Highways Agency

• Road Safety Audit - Stage 4

A249 Stockbury to Sheerness DBFO - Road Safety Audit, Stage 4: 12 Month Monitoring Report

What is the audit?

The A249 Road Safety Audit (RSA) Stage 4 is part of the routine accident monitoring/Road Safety Audit procedure.

When was it undertaken?

The audit comprises 12-month’s accident and incident data, 12-month’s monitoring data and site visits, which were conducted on Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th September 2007.

Why was it undertaken?

All Highways Agency Schemes are subject to audits: during design and construction, before it is opened to traffic and approximately a year after opening (Stage 4).  This is part of that process.

Who was involved in the audit?

Road Safety Audits are undertaken independently.  The A249 RSA4 was carried out by two members of an independent, specialist road Audit team, a representative from Kent Police and a representative from the Operating Contractor.

This is Stage 4 – what are the other stages?

All Highways Agency Schemes are subject to audits: at preliminary design phase (Stage 1), at detailed design stage and during construction (Stage 2), prior to being opened to traffic (Stage 3) and approximately a year after opening (Stage 4).

When were the other stages carried out?

• Stage 1 – October 1996
• Stage 2 (Proposals to the North of the Swale) – July 2004
• Stage 2 (Proposals to the South of the Swale) – December 2005
• Stage 2 (Traffic Monitoring System sites) – March 2006
• Stage 3 (mainland) – prior to opening in June 2006
• Stage 3 (side roads) – September 2006

What did the audit look at?

The audit is carried out on all parts of the newly constructed road, including the Sheppey Crossing and the new junctions.  It also looks at driver behaviour (how drivers actually use the road) and if there are instances where it is not used properly, what we can do to improve the road to assist them in using it correctly.

What were the findings?

9.5 million vehicles have travelled along the A249 in the last 12 months, which equates to an average of 26,000 vehicles a day.

No significant congestion has been recorded on the project road and its approach roads in its first year of opening.  The Scheme has achieved its objectives of improved and more reliable journey times to and from the Isle of Sheppey.

An assessment of the 12-month accident history of the A249 Stockbury to Sheerness DBFO project road has indicated that the accident frequency is lower than the predicted national average.

Substantial signing and carriageway markings exist at and on the approaches to Junctions 1 (closest to Neatscourt) and 2 at Queenborough (the junction with Main Road) to indicate the presence of the junction, lane arrangements, the routes to be followed and the prohibited turns.

Some drivers clearly do not recognise the arrangements however, and measures to enhance existing signs and road markings to assist with lane selection will be undertaken.

Some drivers have been noted carrying out illegal U-turn manoeuvres on the A249 Brielle Way.  This will be monitored and enforced as necessary.

The audit has determined that the shape of the road into and through the Neatscourt Roundabout is standard and that vehicles, of all types, should be able to negotiate the roundabout easily.

The camber of the the road through Cowstead Roundabout has been constructed in accordance with all relevant stanards. Other roundabout design features were also checked and found to be within standard.  Improvements will be made to the existing lane markings on the circulatory carriageway of the roundabout and the spur road approach to the roundabout from Cowstead Corner.

What improvements will be carried out?

A number of actions have been identified as a result of site monitoring, inspection and other incident data and a programme of work is being scheduled to carry out these improvements.

In addition to the continued monitoring of the road, improvements will be carried out to enhance signage and road markings to assist drivers with correct lane selection. Improvements will also be undertaken to reflect any amendments to Highways Agency standards that have been made since the road was opened to traffic.

This work includes:

• Enhanced signing at the Queenborough Junction to assist road users in using the junction correctly (e.g. Ahead Only: No Left Turn)
• Monitoring of junctions to determine how many illegal manoeuvres are being carried out by road users at these points (e.g. U-Turns at Queenborough)
• The use of high-visibility boarding to highlight existing signs to road users
• Enhanced road markings at Cowstead Roundabout to assist road users in using the junction correctly
• Reduce the entry onto the Cowstead Roundabout from the link road (between Cowstead and Cowstead Corner Roundabouts)
• Carry out additional vegetation cutting around existing signs at Cowstead Roundabout

When will this happen?

This work is being scheduled and details will be communicated as the programme is confirmed.  Wherever possible, work will be carried out during off-peak hours.

Will there be any changes to the existing speed limits?

The Audit Report recommended that a detailed assessment of the speed limit through Junction 2 at Queenborough (the junction with Main Road) should be undertaken, following the publication of guidance set out in Department for Transport (DFT) Circular 01/2006 (published on 8th August 2006, after the Stage 3 Audit was completed).

Given the proximity of a local school and the use by pupils of Junction 2 pedestrian crossing at Queenborough junction, it is proposed to reduce the speed limit in this area, currently 50 mph, without a detailed speed assessment. The appropriate parties will be consulted before any formal application to reduce the speed limit is initiated.

Kent Police raised concerns about the Crossing – what is being done about those?

Since the Chief Constable of Kent raised his concerns in respect of the Sheppey Crossing, representatives from the Highways Agency and Kent Police have been in contact to consider the concerns.

Design processes and issues involved have been discussed, agreements to enhance measures to improve safety when the Crossing is closed have been reached and implemented and Standard Operating Procedures have been trialled and updated, addressing these concerns.

Accident statistics are 1 PIA and 5 non-PIA accidents in the 12 months since opening and analysis of the information available suggests that the design and features of the Crossing had little or nothing to do with the circumstances of these accidents and incidents.

An initial assessment of the speed limit on the Sheppey Crossing, using the guidance set out in DFT Circular 01/2006 suggested that a lower speed limit may not be appropriate.  The existing 70mph speed restriction will remain in force.

So, this work is being carried out as a result of the audit?

Yes: that's the very reason the audit process exists, to identify improvements so that they can be implemented.  We are looking to improve on the already high standards of the road.

Through the audit process areas have been identified for improvement and that work is being programmed.  Monitoring of the road will continue and where further improvements may be made in the future, these will also be implemented.