Highways Agency

A30 Carland Cross to Chiverton Cross

Public Consultation And Exhibition April 2004

Contents

• Introduction
• Background
• Why the Improvement is Needed
• Scheme Objectives
• Rejected Options
• Proposed Route
• The Purpose of the Public Consultation
• What Happens Next?
• How you can help
• Exhibition Dates and Times
• Location of the Venue

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Introduction

The South West Area Multi Modal Study (SWARMMS), which reported in May 2002, made recommendations for a long term strategy to address passenger and freight transport on the main rail and road corridors between London and the South West.

SWARMMS identified that the section of the A30 between Carland Cross and Chiverton Cross has a significantly higher accident rate than the average and recommended improvements.

Hyder Consulting Limited were commissioned by the Highways Agency to review the scheme originally identified by the SWARMMS study.

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Background

The A30 is the most important traffic route serving the County of Cornwall. It runs from Exeter along the middle of the peninsula to Penzance, some 103 miles in length. Of this, some 77 miles are dual carriageway. However, the 8.7 mile section between Carland Cross and Chiverton Cross roundabouts is single carriageway.

A scheme for part of this section between Zelah and Chiverton was included in the Government's White Paper "Roads for Prosperity" in 1989. In November 2003 the Secretary of State for Transport announced the addition of this scheme to the Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI), now known as the Programme of Major schemes.

Route development undertaken since the publication of SWARMMS has resulted in the section being upgraded to dual carriageway standards.

In November 2003 the Secretary of State for Transport announced the addition of this scheme to the Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI), now known as the Programme of Major schemes.

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Why the Improvement is Needed

• There are considerable seasonal variations in traffic flow and long queues of traffic frequently develop during the summer months which can result in rear impact accidents.
• Significant sections of the existing road are of sub-standard horizontal and vertical curvature which contribute to accidents.
• Between October 1998 and April 2002 ninety two accidents have been reported, twenty three of which have been serious or fatal.
• Collisions occur on the approaches to at-grade junctions and local accesses due to the need for slow vehicle turning movements and right turning movements across the higher speed trunk road.
• There is a lack of safe overtaking opportunities.
• Steep gradients and undulating alignment causes loss of vehicle control at speed.
• Sub-standard verge widths restrict the driver's forward visibility.
• Poor carriageway drainage results in increased surface water spray.
• There is a lack of provision for pedestrians and non-motorised users.

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Scheme Objectives

• To improve safety for all users of the A30.
• To reduce congestion, especially during peak summer months.
• To reduce direct access on to the A30 whilst providing safer access to existing residential and commercial properties.
• To provide a highway improvement which embraces the ecological, landscape and cultural characteristics of the area.

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Rejected Options

The area where the scheme is situated has several ecological and archaeological constraints. Improvements to the road would need to be designed having due regard to the sensitive environment.

Initially twenty seven on-line and off-line options were identified. These were subsequently assessed and several were eliminated.

The remaining route options were then prepared at a greater level of detail to enable the impact of each option to be identified. Additional environmental and archaeological surveys were undertaken to identify the extent of the constraints.

Following further evaluation and consultation the majority of the remaining options were rejected on either environmental, safety or engineering grounds. This left one option, which has come through all the evaluation process. Subject to the Public Consultation and ministerial announcement this route is to be proposed as the single preferred option.

Proposed Route

This route is proposed as the single preferred option because it:

• Avoids properties.
• Avoids the majority of the significant archaeological sites within the route corridor, including the Carland and Four Burrows barrow groups.
• Minimises the risk of adverse impact on the internationally designated Newlyn Downs cSAC.
• Represents a route that is sympathetic to the surrounding landscape and topography.
• Allows successful integration of the local, county and trunk road networks.
• Provides safer local accesses.
• Affords opportunities to improve access for non-motorised users.

The proposed route would create a new dual carriageway between Carland Cross roundabout and Chiverton Cross roundabout. This is shown in red on the plan below.

The scheme would be aligned predominantly away from the existing A30 because of the numerous properties, environmental and archaeological constraints. The exception to this is along the length of the Zelah bypass, where the dual carriageway will follow the existing road.

The requirement to meet current design standards and maintain comprehensive access via safe, grade separated junctions has resulted in a number of cuttings and embankments along this route.

The proposed route addresses the existing issues in the following ways:

• Reduced accidents and congestion.
• Utilising existing minor roads and redundant lengths of old trunk road to facilitate local access arrangements.
• Provide safe movement of traffic between the trunk road and the local roads with the provision of new grade separated junctions.
• Improved safety as a result of the closure of all central reserve openings and by removing right turning movements.
• A dual carriageway allows safe overtaking movements.
• Improved quality road surface and drainage.
• Improved provision for non-motorised users.
• An underpass at Trevissome will carry the realigned A3075 traffic towards Newquay.

Grade separated junctions provide the safest option for traffic joining and leaving a dual carriageway. Five new grade separated junctions are proposed for the project. These are:

• A two roundabout junction at Carland Cross.
• An improved Boxheater junction.
• A grade separated junction to the west of Zelah, utilising the existing structures.
• A two roundabout junction at Chybucca.
• A large roundabout spanning over the dual carriageway at Chiverton Cross.

Map of Proposed Route (89KB PDF)

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The Purpose of the Public Consultation

The aim of the consultation process is to seek the views of interested parties and to hear from people living, working and travelling in the area. You are encouraged to visit the public exhibition, details of which are on the rear of this brochure.

A pre-paid questionnaire is included with this brochure which we would ask you to complete and return by 22nd July 2004.

Responses to the public consultation will be carefully analysed, and the results will be posted on the Highways Agency's website and reports deposited in the local area for the public to view. Details of the deposit locations will be advertised in local newspapers.

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What Happens Next?

Your comments will be taken into consideration before progressing the scheme. Further survey and design works would then be required before draft Orders and the Environmental Statement could be published. If there were objections to the proposals there may follow a Public Inquiry before construction works could proceed.

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How You Can Help

You can help by letting us have your views on these proposals by completing and returning the attached pre-paid questionnaire. The questionnaire can be handed in at the exhibition or sent to:

Jayne Arberry
Scheme Administrator
Zone 2/06K
Highways Agency
Temple Quay House
2 The SquarevBristol
BS1 6HA

Completed questionnaires to be returned by the 22nd July 2004.

Further copies of this brochure and questionnaire are available from Jayne Arberry at the above address or telephone 0117 372 8043 or email A30CarlandX@highways.gsi.gov.uk

Please try and visit the exhibition where the scheme details will be on display. Representatives from the Highways Agency and Hyder Consulting Limited will be present at the exhibition to explain the proposals, to answer your questions and listen to your comments.

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Exhibition Dates And Times

The exhibition will be held at Redruth Community Centre, Foundry Row, Redruth on:

Friday 7th May 2004 11.00 am to 8.00 pm

Saturday 8th May 2004 10.00 am to 4.00 pm

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Location Of The Venue