Highways Agency

A34 Chieveley / M4 Jct 13 Improvement

Frequently Asked Questions

SCHEME PHILOSOPHY AND BACKROUND

Q1. Why do we need this road scheme?

The main objective of the scheme is to relieve peak hour congestion, although further benefits will be realised, including:

• Improved road safety (13% reduction in accidents is anticipated)
• Reduced noise (Road Traffic Noise pollution from the scheme to residential properties in 2019 is predicted to be up to 3db less than that predicted if the scheme were not implemented.) This excludes allowances for noise reducing surfacing - although research is currently limited, it is likely that this type of surfacing will further reduce road traffic noise.

Improved local environment (landscaping mounting and planting will integrate the scheme into the surroundings better than the current road network around Junction 13. Rat running should be reduced as a consequence of the easing of congestion at Junction 13), air pollution should reduce as a result of less congestion).

Q2. When was the public enquiry held?

There have been three Public Enquirys.

The first of these was held in 1992. Following this, a combination of High Court challenge against the Made Orders and a change in Government policy resulted in limited progress being made between 1994 and 1998. By this time many of the Orders had time expired and hence were re-published in 1999. A subsequent Public Inquiry was held in 2000/2001. A further Public Inquiry was help on 25 February 2003 into a supplementary CPO to enable delivery of commitments from the second Inquiry.

Q3. What changes did the Public Inquiry make?

• An equestrian bridge crossing the A34 and the New Oxford Road south of the M4 to provide a link between Green Lane (s) and Chalky Lane.
• Reduction in the area of landscape planting in the field immediately bordering the M4 and A34 in the south west corner of Junction 13.

Change in the access arrangements to Chieveley Service Area.

Q4. Why has it taken so long to get round to building the scheme?

In general the length of the statutory processes involved in the planning of such a scheme should mean that from inception to Contract Award should take approximately 5 years, although periods of greater than 10 years are not unusual. However, due to the problems encountered, the A34/M4 scheme has effectively undergone the planning process twice, with a period of 4 years limited progress in between. Broadly, progress has been:

Date	Event
1989:	Inception
1989 to 1992:	Development of design options, public consultation, selection of preferred route, publication of draft orders
1992:	Public Inquiry
1993:	Preparation of Tender documents
1994 - 1998:	Limited Progress
1998 to 1999:	Scheme re-introduced into the roads programme
1999 to 2000:	Publication of Draft Orders, Environmental Statement
2000 to 2001:	Public Inquiry (including 6 month recess for Governmental review of the Public Inquiry
2002:	Preparation of Tender documents and invitation to tender
2003:	Contract Award
2004:	Completion

Q5. What advantages is there in allowing the contractor to design the scheme?

The majority of risks are transferred to the contractor, therefore there should be fewer disputes and claims, and a greater certainty of out-turn cost should result. there is a single point of responsibility for the works, so the administration of the contract should be more efficient. The Contractor can control the whole product, including design, and so there are more significant opportunities for cost saving and innovation than under a conventional contract.

Q6. What is the cost of the scheme?

The Works Cost is estimated to be £38.5m

TRAFFIC

Q7. What are the traffic forecasts for the future?

In summary, Traffic flows in 2019 are expected to be between 29% and 49% higher than those observed in 1999, regardless of whether the scheme is implemented.

Q8. Will we have rat running through our village?

Traffic will be encouraged to stay on A34 by minimisation of disruption. Contractors traffic will be banned from side roads except where access to particular work areas is necessary.

Completion of the improvement scheme should reduce or eliminate any perceived necessity for rat running particularly along the Oxford Road between Chieveley and Beedon.

During construction, the current capacity of the Junction 13 roundabout and A34 dual carriageway will be maintained during peak times, although there may be some disruption during off peak times due to contraflows and lane closures.

Q9. Will there be much more traffic on the route when the scheme is complete, if so how much?

See Traffic Flows panel, and also previous Question 8

Q10. What is being done to ease congestion on Newbury Showground event days?

The permanent scheme does not involve any measures to ease congestion on showground event days. These events are outside normal design parameters, and are controlled by the police.

However, no lane closures will be permitted during the weekends of the Newbury Summer Show / Royal County of Berkshire Show, or one day either side of these events. The contractor is required to consult Newbury and District Agricultural Society and the Police before and during these events and make allowances for and traffic management requirements they may have, including the use of the showground egress to Priors Court Road southbound slip road.

Q11. What happens to high / heavy / abnormal loads?

Managed by Police along the A34/M4 in the same manner as present.

NOISE

Q12. What will traffic noise be like?

See traffic Noise panel and question 18.

Generally, residential properties will experience a net reduction in road traffic noise in the design year (2019) compared to the do-nothing scenario.

Landscaping will be used (moundings, cuttings and dense forest planting) to further reduce noise. A noise barrier will be constructed alongside the A34 north of Graces lane which will reduce traffic noise to East Lane properties.

Q13. What noise are we likely to get from construction activities?

Environmental Health Legislation - A statutory requirement is in place between West Berkshire Council and Costain (Section 61) which places restrictions on Costain's working hours and the plant used to construct the scheme.

Hours of working will be daylight hours, details are:

Non M4 Works

Description	Working Hours
Monday to Friday	0700 to 2000
Saturday	0700 to 1630
Sunday and Bank Holidays	0800 to 1630

M4 Works and Bridge 1 (Underpass)

24 hour working for the duration of the works (night time working is likely to be finished by the end of November, 2003)

The M4 major maintenance scheme is likely to involve some night-time works.

Q14. What hours will the contractor be allowed to work?

