Highways Agency

M6 (Jct 11a to Jct 20) Route Management Strategy

The Strategy

Introduction

Route Management Strategies have been developed by the Highways Agency to provide a framework for managing individual trunk routes as part of wider traffic networks. This RMS has included consultation with stakeholders and other consultees to formulate a strategic plan for the M6 between Junctions 11a and 20 for the next 10 to 15 years. The plan has identified where there are problems and where investment may be needed. Feedback from a wide spectrum of users has been received and this will enable improvements to be effectively prioritised.

Route Management Strategies are not about building new roads, they are about making better use of the roads we already have.

They have been developed to take account of Regional and local transport policies..

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Route Functions and Objectives

The Route Functions describe the purposes the route serves. Functions are based on the nature of journeys that occur on the route and the relationship between the route and other parts of the transport infrastructure and consideration of both existing and future land use. Route Functions aim to do this at a strategic, regional and local level. Consideration of how well the route performs these functions has directed the identification of problems and issues, which need to address by the strategy.

Strategic:

• Part of route E5 of the Trans-European Network of Roads.
• Part of the national motorway network, making a major contribution to the UK economy.
• An integral part of the main transport corridor connecting the Midlands, Wales, the North West of England and Scotland.
• A major transport link for the movement of freight and other strategic traffic.
• Facilitates movement of holiday traffic and access to national events.

Regional:

• Of vital importance to the economic performance of the North West, North Wales and West Midlands and the North Staffordshire regeneration zone.
• A principal road link for conurbations, national parks and recreational areas.
• Provides a major transport link between regional centres of population, education, employment, culture and leisure.
• An important link to regional routes.
• Provides transport links to regional transport interchanges.

Local Functions:

• Provides a local route between and around large population centres.
• Local access for employment, business, health, education, social, retail and leisure.
• Attracts longer-distance traffic onto the motorway and away from local roads.

Policy Objectives

Policy objectives seek to provide readily identifiable targets that a Route Management Strategy should strive to achieve. Policy objectives relate to the five Government transport policy criteria and have been summarised under the headings listed below. A number of policy objectives were given further consideration in this RMS; these objectives were, based on the initial route functions identified above.

Environment:

• To aim to conserve, protect and enhance the natural, built and historic environment.
• To minimise and manage the adverse environmental impact of the motorway and its traffic on people and local communities.
• To promote and enhance biodiversity in accordance with national and local biodiversity strategies.
• To promote the use of the most environmentally sustainable and aesthetic solutions in maintenance and improvement works.

Safety:

• To reduce the number and severity of incidents in line with Government targets.
• To support improvements in safety for non-motorised users(pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians and the disabled) crossing the route.
• To improve safety and security for all road users.
• To support suitable rest and service provision along the route for the benefit of all travellers.

Economy:

• To give priority to the strategic and regional functions of the route.
• To maximise the availability of the route for users.
• To improve journey time reliability.
• To reduce delays to traffic by better operational management.
• To make best use of the existing route and utilise innovative technology, developments in intelligent transport systems and information technology.
• To support improved facilities for freight.

Accessibility:

• To work in partnership with road users, transport bodies, local authorities and developers.
• To seek to support and improve facilities for non-motorised users crossing the route.

Integration:

• Work in partnership with road users, transport bodies,local authorities, and developers to integrate operations.
• To support integration between transport modes.
• Contribute to regional and local transport and development plans.
• To influence travel behaviour by promoting, with the appropriate authorities, sustainable transport alternatives for local traffic currently using the route.