, South Staffordshire, Shrewsbury and Atcham and the unitary authority of Telford and Wrekin. Although the route does not cross the administrative boundary of the city of Wolverhampton, due to its close proximity, its influence on this area has been considered as part of this study.
The route serves the strategically important towns of Shrewsbury, Telford and the city of Wolverhampton. As a result some of its main functions are to facilitate the movement of commercial and commuter traffic. The route's geographical location means tourist traffic travelling to mid and north Wales is also prevalent. Locally the route provides important links and access for communities and businesses.
The objectives of the study have been identified as:
- To determine route functions;
- To understand route environmental issues;
- To identify route traffic and safety issues;
- To identify and bring together a broad range of transport and land use policy objectives defined at a local, regional and national level;
- To understand how economic activities may be facilitated in the vicinity of the route;
- To identify the current public transport infrastructure on the route; and
- To develop Route Outcomes to facilitate the improvement of the route.
Outcome of the Study
The Route Management Strategy study developed Route Outcomes in order to facilitate improvements to the route. Route Outcomes set out what the Highways Agency seek to obtain from the route over the 10-year horizon of the RMS. They contribute to Policy Objectives, improve the performance of Route Functions, support the Land-Use and Development Control Statement and address Route Issues.
A Strategy Impact Statement has also been developed to provide an analysis of the likely impacts of implementing the Route Outcomes and their effects on route issues, functions, policy objectives and the development strategy. The results of this analysis indicate a positive impact on the performance of the route. The Route Outcomes developed for the route are listed below in no particular order of weighting or preference.
| RO | Description |
|---|---|
| RO1 Speed Management |
To adopt a consistent, realistic and enforceable approach in the management of vehicle speeds along the route |
| RO2 Influence Travel Behaviour |
To work in conjunction with relevant organisations to influence travel behaviour along the route |
| RO3 Safety |
To reduce the number and severity of accidents along the route |
| RO4 Junction Operation |
To monitor the operation of junctions along the route and improve where appropriate |
| RO5 Non-Motorised Users |
To improve accessibility for non-motorised users along and crossing the route |
| RO6 Maintenance and Incidents |
To reduce the impact of delays caused by maintenance and Incidents |
| RO7 Sustainable Land Use Development and Regeneration |
To facilitate sustainable land use development in appropriate locations and regeneration opportunities without detriment to the route's Functions |
| RO8 Tourist and Festival Traffic |
To work in conjunction with relevant organisations to seek solutions for issues associated with tourist and festival traffic along the route |
| RO9 Public Transport |
To work in conjunction with relevant organisations to provide appropriate provision of and access to public transport facilities |
| RO10 Lay-bys |
To provide sufficient and safe signing, frequency and standard of lay-bys along the route |
| RO11 Noise Pollution |
To reduce noise caused by traffic on the route |
| RO12 Environment |
To contribute to the delivery of the Highways Agency Biodiversity Action Plan |
| RO13 Air Quality |
To work in conjunction with relevant organisations to monitor and improve air quality within Air Quality Management Area's along the route |