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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
A11 (M11 to Norwich)
The Strategy
Introduction
Route Management Strategy is a technique developed by the Highways Agency to provide a framework for managing individual trunk routes as part of wider traffic networks. RMS's will interlock with Local Transport strategies (set out in Local Transport Plans) within the context established by Regional Planning guidance (Ref para 3.1.34 "A New Deal For Transport: Better for Everyone").
The technique has been developed in order to:
- Assist the Highways Agency in planning and optimising investment in the Trunk/Motorway network
- Provide consistency, transparency, openness and integration
- Maximise customer focus
- Improve forward planning over a 10 year horizon
Mouchel Parkman is acting as consultants for the Highways Agency in delivering this RMS.
Route Functions and Objectives
Route Functions
Strategic Functions
The Strategic functions of the route are:
- Part of the major link between London, the Midlands and East Anglia
- Route designated for high load vehicles
- Key transport, holiday and leisure route
- Provides a major link to the port of Great Yarmouth
- Strategic link to Stansted Airport
Regional Functions
The Regional functions of the route are:
- Provides a link across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk
- Major link between regional centres of population and employment (i.e. Cambridge and Norwich)
- Provides a bypass for through traffic
- Provides for the distribution of goods, industry and agriculture
- Key access to recreation along the route
Local Functions
The Local functions of the route are:
- Provides distribution function around population centres
- Bypasses the towns along the route; Cambridge, Newmarket, Thetford, Mildenhall, Attleborough and Wymondham
- Provides local access and links to towns and villages along the route
- Only access to some communities and individual dwellings
Route Objectives
Environment
The Government Objective is:
- To minimise the impact of the trunk road network on both the natural and built environment.
The Route Objectives are considered to be:
- To identify where noise levels are high
- To improve air quality
- To encourage traffic to use appropriate routes
- To use environmentally friendly lighting, where appropriate
- To protect watercourses
- To protect and enhance flora and fauna, particularly Thetford Forest and Heath areas
- To work with responsible authorities to maintain a clean and tidy route
- To use sustainable materials, where appropriate
Safety
The Government Objective is:
- To improve safety for all road users and contribute to the Government's new safety strategy and targets for 2010.
The Route Objectives are considered to be:
- To improve safety for all users of the route to meet government targets for safety and accidents
- To improve the provision of lay-by facilities to reduce driver fatigue
- To improve user security
- To improve safety during road works
- To rationalise and reduce the number of direct accesses
- To improve the safe operation of junctions
- To investigate the provision of improved lighting
- To achieve a consistent high standard of signing and lining
- To encourage travel at the appropriate speed
- To provide appropriate emergency diversion routes
Economy
The Government Objectives are:
- To take action to reduce congestion and increase the reliability of journey times.
- To give priority to the maintenance of trunk roads and bridges with the broad objective of minimising whole life costs.
- To educate developers about development associated traffic effects and the potential solutions.
The Route Objectives are considered to be:
- To contribute to the strategic and regional function of the route
- To minimise traffic disruption due to road works
- To reduce congestion at junctions
- To improve journey reliability
- To manage the impact of new development along the route
- To achieve optimum whole life costs with minimal disruption to users
- To maximise the availability of the route for users
- To reduce congestion and mitigate the effect of slow moving vehicles
Accessibility
Government Objective is:
- To implement traffic management, network control and other measures aimed at making the best use of the existing infrastructure and facilitating integration with other transport modes.
The Route Objectives are considered to be:
- To improve cycle facilities along and across the route
- To improve access to/from public transport
- To encourage use of appropriate provision of public transport
- To improve facilities for non-motorised users
- To reduce community severance
- To improve facilities for vulnerable road users
Integration
The Government Objective 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 policies.
The Route Objectives are considered to be:
- To improve user information
- To increase knowledge of user patterns
- To endeavour to integrate the route with transport providers
- To contribute to Local, Regional Transport Plans, Development Plans and Government Policies
Possible Problems
Following the period of public consultation and both the RMS Seminar held in Thetford Forest on 29 April 2003 and the Value Management Workshop held at Bedford on 29 May 2003 a number of Action Studies were raised to investigate the identified problems and identify potential solutions:
- Fiveways Roundabout
- Thickthorn Roundabout
- Lay-by Investigation
- HGV & Oversize Vehicle Facilities Investigation
- Management of Road Maintenance
- Investigation of Slip Road Standards
- Multimodal Opportunities
- A11/A14 Interchange Feasibility
- Safe Crossing Point at Elveden
- Road Safety at Elveden War Memorial
- Safety & Accessibility for Non-Motorised Road Users
- Investigation of Gap Closures & Severance
- Ketteringham Junction Feasibility
- Safe Crossing Point at Fiveways Junction
- Landscape Management Plan
Possible Actions
Possible actions resulting from the Action Studies and committed schemes include:
- TPI Attleborough Bypass
- TPI Fiveways to Thetford
- Closure of Tuddenham Gaps (including review of severence)
- Park Farm Gap Closure, Red Lodge
- Bridgeham Heath - Peddars Way Crossing (Stage 2)
- A11 Wymondham to A47 Thickthorn Concrete Carriageway Upgrade
- A11 Trunk Road - Annual Safety Report
- Ketteringham Station Lane & Junction
- A11 Slip Road Study - Wilbrahams Junction
- A11 Slip Road Study - Moulton/ Chippenham Junction, Suffolk
- Pedestrian Facilities at Elveden
- Road Alignment Fiveways to Elveden
- Thickthorn Roundabout
- Fiveways Roundabout
- Landscape Management Plan
- Biodiversity Management Plan
- A11 Slip Road Study - Croxton Junctions, Norfolk
- Six Mile Bottom Drainage
- HGV & Oversize Vehicle Facilities Provision & Upgrade
- Accident/Maintenance Diversionary Routes
- Multimodal Opportunities
- Lay-By Provision and Upgrading
- Minor Intersections & Slip Road Standards
- Marker Posts/Emergency Telephones
- Besthorpe Junction Access
- Facilities for Non-Motorised Road Users
- Pedestrian Crossing at Fiveways Junction
- A11/A14 Interchange Feasibility
The Actions identified above are included in the proposed ten year management plan, which aims to guide the Highways Agency to spend the allocated funds for the A11 in the most appropriate manner over the next ten years.
