Highways Agency

A13 (London to Tilbury)

The Strategy

Introduction

The A13/A1089 the Greater London Authority (GLA) Boundary to Tilbury Route Management Strategy (RMS) is a plan for the management and development of the A13/A1089 between the A1306 Wennington junction and the entrance to the Port of Tilbury. This section of the A13/A1089 is some 13.5km long and comprises the mostly dual 3-lane section of the A13 (9km) and the dual 2-lane section of the A1089 (4.5km).

This RMS study was undertaken between February 2002 and November 2004 by the Highways Agency's consultants Halcrow Group Limited. A public consultation on the draft RMS was held between January and April 2004 and this current strategy reflects comments received from the consultation.

Route Functions

The route performs the following strategic functions:

• F1 Provides the only strategic transport link between the M25 and the Port of Tilbury.
• F2 Provides a route for Heavy Loads and High Loads.

The route has the following regional functions:

• F3 Provides part of an East-West road transport link between the Greater London Authority area, the M25 and the centres of population and employment within south Essex.
• F4 Provides a link between the M25 and the Thames Gateway regeneration areas as set out in RPG9A.
• F5 Provides a gateway access to southeast Essex and Southend.
• F6 Provides relief for traffic through towns and villages such as Grays, Chadwell St. Mary and Tilbury.

The route also provides for local accessibility, its local function is:

• F7 Provides a distributor function within the Thurrock area.

Route Problems & Route Outcomes

Since the A13/A1089 RMS commenced in February 2002, the Highways Agency guidance which defines the process for developing and reporting such strategies has been revised. The present A13/A1089 RMS includes a series of Route Outcomes, which set out what the Highways Agency will seek to obtain from the route over the 10-year period of the strategy. The earlier Route Actions presented during the public consultation to address route problems or issues are now incorporated into these Route Outcomes as possible ways of delivering the required improvements to the route. The following table lists the Route Outcomes included in the RMS and the current Route Actions associated with them (note- additional or alternative actions may need to be included in order to achieve the Route Outcomes).

Route Outcomes and Associated Actions

Route Outcome	Description	Short Name	Associated Route Actions
RO 1	Safety improvement and congestion reduction between M25 Junction 30 and A126 lakeside Access (short-term measures)	M25 J30 to A126 Lakeside junction - Safety & Congestion Improvements	H1 - Review A13 short-term options to ease safety and congestion problems between M25 J30 and Lakeside Access; Eastbound H2 - A13 short-term options to ease safety and congestion problems between M25 Junction 30 and the A126 Lakeside Access; Westbound
RO 2	Improve highway surface water pollution control infrastructure	Pollution Control	H3 - A13/A1089 review of surface water discharges/petrol interceptors
RO 3	Improve safety at existing lay-bys	Lay-bys	H4 - A13/A1089 review provision and use of existing lay-bys
RO 4	Improvement in route safety	Accidents	H5 - Undertake assessment of accident details along the A13/A1089 to identify any common features that may be contributing to the accidents.
RO 5	Improve safety at Marshfoot Road and the Tilbury Port Access Road junctions	Junction Safety	M1 - A1089 improvements to the Tilbury Dock Access Junction M5 - A1089 Marshfoot Road Junction southbound off-slip improvements M6 - A1089 Marshfoot Road southbound on-slip visibility improvements
RO 6	Improve safety for school access across A1012 (North Stifford) Junction	School Access	M2 - Provision of safer route to school across A1012 (North Stifford) Junction
RO 7	Improve visual appearance of the route	Route Appearance	M3 - A13/A1089 Improved action to reduce litter/debris along route L3 - Review of options to restrict graffiti on sign gantries L5 - A13 Aveley footbridge modifications to reduce vandalism
RO 8	Improve traffic management and road signing and marking along the route	Traffic Management, Road Signs and Markings	M4 - A13 Signing improvements to A1012 North Stifford Junction westbound approach (to address 'swooping') L1 - Review of route signing and road markings in light of current standards L6 - A13 Review provision and use of incident management VMS
RO 9	Improve route boundary fencing appropriate for adjacent land use	Boundary Fencing	L2 - Review road boundary fencing provision to restrict animal access

In addition to the above Route Outcomes, the RMS includes reference to current work on the route, planned maintenance and schemes arising from the separate HA Non-Motorised Users study. Figure 1.0 illustrates the relationship between the identified problems and issues and the Route Outcomes and other measures included in the RMS to address them.

Land Use and Development Issues

Land-use and development issues with the potential to impact on the use or serviceability of the A13/A1089 corridor have been identified. Major developments include:

• future expansion at the Lakeside shopping centre,
• the Thames Gateway/Shell Haven developments,
• the Chafford Hundred housing development and
• M25 Junction 30 improvements arising from the M25 ORBIT multi-modal study.

The Highways Agency strongly encourages Local Planning Authorities and Local Highway Authorities to consult them during the drawing up of Development Plans (Structure, Local and Unitary Development Plans) and Local Transport Plans. This is aimed at ensuring that the strategic road network is properly integrated into the planning process.

When considering planning applications, the Agency will have particular regard to preserving the strategic role of the A13/A1089 trunk roads. It will oppose development that could compromise that role. This would include any proposal that results in an increase in peak flows on and off the M25 that cannot be accommodated by the existing infrastructure, or by an infrastructure improved at the expense of the developer. Proposals for developments, which do not generate additional traffic in the peak hour, will be generally acceptable, and low-level, infill-type development will be treated as being subsumed in background traffic growth, as measured by the National Road Traffic Forecasts.

In the application of Government's development control policy, the Highways Agency is keen to work with regional and local partners in the delivery of practical solutions to the demands of development and regeneration proposals. This is particularly applicable to the A13/A1089 trunk road corridor as this forms an integral part of the Thames Gateway area, a key area identified by Government for growth and regeneration.

Implementation of Route Outcomes

The Highways Agency will produce and review a Route Management Plan showing the intended implementation and prioritisation of Actions to be developed to achieve the Route Outcomes. All Actions proposed will be subject to the availability of funds, more detailed appraisal and the outcome of statutory and other procedures. Where appropriate, Actions will be incorporated with or undertaken at the same time as major maintenance works along the route to minimise disruption and reduce costs.

The Highways Agency Traffic Operations Division will be responsible for the future development and monitoring of the Route Management Strategy and Plan. This will ensure that they remain current, relevant and compatible with major developments, funding allocations and any Local Plan requirements which will subsequently report and whose recommendations may impact on the A13/A1089.