Highways Agency

M55 (Blackpool to M6)

The Strategy

Route Management Strategies have come into existence so the Highways Agency can continue to effectively manage the motorway and trunk road network for the country. Rather than build new roads these strategies will investigate the shortfall of the existing network and tackle them on an individual basis. Each RMS will produce a ten year Route Management Plan where solutions will be looked into for the major problems on the highways, problems which have been highlighted by local authorities and organizations, and anyone who uses or is affected by the routes.

The M55 RMS has been carried out by Parsons Brinckerhoff Limited, in consultation with local authorities, regional planning authorities, transport organisations and the police. By confirming the route functions and objectives, the problems with the M55 have been brought to light, and a plan of action to tackle them has been developed.

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Route Functions and Objectives

Route Functions

Route functions specify the role that an individual route plays in the context of the wider road network. Route functions aim to do this at a strategic, regional and local level. The Route functions for the M55 are to:

Strategic

• Provide access to Port of Fleetwood
• Provide access to the Fylde Coast
• Provide access to Blackpool Airport

Regional

• Provide access to Blackpool for tourist traffic
• Provide access to Freeport Retail Park
• Provide access employment in Preston, Greater Manchester and Merseyside for local residents
• Provide access to recreational facilities

Local

• Provide a Northern bypass of Preston
• Provide a Northern bypass of Kirkham
• Provide Local Access
• Enable employment generating development
• Relieve local roads of long distance traffic

Route Objectives

Route objectives seek to provide readily identifiable and quantifiable targets that the Route Management Strategy will seek to achieve and hence, it's performance measured against. Route objectives relate to the five Government policy criteria for transport and have been summaries under these headings below.

Environment

• To identify locations where noise levels are high and mitigate where necessary
• To ensure that good air quality is maintained along the length of the route
• To use environmentally friendly lighting when replacing existing or providing new systems
• To ensure effective measures are in place to protect watercourses from pollutant spillage on the Highway
• To protect and enhance existing Flora and Fauna
• To protect and enhance the landscape character of the route

Safety

• To improve safety for users
• To ensure drivers travel at an appropriate speed
• To monitor initiatives to control parking beneath Junction 1 and take action if necessary
• To investigate where the provision of lighting would improve safety
• To achieve a consistent high standard of driver information along the M55 and approach routes, in particular the M6
• To ensure that maintenance works, and in particular work on county roads to the west of Junction 4 is adequately signed on the M55.

Economy

• To balance the strategic, regional and local functions of the route
• To improve journey time reliability to Blackpool, Fleetwood and the rest of the Fylde coast.
• To minimise traffic disruption due to roadworks and ensure co-ordination with works west of Junction 4.
• To maximise the availability of the route for users, and the serviceability of the road, structures and other highway equipment

Accessibility

• To enhance accessibility for locals, particularly at times of peak congestion
• To make appropriate provisions to encourage the use of public transport

Integration

• To improve user information
• 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
• To contribute to Regional and Local transport and development plans
• To investigate measures to promote modal shift

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Possible Problems

Route Problems

Here is a summary of the current problems associated with the M55, each problem has been categorised into the Highways Agency's five policy objectives for transport

Economy

Congestion on Junction 1 and 3 exit slip roads
Whilst this is not currently a major problem, traffic forecasts have shown that during the next ten years, queuing at these junctions is likely to back up on to the mainline at peak times, if not addressed.

Safety

Unauthorized parking under Junction 1
The area under junction 1 bridge is currently used as a car park. This has security implications, as well as causing a hazard when vehicles enter and exit the area at peak times.

Weaving traffic between Junction 1 and the M6
The distance between Junction 1 and the M6 link roads is less than half a kilometer, this is a very short length considering there can be a large number of vehicles needing to switch lanes.

Lack of an Incident Response Plan
The Highways Agency feel that a documented plan which outlines the procedures that should be undertaken during a major incident on the M55 is required. At present the emergency services follow their own well tried and trusted guidelines, but these do not involve the HA.

Environment

Lack of Protection to Watercourses
At present carriageway runoff enters the local watercourses via the highway drainage directly. There is currently no means of intercepting any possible substance leaks, before it reaches the local streams.

Noise levels around north Preston
The residential area around Junction 1 has the highest level of noise disturbance on the route. Traffic forecasts for the next ten years show that noise from the M55 may be at an unacceptable level if not addressed.

Accessibility

Pedestrian crossing at Junctions 3 and 4:
Construction of the M55 has severed many footpaths in the area. Walking two of these footpaths now involves the crossing of the motorway sliproads, with no protection from vehicles.

It has also been highlighted during the public consultation, that local people drive across Junction 1 rather than use the pedestrian subway because it is isolated.

Integration

Lack of compatibility between M55 and local signing
Although this is not a major problem. The Highways Agency is keen to increase the integration between different transport networks, and it is believed that there are opportunities here for improvement.

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Possible Actions

Route Actions

Here are the proposed actions which will tackle the Route Problems, each action has been prioritized for implementation over the ten year course of the RMS.

High Priority

• Investigation into weaving traffic between Junction 1 and the M6.
• Provide protection to watercourses
• Prohibit parking under Junction 1

Medium Priority

• Provision of an Incident Response Plan
• Monitoring of Junctions 1 and 3
• Implement NMCS2 on the M55
• Monitor noise levels around junction 1
• Investigate the potential of compatibility of motorway and local signing

Local Priority

• Investigate the provision of pedestrian crossing facilities at Junctions 3 and 4.