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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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Statutory Processes and Scheme History
Public Consultation 2003
The Highways Agency undertook a thorough review of an earlier scheme developed to Preferred Route Announcement in the early 1990s. This process led to the development of a Preferred Scheme which went to Public Consultation during 2003. The consultation period began on 21st March 2003 with approximately 8,500 brochures being delivered to properties along the route. We also sent brochures to other interested parties. Further copies of the brochure were available from local libraries, post offices and petrol stations.
In April 2003 there were 875 visitors to the Public Exhibitions held at Cotgrave and Kelham and we received 1,550 written responses including 30 from public bodies and other organisations. The consultation period closed on 20th June 2003. There was overwhelming support in principle for dualling the existing road and 60% of the respondents were in favour of the exhibited proposals.
Contract Award
A contract was awarded to Balfour Beatty (Civil Engineering Ltd) on 15th March 2004. The award is a Highways Agency 'Early Contractor Involvement' contract which brings the contractor into the delivery team at an early stage. This allows the scheme to benefit both from the contractor's experience, encouraging innovative solutions, and improved consideration of environmental and archaeological issues.
The contractor then developed detailed design proposals in preparation for the announcement of the preferred route.
Preferred Route Announcement
Following careful consideration of all of the responses received during Public Consultation, the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed on 5th July 2005 that the A46 Newark to Widmerpool Improvement should be taken forward for further development.
As a result of the Secretary of State's decision, the line of the new route was protected against any future planning development. Balfour Beatty, with their designer Scott Wilson, developed the preferred route and prepared draft Orders, as required under the Highways Act 1980. The early involvement of these experienced contractors ensured that best practice and innovation were central to the development of the proposals.
Draft Orders
Orders provide the legal basis for the Secretary of State's proposals for the improvement scheme. The orders are for the line of the new road, the detrunking of the existing road, the roads to be improved, alterations to accesses and public rights of way and the land required for the construction of the scheme.
The Highways Agency published the draft Orders on 9th December 2005, along with the Environmental Statement that describes the proposals, their effects on the environment and the mitigation measures we proposed to reduce any adverse effects.
Following the decision on Regional Funding and a confirmed Construction start date of 2012/13, the draft orders and Environmental Statement were republished on 26 January 2007. The objection period which is the period during which responses to the draft Orders may be submitted ended on 9 March 2007. The draft Orders and Environmental Statement which were published on 9 December 2005 were withdrawn.
Public Inquiry
A Public Inquiry was held at Newark Town Hall in the summer of 2007 at which objections and independently promoted alternatives were heard in front of an independent Inspector. The Public Inquiry sat for 18 days and there were 4 accompanied site visits.
Electronic copies of documents relating to this Inquiry can be found at http://www.personaassociates.co.uk/. Please note that the Highways Agency is not responsible for the contents or reliability of this website.
Fiscal Stimulus
In November 2008 Geoff Hoon MP the then Transport secretary announced that the A46 Newark to Widmerpool Improvement scheme would be brought forward as part of the Government's Fiscal Stimulus policy. £174m additional funding was to be made available representing 50% of the total scheme cost, the remainder to be funded by the Regional Assembly
Decision Letter
The Secretary of State's Decision letter was published on Friday 19th December 2008. The Decision Letter and Inspector's report have been published on the Department of Transport website http://www.dft.gov.uk/.
Made Orders
The made orders were published on January 31st 2009 in the London Gazette, Nottingham Evening Post, Newark Advertiser and the Leicester Mercury.
Supplementary Orders
The Inspector's report and the Secretary of State's decision letter following the 2007 Inquiry into the initial orders, recommended that a number of design issues should be considered and some minor amendments to the orders were identified. These changes resulted in the need for the publication of the Supplementary Side Roads Orders and Compulsory Purchase Order on 24th April 2009.
Objections were received during the Objection Period and as a result of this a further Public Inquiry into the Supplementary Orders was held at Cotgrave Welfare, Woodview, Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire, NG12 3PJ on 12th to 15th January and 11th to12th February 2010. The Inquiry has been adjourned for eight weeks and will reconvene on Tuesday 13th April at 10am. Notices were published in the local press.
Electronic copies of documents relating to the Inquiry can be found at http://www.persona.uk.com/a46newarkreopened/index.htm
The Supplementary Orders are not affected by the present construction activities.
