Highways Agency

A34 RMS

The Strategy

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Introduction

Route Management Strategies have been devised by the Highways Agency to enable the effective and efficient management of the motorway and trunk road network. Each individual strategy will concentrate on investigating the current problems associated with the route and tackle them on an individual basis:

The RMS process has been developed in order to:

• Assist the Highways Agency (HA) in planning and optimising investment in the trunk road/motorway network, (across different budget headings), and in the delivery of HA strategic plans and ten year transport strategy.
• Provide consistency, transparency, openness and integration, particularly with other transport related strategies, including local and regional transport plans.
• Enable the HA to provide an input into these strategies and plans.
• Maximise customer focus.
• Improve forward planning over a 10-year horizon.

The development of Route Management Strategies assists the Highways Agency to achieve its Strategic Aim, which is:

• To contribute to sustainable development by maintaining, operating and improving the trunk road network in support of the Government's integrated transport and land use planning polices.

The strategy is being put together by the Highways Agency's consultants, Babtie Group.

Route Functions and Objectives

Route Functions

• The route is a key element in the strategic link between the midlands and north, and the south coast; and forms a direct link between the M3 and M40 motorways
• It provides a key north-south link for National Freight Traffic heading to/from the south coast and Europe
• It forms part of the proposed Regional Frame in the draft Regional Transport Strategy
• It provides a key north-south link for caravan traffic heading to/from the south coast and Europe
• It forms part of an informal abnormal load route used by the National Grid Company between M4, Didcot and Cowley
• It provides access for Trans European Network traffic (TEN)
• It serves as a north - south bypass to the tourist centres of Oxford, Newbury and Winchester and provides access to them
• It provides a route for local and regional commuter traffic
• Forms part of the Oxford Ring Road
• It provides the road infrastructure to serve public transport in the surrounding towns and villages
• The route is the principal transport infrastructure serving local businesses, schools, leisure activities and farming
• It provides access for agricultural vehicles and a route for movement of agricultural produce
• It forms part of the HA's landscape and biodiversity corridor
• The route will remain a key element in the strategic link between the midlands and north, and the south coast; and forms a direct link between the M3 and M40 motorways
• It will continue to provide a key north-south link for National Freight Traffic heading to/from the south coast and Europe
• It will continue to form part of the proposed Regional Frame in the draft Regional Transport Strategy
• It will continue to provide a key north-south link for caravan traffic heading to/from the south coast and Europe
• It will continue to form part of an informal abnormal load route used by the National Grid Company between M4 and Didcot
• It will continue to provide access fro Trans European Network traffic (TEN)
• It will continue to serve as a north - south bypass to the tourist centres of Oxford, Newbury and Winchester and provides access to them
• It will continue to provide a route for local and regional commuter traffic
• It will continue to form part of the Oxford Ring Road
• It will form part of Oxfordshire County Council's Bus Priority Routes Network
• It will continue to provide the road infrastructure to serve public transport in the surrounding towns and villages
• The route will remain as the principal transport infrastructure serving local businesses, schools, leisure activities and farming
• It will continue to provide access for agricultural vehicles and a route for movement of agricultural produce
• It will continue to form part of the Has landscape and biodiversity

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Possible Problems

Route Problems:

Safety

Low Standard junction/slip road alignment
Queuing back form slips onto main c/way due to junctions
Lack of hard shoulders/hard strips
Overnight lay-by parking
Slow moving HGVs
Poor marker post provision/general location identification

Environment

Noise Levels

Economy

Congestion
Delays at interchanges
Future potential additional traffic/congestion due to identified development

Accessibility

Poor Connection A34/A40
Lack of full movements at junctions

Integration

Low use of public transport
Park & Ride access

There have been a number of possible actions identified to reduce the effect of these problems.

Route Outcomes:

Speed Management
To adopt a consistent, realistic and enforceable approach in the management of vehicle speeds along the route within the jurisdiction of the HA.

Junction Accidents
To reduce the number of accidents occurring at junctions along the route.

Accidents
To reduce the number of accidents occurring along the route
Vulnerable Users
To improve accessibility for vulnerable users along and crossing the route

Delay minimization
To reduce the impact of delays caused by accidents and maintenance

Tourist Traffic
To reduce congestion associated with tourist traffic along the route

Bus Stops
To co-operate with operators to provide appropriate stopping facilities for buses and access for users

Signing
To provide sufficient and safe signing along the route

Environment
To minimise the effects of the A34 on both the natural and built environment

M40 J9
To improve safety and operation at the interchange with the M40 at Junction 9

M3 J9
To improve safety and operation at the interchange with the M3 at Junction 9

Peartree Interchange
To improve safety and operation at the Peartree Interchange

A420 Junction
To improve safety and operation at the A420 Junction

A423 Junction
To improve safety and operation at the A423 Junction

A4183 Junction
To improve operation at the A4183 Junction

Noise Reduction
To reduce noise caused by traffic on the route

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Possible Actions

Speed Management
Introduction of safety cameras at strategic locations
Climbing lane for HGVs (for consideration by Strategic Study)

Junction Accidents
Carriageway markings
Lighting of junctions, road studs
Carriageway alignment improvement works

Accidents
Carriageway markings
Renewing/maintenance of surface
Climbing lane for HGVs (for consideration by Strategic Study)

Vulnerable Users
Improved grade separated crossings
Improved vulnerable user accessibility between settlements

Delay minimization
Provision of real time information
Installation of electronic signing (subject to funding)
Improved performance at both accident clearance and maintenance sites

Tourist Traffic
Provision of real time information
Installation of electronic signing (subject to funding)
Strategic Diversion Strategy currently underway

Bus Stops
Improvements to existing lay-bys
Improve access to bus stops for vulnerable users
Signing Strategy for bus stops and other public transport facilities
Bus priority measures at M40 J9 and Hinksey Interchange

Signing
Signing Strategy for junctions including use of geographical locations
Opportunities for interchange examined and subsequent provision of signs
Provision of real time information
Installation of electronic signing (subject to funding)

Environment
Production of Biodiversity Action Plan for whole route

M40 J9
Northbound A34 slip onto M40 needs segregation
Current signals need to be reviewed as to effectiveness
Possible priority vehicle measures
Queue Management (working within capacity of downstream links)

M3 J9
Current signals need to be reviewed as to effectiveness
Possible priority vehicle measures
Queue and Access Management measures

Peartree Interchange
Current signals need to be reviewed as to effectiveness
Study required to examine southbound slips over top on viaduct - problems merging
Possible priority vehicle measures
Queue and Access Management measures

A420 Junction
Signing and lining review

A423 Junction
Signing and lining review
Bus Priority measures
Queue and Access Management measures

A4183 Junction
Consider providing south facing slips taking into account capacity of A34
Possible priority vehicle measures

Noise Reduction
Noise mitigation measures
Resurfacing. Phase 1 A444 to B4027 and Phase 2 B4027 to M40 subject to funding due to be completed by 2007/08