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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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The Strategy
A1 London to Peterborough
The Strategy
Introduction
What is a Route Management Strategy?
A Route Management Strategy is a new method of planning our roads for the future. It looks at the whole picture by assessing the use and needs of a particular route with the intention of making better use by:
- Spending available money more effectively
- Making road planning tie in better with regional transport and planning decisions
- Allowing all users of the route to have their say. Local people often know more about local problems and what the solutions might be.
Why are we doing this?
The Highways Agency has a set of strategic plans for the trunk road network. Route Management Strategy is the system we want to use to take these plans from the drawing board and into reality - roads that better serve people who use them.
RMS is not about building new roads. It is about making better use of the roads we already have.
We can't do this alone: local councils, regional planning authorities, bus and lorry operators, train companies and the police all have a contribution to make. We also need to take account of other plans. Government Offices are leading studies on some routes looking at all modes of transport.
That's why each Route Management Strategy has a carefully thought out process to involve as many people as possible - road users, people living nearby and campaign groups.
How will we do it?
RMS means we can take a ten-year forward look covering the maintenance, operation and improvement projects for each of the routes that make up the core trunk road network.
It looks at areas such as:
- Route Functions and Performance
What does this road do now? - Route Objectives
What do we want this road to do in the future? - Route Strategy
The issues we need to tackle - Route Management Plan
Our ten-year vision for the road and the improvements we'd like to make.
Route Strategy
This route strategy provides a framework against which proposals for works on or improvements to the A1 or A1(M) between London and Peterborough can be considered. It will ensure that appropriate works can be implemented to provide a consistent standard of route and that they are compatible with the agreed route objectives and route functions.
All proposed improvement works along the route must be reasonably practicable and provide value-for-money. In many instances, proposed schemes may not fully support the Route Strategy and there will need to be a balance struck between the individual elements of the Strategy when considering the scheme's suitability. Whilst the Route Strategy provides an overview of route requirements, it does not remove the need for development and assessment of schemes through the relevant statutory procedures and other processes.
The Route Strategy is presented below under the main themes of Environment, Safety, Economy, Accessibility and Integration.
Environment
- To minimise environmental impacts along the route corridor where reasonably practicable
Safety
- To improve safety for all users by ensuring that existing junctions are safe to use and by reducing the frequency of side accesses/junctions or crossovers on the non-motorway sections
- To provide a safe route of consistent standard through maintenance, route signing, lighting and user facilities
Economy
- To reduce congestion by improving traffic flows and reducing delays at key locations
- To manage the conflict between strategic/regional traffic and local traffic to facilitate efficient use of the route by all traffic on roads of appropriate standard
Accessibility/Integration
- To facilitate public transport and non-motorised use of the route through appropriate route improvements
- To reduce community severance caused by the existing route alignment and traffic use of the road
Route Functions and Objectives
Route Functions
Like most major roads that pass through both rural and urban areas the A1 between London and Peterborough has a wide variety of functions serving a variety of users from commuters to equestrians. The use of the route can therefore be divided into 3 main categories:
Strategic
- Provides a major transport link between London and the M25, the East Midlands, North East of England and the East Coast of Scotland.
- It is part of the Midlands to South East England Strategic Diversion System for motorways and Trunk Roads.
- Forms part of the Trans European Road Network.
- Provides a route for Heavy Loads along its entire length and High Loads northwards from its junction with the A14.
Regional
- Provides a major North-South road transport link between London and the M25, and the main West Cambridgeshire centres of population and employment, including Peterborough, Huntingdon, and St Neots.
- Provides the major road transport link between the East Midlands, the North East of England, Yorkshire, East Scotland and the main West Cambridgeshire centres of population and employment, including Peterborough, Huntingdon, and St Neots.
- Provides the major North - South road transport link to the Mid Hertfordshire centres of population and employment of Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, Hitchin and Letchworth.
- Provides the major North - South road transport link to the Mid Bedfordshire centres of population and employment of Sandy and Biggleswade.
- Provides a bypass for traffic around towns such as Peterborough, St Neots, Sandy, Biggleswade, Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City.
Local
- Provides distributor function between the large population centres mentioned above.
- Provides important/essential local road access between many villages and the larger population and employment centres.
Route Objectives
Based upon the functions and problems identified previously, a number of Route Objectives have been developed. These provide specific objectives for the A1 route which the strategy will seek to achieve, where appropriate, through a number of Actions". The objectives have been categorised under the following headings:
Environment
Government Objective:
To protect and enhance the built and natural environment
Route Objectives:
- To identify locations where noise levels are high and mitigate where appropriate.
