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How We Manage Our Roads
In this section you can find out more about how we manage and maintain these roads and plan for the future
The Project Control Framework
On 1st April 2008 we launched the Project Control Framework. The Framework sets out how we, together with the Department for Transport, manage and deliver major improvement projects.
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Background Information
Background Information
The proposals for the Handcross to Warninglid scheme are intended to improve traffic flow by widening the existing road and improve safety by bringing the road up to modern standards. In the period between 2003 and 2007 there were 112 accidents involving personal injuries, 3 of which were fatal. Pedestrian and cyclist facilities in the area are also limited and involve negotiating both carriageways.
A scheme to widen the route to dual 3 lane standard with a fourth crawler lane was considered but abandoned following a Public Inquiry in the 1990's. Further studies to minimise the environmental impacts were undertaken and a revised on-line widening scheme which reduced the environmental affects was presented for public consultation in May 2003. This solution was supported in principle by major stakeholders and local people and in May 2004, the Preferred Route based on the online widening solution was announced.
Tenders were invited in Spring 2005 and in June of that year, Carillion plc (formerly Alfred McAlpine Project Services) with designer Jacobs UK were appointed under the Agency's Early Contractor Involvement initiative to progress the scheme through planning and construction. The contract also included the design and construction of the A27 Southerham to Beddingham scheme, south east of Lewes which was completed in August 2008.
In July 2006, the Secretary of State for Transport accepted the recommendations of the South East Regional Transport Board on prioritisation of transport infrastructure projects in this area. The effect of this decision meant that funding for construction of this scheme was delayed by three years. We had planned to start this scheme in the financial year 2008/9 but now we expect to start construction in 2011/12.
In the Summer of 2006 we carried out data collection studies to find out what animals and plants were living within the area of the scheme and started on the production of an Environmental Statement which assesses the environmental effects of the scheme and explains what we would do to reduce these effects. We reviewed the data at the beginning of 2007 and decided that further surveys would be needed to properly assess the affects of the scheme on the ecology.
We have also undertaken a detailed review of the scheme costs. Following the recommendations of the Nichols Report, scheme costs are now estimated in a maximum and minimum range. As the scheme progresses the range is reviewed as more detailed information becomes available until a single cost is developed shortly before construction starts. On 16th July 2008, the Secretary of State announced that the range forecast for the A23 scheme was between £76 million and £105 million and asked the Regional Transport Board to advise if the scheme still remained a high priority for the region with that new range estimate. The Regional Transport Board confirmed their continuing high priority for the scheme in August 2008.
