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The Project Control Framework
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Traffic Impact Study
A6 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass
Executive Summary
The A6 Rushden & Higham Ferrers Bypass officially opened on the 14th August 2003, as illustrated in Figure 0.1 below. The scheme consists of a 5.5 km long new section of road, 2.3 km 2 lane dual carriageway and 3.2km single carriageway.
The bypass diverges from the current A6 south of Rushden and rejoins the A6 via a roundabout at the junction of the A45 and A6 north of Higham Ferrers.
'Before' and 'After' traffic data was collected immediately prior to and after scheme opening to monitor the effects of the new scheme. Traffic data from surveys on County roads from Northamptonshire County Council and existing Highways Agency permanent count sites was obtained to evaluate the effects of the opening of the bypass on strategic routeing patterns in the area
Figure 0.1 - Daily Traffic Flows 'Before' and 'After' Scheme Opening
The main objectives of the scheme were to:
- Improve the reliability of the journey times;
- Improve the air quality in the towns; and
- Reduce the volume of traffic through the towns in order to increase safety on roads and of pedestrians.
The traffic impact study (TIS) report summarises the main effects of this scheme which are as follows:
- 9,270 vehicles per day (vpd) were recorded using the A6 Rushden Bypass, a month after opening, on an average weekday. Traffic volumes on the old A6 South of Rushden dropped from 15,000 to 9,000 vpd, a reduction of 40% or 6,000 vehicles. Similarly, traffic volumes also fell by 40% north of Higham Ferrers, reducing from nearly 21,000 vpd before opening to 12,400 vpd after opening;
- Traffic volumes also fell on the A5001, west of Rushden by 11% from 18,600 to 16,000vpd as traffic re-routed onto the bypass and A45 to avoid the town centre;
- Therefore the scheme has been successful in reducing traffic volumes in the towns of Rushden and Higham Ferrers; and
- Journey time savings of over 4 minutes are possible for vehicles that previously used the old A6 through the town.
The Rushden Link Road is due for completion in Autumn/winter 2004. It will be a major link for Rushden to the A6 Rushden bypass. It should further reduce the impact of traffic in both towns and increase traffic flows on the bypass.