- To seek to improve air quality (e.g. by reducing congestion at specific locations).
- To provide the opportunity for local traffic to use more appropriate routes.
- To use environmentally friendly lighting when replacing existing or providing new systems.
- To ensure effective measures are in place to protect watercourses from pollutant spillage on the Highway.
- To protect existing Flora & Fauna.
- To work with the responsible authorities, to seek to maintain a clean & tidy route.
Safety
Government Objective:
To improve safety for all travellers
Route Objectives:
- To improve safety in areas with a poor safety record.
- To improve the quality and quantity of service stations, especially for HGV's.
- To improve user security.
- To improve safety during maintenance works.
- To seek to identify and remove central reserve gaps.
- To seek to limit the number of direct accesses.
- To improve the safe operation of junctions.
- To investigate where the provision of improved lighting would improve safety.
- To provide adequate lay-by facilities along the route.
- To achieve a consistent high standard of signing along the route.
- To encourage road users to travel at an appropriate speed.
- To seek to improve safety for more vulnerable users, particularly cyclists, pedestrians and equestrians.
Economy
Government Objective:
To contribute to an efficient economy, and to support sustainable economic growth in appropriate locations.
Route Objectives:
- To give priority to the strategic & regional functions of the route.
- To minimise traffic disruption due to roadworks.
- To reduce congestion at major interchanges (e.g. A1/A421 Black Cat roundabout)
- To improve traffic flow along the route.
- To plan all works to achieve optimum whole life costs with minimal disruption to users.
- To maximise the availability for use of the route for users, and the serviceability of the road, structures and other highway equipment.
- To reduce congestion
Accessibility
Government Objective:
To promote accessibility to everyday facilities for all, especially those without a car.
Route Objectives:
- To improve cycle facilities at grade separated junctions.
- To improve access to/for public transport.
- To rationalise at-grade pedestrian & equestrian crossings by providing alternatives.
- To improve facilities for non-motorised users along the route.
- To make appropriate provisions to encourage the use of public transport.
- To reduce community severance.
Integration
Government Objective:
To promote the integration of all forms of transport and land use planning, leading to a better, more efficient transport system.
Route Objectives:
- To improve user information.
- To increase knowledge of user patterns and needs.
- To make better use of the route by working in partnership with road users, transport providers and operators, local authorities and those affected by the network
- To contribute to regional and local Transport and Development plans.
Route Problems
A summary of the current problems identified at particular locations along the route is given below. These are considered within the Government's objectives for transport.
| Government Objectives | Problem |
|---|---|
| Environment | Complaints from residents about traffic noise Flytipping alongside the A1 and at junctions Drainage facilities do not meet current requirements for protection of groundwater or adjacent watercourses Intrusion at properties due to road lighting |
| Safety | Danger due to sub-standard or inadequate junctions Danger due to inappropriately high traffic speeds Substandard highway (e.g. bends or carriageway width) Impaired visibility due to excess spray Danger in crossing A1 using central reserve gaps Diversion of traffic from A1 onto local roads due to problems on the A1 Confusion due to poor signing Absence of road lighting Cyclist, pedestrian and equestrian safety along or across the road Inconsistent lay-by provision on all-purpose sections Dangerous access onto A1 for vehicles |
| Economy | Congestion/queues due to inadequate/substandard junctions Congestion/queues due to inadequate/substandard highway |
| Accessibility | Difficulties of access to/from facilities near A1 Severance of communities due to presence of A1 Severance for pedestrians crossing A1 Severance for cyclists crossing A1 Severance for equestrians crossing A1 |
| Integration | Lack of signing to railway stations from A1 Lack of facilities for buses Poor access to bus services Poor bus services due to access problems to/from A1 |
Possible Actions
A summary of all the problems and issues raised, together with the Actions proposed to address the issues, is shown on the Problems and Actions Sheets.
The Problem Identification Framework summarises the local issues and problems identified specific to each section of the route.
In addition to current work and programmed schemes, a number of specific Route Actions have been proposed along the route in support of the Route Strategy Objectives.
Actions have been classified as either High, Medium or Low priority, depending on how effective they would be in addressing route problems. These are shown on the Action Identification Framework The draft Route Management Plan shows the intended implementation of the prioritised Actions over the 10-year period of the Plan.
A more detailed 3-year Action Plan has been prepared to show the anticipated sequence of actions over the first 3-years of the draft plan period.
For more information read Table 6.1 - Draft Action Identification Framework (click to view table)
