Highways Agency

A47/A12 (Peterborough to Lowestoft)

The Strategy

Introduction

What is a Route Management Strategy?

A Route Management Strategy (RMS) is a technique developed by the Highways Agency to provide a better level of service to all road users, now and in the future. RMS provides a strategic approach to:

• Spending the available money more effectively.
• Improving ties between road planning, regional transport and planning decisions.
• Making sure you have your say. Local people valuable ideas about local problems and what the solutions might be.

Parkman Ltd are acting as consultants for the Highways Agency in delivering this RMS

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Route Functions and Objectives

Route Functions, A47 - Peterborough to Great Yarmouth

Strategic Functions

1. Forms part of the Trans-European Network.
2. Provides a strategic link between the East Anglian ports and the trunk road network.
3. Forms part of the high and heavy load network.
4. Provides a key holiday and leisure route.

Regional Functions

• Provides for major east - west movements in East Anglia, linking the A1(M), A11 and A12 trunk roads.
• Provides for commuter movements between major population and employment centres.
• Provides for the distribution of goods and services between the towns along the route.
• Provides a link to the Regional Airport at Norwich.

Local Functions

1. Provides a bypass for towns and villages along the route.
2. Provides for local movements between the towns and villages along the route.
3. Provides a distributor function for Peterborough, Kings Lynn and Norwich.
4. Provides access to the mineral extraction sites along the route.
5. Provides local access for rural industry and development.
6. Provides the only access to some communities, dwellings and land.

Route Functions, A12 - Great Yarmouth to Lowestoft

Strategic Functions

1. Provides the only strategic link to the Port of Lowestoft.

Regional Functions

1. Provides for major holiday and leisure routes.
2. Links the towns of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.
3. Provide for commuter movements between the population centres along it.
4. Provides for the distribution of goods and services.

Local Functions

1. Provides both a bypass and distributor function for Great Yarmouth.
2. Provides for local movements between towns and villages along the route.
3. Provides direct access to retail centres in Lowestoft.
4. Provides the only access to properties along the route, including commercial and residential developments, and to some communities, land and dwellings.
5. Provide the only link between north and south Lowestoft.

Route Objectives

Based on the identified functions a number of Route Objectives were also developed at the Internal Workshop. The Route Objectives were agreed at the Value Management Workshop and provide specific objectives for the A47/A12 route. The RMS will seek to achieve these objectives, where appropriate, through a number of actions.

Environment

The Government Objective relating to environment is to minimise the impact of the trunk road network on both the natural and built environment.

The Route Objectives relating to the environment are considered to be:

1. To reduce noise levels caused by the road surface and traffic and mitigate where appropriate.
2. To seek to improve air quality.
3. To encourage traffic to use more appropriate routes.
4. To use environmentally friendly lighting when replacing existing or providing new systems.
5. To ensure effective measures are in place to protect watercourses from pollutant spillage on the highway.
6. To protect and promote existing flora and fauna.
7. To work with the responsible authorities, to seek to maintain a clean and tidy route.
8. Use sustainable materials in all aspects of maintenance.
9. To integrate the road into the surrounding landscape and enhance the diversity and visual quality of the route.

Safety

The Government Objective relating to road safety is to improve safety for all road users and contribute to the Government's new safety strategy and targets for 2010.

The Route Objectives relating to road safety are considered to be:

1. To seek to improve the quality and quantity of user facilities especially for Heavy Goods Vehicles.
2. To improve user security.
3. To improve the safety during maintenance works.
4. To improve the safe operation of junctions.
5. To provide new or improved lighting where this would improve safety.
6. To achieve a consistent high standard of signing along the route.
7. To encourage road users to travel at an appropriate speed.
8. To seek to improve safety for vulnerable road users, particularly cyclists, pedestrians and equestrians.

Economy

The Government Objectives relating to economy is to reduce congestion and increase reliability of journey times and support maintenance works with the broad objective of minimising whole life costs.

The Route Objectives relating to economy are considered to be:

1. To give priority to the strategic functions of the route.
2. To minimise traffic disruption due to works on the highway (including work by utilities).
3. To reduce congestion at major interchanges.
4. To promote and encourage the transfer to sustainable modes of transport for improved operational efficiency of the route (especially A12).
5. To improve journey reliability for all users.
6. To plan all works to achieve optimum whole life costs with minimal disruption to users.
7. To maximise the availability for use of the route for users, and serviceability of the road, structures and other highway equipment.

Accessibility

The Government Objective relating to accessibility is to promote accessibility to everyday facilities for all, especially those without a car.

The Route Objectives relating to accessibility are considered to be:

1. To make appropriate provision to encourage the use of public transport.
2. To increase the usage of Public Rights of Way (PROW) though the provision of appropriate crossing facilities.
3. To improve facilities for non-motorised users along the route.
4. To aim to improve facilities for the mobility impaired.
5. To reduce community severance.

Integration

The Government Objective relating to integration is to promote the integration of all forms of transport and land use planning, leading to a better, more efficient transport system.

The Route Objectives relating to integration are considered to be:

1. To improve user information.
2. To increase knowledge of user patterns and needs.
3. 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.
4. To contribute to and co-ordinate with regional and local transport and development

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Possible Problems

Following both the RMS Seminars held at Kings Lynn and Great Yarmouth in late May 2002 and the Value Management Workshop held at Heron House, Bedford on 17 July 2002 a number of Action Studies were raised to investigate the identified problems and identify potential solutions as follows:

1. Maintenance Management Plan
2. Increasing Highway Capacity
3. Speed Strategy for Villages
4. Linemarking, Signing and Information Strategy
5. Problem Road Layout (Links)
6. Problem Road Layout (Junctions)
7. Drainage and Pollution Control Measures
8. Crossing Facilities and Parallel Paths for Vulnerable Road Users
9. Review of Central Reserve Gaps
10. Review of Community Severance
11. Lay-by Provision
12. Highway Lighting
13. Incident Diversion Routes
14. Overtaking
15. Speed Strategy for Dual to Single Merge
16. Bus Stop Audit
17. Direct Accesses onto the Highway

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Possible Actions

To produce the draft Route Management Strategy (including a 3 and 10-year Action Plans) preliminary solutions for some of the problems identified. By further analysis the HA could also be advised on their likely benefits and the extent of impact on the environment.