Monday to Friday 7am to 8pm (although only daylight hours during winter months). Saturday 7am to 4:30pm. Sundays and Bank Holidays 8am to 4:30pm.

This may be subject to change, although residents will be notified in advance of any changes.

Q15. What type of road surfacing will be used?

Low noise surfacing - does not necessarily reduce spray.

All new roads within the scheme area will be surfaced in a noise reducing think asphalt wearing course system.

Q16. Will the Contractor be working at night, if so what about the noise?

Yes - but the Contractor must comply with statutory Environmental Health legislation (see Q14).

ENVIRONMENT

Q17. What is the environmental impact on the area?

Traffic noise: Although there may be some short term increase in traffic noise immediately after the opening of the scheme, this will improve as planting develops, and after 15 years traffic noise levels will be either equal to or less than those that would have occurred after 15 years if the scheme had not been implemented.

Landscape: there will be a slight adverse impact on the North Wessex Downs AONB. There will initially be an adverse impact on the landscape around the village of Chieveley, although this improves as planting develops.

Bio-diversity: No significant impact on bio-diversity.

Water quality: There will be an improvement to the quality of the highway runoff from the scheme area draining to groundwater.

Heritage: There will be a slight adverse impact on the setting of Chieveley and its listed buildings. However, this would be mitigated by sensitive environmental design of the scheme.

Air Quality: Overall the local air quality in the vicinity of the scheme will be improved due to the reduction in the amount of queuing traffic at the Junction 13 roundabout, although a number of properties close to the new road (e.g. Radnall Farm) may experience a worsening of air quality.

Q18. What effects will increased traffic have on the air quality?

Traffic will increase regardless of the scheme's implementation. The scheme will reduce the amount of stationary vehicles at Junction 13. Stationary / slow moving vehicles emit more pollution than those travelling at speed.

Q19. What effects will the road have on water quality?

The scheme should result in an improvement in overall groundwater quality, as better treatment systems are now available than when the A34 / M4 were originally constructed.

Q20. What have you done to protect the wildlife?

Significant advance ecological works over the last 12 months including:Surveys to establish resident protected species in the scheme area.

Bats - surveys were conducted on possible roosts to establish that no bats were resident. Trees containing possible bat roosts were felled using "soft fall" techniques.

Badgers - Badgers have been relocated under licence from English Nature.

Dormice - Have been relocated under licence from English Nature.

Birds - Trees have been felled during winter 2002/2003 (i.e. outside of nesting season).

There are no areas of significant ecological value in the scheme area, and the re-establishment of the native ecology will be facilitated as part of the landscaping of the scheme.

Q21. What trees / plants will be planted?

Native species sources from suitable sites in the south of England. The majority of the planting will comprise forest transplants between 0.6 and 0.8m in height, with groups of feathered trees of 1.5 - 1.75m height.

All planting will be native, and species would be selected to complement indigenous vegetation and enhance wildlife habitats. See also Question 27 for growth rates.

Q22. How are you going to control dust and mud?

Bowsers to remove dust and contractor cleaning vehicles to prevent mud on road. Regular inspections of roads adjacent to site.

Site access / egress to and from public highways will be controlled via designated locations only.

Q23. Where is all the surplus muck going?

See "Ground remodelling" on Scheme Plan panel.

Q24. What is being done about footpath and bridleway crossings?

See plan.

Existing Bussocks Wood Bridge to be demolished and replaced with an equestrian/footbridge. A New riding route (Chieveley Community Grant) is being planned by the British Horse Society. Previously bridleway stopped either side of bridge Links Green Lane (s) and Chalky Lane.

All other rights of way will be maintained.

Q25. Why was the get fencing erected before the Contract was awarded?

To demark site boundaries.

Q26. How fast will the planting grow?

See also Q22 for types of planting.

After 15 years, new woodland copes would have an average height of 5 - 7m (calculated as 0.3 - 0.5m growth per annum).

Q27. Will he have access to the Village (Chieveley) from the A34 at all times?

Yes.

Q28. How do we compensation for the effects the road has on us?

Statutory compensation is paid in appropriate cases, in accordance with details specified in HA leaflets.

Q29. Third party claims - How are they dealt with?

Contact the Community Relations Manager (Trevor Spice) through the Helpline in the first instance.

Q30. Will the M4 or A34 be closed?

There will be a couple of Saturday night closures of the M4 Junction 13 to 14 in order to demolish Bussocks Wood Bridge and lift the new bridge into place, in which case the diversion route will be along the A4 between Speen and Hungerford.

It may be necessary to close the A34 overnight, in which case the diversion route will be along Oxford Road (Beedon) to the north of Junction 13 and through Hermitage to the south of Junction 13.

Q31. I need a contact number for third party e.g. Police / Highways Agency / Complaints etc.

Please contact the Helpline number in the first instance.

Q32. When will the scheme be completed?

Summer of 2004. Some planting will be undertaken in Autumn of 2004.

Q33. The end date - Does that involve planting?

See Q32.

Q34. When will the bridge under the M4 be first used?

April 2004.

Q35. When will the equestrian bridge be available for use?

Bussocks Bridge - Spring 2004 Bridge south of the M4 on the A34 - June / July 2004.

Q36. Is this the finish of works in this area or is there more to come?

There is a five year defects liability period, during which time the Contractor can be instructed to attend to any remedial works necessary. There will always to be ongoing routine maintenance on the road network (e.g. replacing worn out surfacing and, repairing drainage, safety fencing).

It should be noted that the M4 Major Maintenance has been incorporated into the contract in order to avoid drawn out delays from two consecutive separate contracts in the same area.