Highways Agency

A5/M54/A449/A5 (Shrewsbury to M6) Route Management Strategy

The Strategy

Introduction | Policy Objectives | Route Functions | Route Issues | Draft Route Aims

Introduction

What is a Route Management Strategy?

A Route Management Strategy is simply a 10-year strategy which allows the Highways Agency to direct resources to develop safer and more reliable roads.

What is the Strategic Aim?

To contribute to sustainable development by maintaining, operating and improving the road network in support of the Government's integrated transport and land use planning policies.

Why have a Route Management Strategy?

The Route Management Strategy will ensure that transport improvements are integrated with other studies and plans, such as Multi-Modal Studies and Local Transport Plans.

The process involves consultation with a wide variety of organisations from local councils to public transport operators. Views are also sought from users of the route and communities alongside the route,and this forms an essential part of developing the strategy. See timetable for key dates.

 

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Policy Objectives

The Policy Objectives for the route are:

Environment

• To seek to ensure the quality of the environment is conserved and enhanced within the study corridor;
• To seek to achieve an appropriate level of development without a reduction in environmental quality through sustainable growth; and

• To seek to retain the green belt, allowing an adjustment of boundaries only where it is necessary to support regeneration initiatives.

Safety

• To seek to ensure safe access to facilities in regional and local centres;
• To seek to reduce vehicle accidents on the strategic highway network; and
• To seek to improve safety for non-motorised users.

Economy

• To seek to support regeneration and the vitality of urban and rural areas;
• To seek to support diversification and modernisation of the region's economy whilst ensuring opportunities for growth are linked to meeting needs and reducing social exclusion;
• To seek to promote and open up sites for economic development;
• To seek to improve conditions at transport `stress points' which might affect economic vitality; and
• To seek to assist in improving the efficiency and reliability of freight movements.

Accessibility

• To seek to improve accessibility for non-motorised users;
• To seek to improve accessibility across International, National and Regional transport networks and strengthen physical and functional links across and beyond the region;
• To seek to improve the viability of existing centres, as a means of reducing the need for car commuting into the West Midlands conurbation;
• To seek to promote sustainable employment and residential development in accessible locations; and
• To seek to aid social inclusion by improving transport systems and access to public transport in areas identified for regeneration.

Integration

• To seek to contribute to the aims and objectives of policy at all levels of Government;
• To seek to promote alternatives to the private car through integration of land-use and transport planning; and
• To seek to improve integration between public transport and highways infrastructure.

Travel Information and Traffic Management

• To seek to increase the use of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) to improve the real time management of traffic on the strategic road network and provide real time information to drivers;
• To seek to improve the management of the implications of incidents on the strategic highway network;
• To seek to effectively manage the movement of abnormal loads; and
• To seek to provide adequate rest facilities and services.

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Route Functions

The Functions for the route are:

• Provides reliable journey times for people and goods;
• Provides safe transportation of people and goods along the corridor, including non- motorised users;
• Forms part of, or provides access to, the Trans-European Network Holyhead to Felixstowe corridor;
• Provides important regional links;
• Provides links between towns and villages;
• Supports the regeneration and vitality of rural and urban areas;
• Forms part of an integrated transportation system;
• Protects and enhances the environment along the corridor;
• Enables visitors to reach special events and tourist attractions and holiday destinations;
• Provides information for travellers (signing strategy, Intelligent Transport Systems);
• Provides adequate rest facilities;
• Provides a diversion route during incidents and programmed maintenance; and
• Provides a route for carrying abnormal loads.

Land Use Development and Regeneration

The Land Use Development and Regeneration issues for the route are:

• To maintain the safety and efficiency of the network;
• To obtain Developer Contributions to maintain network integrity where appropriate;
• To facilitate appropriate development in Regeneration Areas;
• To encourage and facilitate access to alternative modes of transport to the car;
• To obtain Developer Contributions to assist in accessing alternative modes of transport to the car; and
• To request Transport Assessments where appropriate.

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Route Issues

These are matters of concern to the Highways Agency, stakeholders and the public. They are:

• Speed of traffic;
• Inconsistent speed limit;
• Right turning movements;
• Side road accesses;
• Gaps in central reservation;
• Rat running;
• Agricultural vehicles;
• Rest facilities/services;
• Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) access for deliveries;
• Lack of provision for non-motorised users;
• Slow moving HGVs;
• Unusual junction layouts;
• Services for HGVs not signposted;
• Impact on journey time reliability associated with maintenance and incidents;
• Accidents;
• Congestion;
• Queuing at junctions;
• Abnormal load movements;
• Tourist traffic;
• Queuing due to festivals and tourist traffic;
• No signing strategy for major tourist events;
• Impact on journey time reliability associated with accidents;
• Capability of network to support all regeneration aspirations of the study area;
• Noise and Vibration levels;
• Air Quality;
• Severance between communities;
• Severance of Public Rights of Way;
• Pedestrian safety;
• Cyclist safety;
• Lack of provision for and security of non-motorised users;
• Provision of pedestrian access to bus stops;
• Minimal provision of public transport and provision of services;
• Inadequate signing (location of stops and shelters); and
• Low use of public transport.

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Route Aims

 

Accidents

To seek to reduce the number and severity of accidents along the route.

Junction Operation

To monitor the operation of junctions along the route and where appropriate, seek to improve.

Tourist and Festival Traffic

To work in conjunction with relevant organisations to seek solutions for issues associated with tourist and festival traffic along the route.

Land Use Development and Regeneration

To seek to facilitate and support existing and future land use development and regeneration opportunities without detriment to the route's function.

Non Motorised Users

To seek to improve accessibility for non-motorised users along and crossing the route.

Maintenance and Incidents

To seek to reduce the impact of delays caused by maintenance and incidents.

Resting Facilities

To seek to provide sufficient and safe signing, frequency and standard of lay-bys along the route.

Speed Management

To adopt a consistent, realistic and enforceable approach in the management of vehicle speeds along the route.

Public Transport

To work in conjunction with relevant organisations to provide appropriate provision of, and access to public transport facilities.

Noise Pollution

To seek to reduce noise caused by traffic on the route.

Air Quality

To work in conjunction with relevant organisations to monitor and seek to improve air quality within Air Quality Management Areas along the route.

Biodiversity Action Plan

To contribute to the delivery of the Highways Agency Biodiversity Action Plan.