Highways Agency

A194(M)/A184/A19 South of Gateshead to North of Newcastle

The Strategy

Following the public consultation, the Highways Agency have published the final Route Management Strategy report for the A194 (M) / A184 / A19 trunk route from South of Gateshead to North of Newcastle. This leaflet summarises the final Strategy and the key findings from the public consultation Consultations ran from May to July 2004 Of those who expressed a view - 78% said we had identified the main problems in the Draft Strategy.

The Route Management Strategy

This Route Management Strategy is for the A194(M), the A184 and the A19 trunk roads from the south of Gateshead to the north of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is a framework to enable the Highways Agency to manage the route over a 10 year period.

In total, the route is 27.7km (17.3 miles) in length. It excludes the Tyne Tunnel, run by Tyne & Wear PTA, but considers its impact both with and without the proposed new Second Tyne Crossing.

The A194(M) / A184 / A19 Route

What you told us

Our public consultation generated around 1000 individual comments. The results show that some 78% of you think that our Draft Strategy identified the main problems.

The questionnaire outlined 15 possible "actions" identified in the Draft Strategy and asked you to tell us how important you felt they were, on a scale of High, Medium or Low. Of those who expressed a view, reducing congestion at busy junctions came top with 90% saying "High". All of the proposed actions were considered as being High or Medium.

We also asked you to put your top three "actions" in order of importance. From the analysis, the top six answers are shown below.

1st	Providing measures to reduce congestion at busy junctions.
2nd	Providing measures to reduce the number of accidents.
3rd	Improving safety and layout of junctions and general road layout.
4th	Improving operation during maintenance.
5th	Improving integration with public transport facilities.
6th	Improving facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

The other actions were:

• Improving operation during maintenance works e.g. provision of hardstrips
• Managing oil spillage and improving pollution control.
• Supporting regeneration and employment opportunities
• Improving maintenance of road markings, signs,etc.
• Improving information and direction signs.
• Reducing the incidences of wildlife kills and impact on ecology
• Providing measures to locate where you are. e.g. Junction names.
• Enhancing the landscape and biodiversity impact of the route.
• Reducing the impact of the route on cultural heritage.
• Improving facilities for travellers e.g. lay-bys, services, toilets, HGV facilities.

The table below shows the most popular issues that were raised:

Issue Groups
JUNCTIONS
Flyovers, Junctions & accesses, Roundabouts, Traffic lights	29 %
HIGHWAY
Road markings & signs, Maintenance, Alignment, Speed limits, Drainage, Wind	20 %
DELAY
Congestion. Improvements, Developments, Jobs, Tourism, Ports	19 %
NON-MOTORISED USERS
Buses & Metro (e.g. Park & Ride), Severance, Pedestrians, Cyclists & Horse riders	14 %
TYNE CROSSING
Tyne Tunnel etc	10 %
ENVIRONMENTAL
Environment -Biodiversity, Landscape, Pollution - Air Quality, Pollution - Noise	4 %
OTHER ISSUES
Others issues such as: Consultation & process, Function, General	4 %

How your views have affected the Strategy

The Draft Strategy was reviewed in the light of all the comments received. The outcome of the consultation indicated that you were happy with the Strategy and only small changes to the details were needed. The weight of comments on various issues will help us choose priorities in the future implementation of the Strategy.

Many of you gave us comments and suggestions relating to specific locations. These will be considered further when proposals are developed in greater detail. Many of the actions proposed will involve liaison with local and national organisations and this will be carried out when actions from the Strategy are taken forward.

Some comments fell outside the scope of the Route Management Strategy and they will be forwarded to appropriate bodies such as local authorities or transport operators, for their consideration.

The Final Strategy: The Route Outcomes

Route Management Strategy Route Outcomes set out what the Highways Agency will seek to obtain from the route over the next 10 years. These are listed below:

RO1	To identify short and longer term measures to address congestion and seek to improve journey time reliability.
RO2	To improve maintenance procedures and target improvements that will seek to improve the operation of the route during maintenance works.
RO3	To improve the strategic operation of the Route.
RO4	To facilitate and support sustainable regeneration and employment opportunities.
RO5	To reduce the number of accidents along the route and improve overall safety.
RO6	To improve the facilities that contribute to traveller care along the route.
RO7	To enhance the landscape and biodiversity and minimise the impact of the route on cultural heritage.
RO8	To minimise noise, air and water pollution and the risk of flooding associated with the route.
RO9	To provide appropriate facilities for all nonmotorised users (NMU) crossing and travelling along the route and reduce the severance effect of the route on communities.
RO10	To improve facilities that will contribute to integration of different forms of public transport.
RO11	To maintain and develop relationships with relevant stakeholders and other bodies with an interest in the route.
RO12	To improve facilities for Heavy Goods Vehicles and contribute to integration of different forms of freight transport.

Other Issues outside the scope of the Strategy

You also gave us a number of comments not within the remit of the Route Management Strategy: and in many case are not within the Highways Agency's jurisdiction.

• The Tyne Tunnel and the proposed Second Tyne Tunnel were mentioned by many of you. These comments will be passed to the Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Authority; who are the responsible body for this project.
• A number expressed the desire for more Park & Ride facilities, more investment in public transport generally and more buses - These comments will be sent to Nexus.
• Some made comments on local road issues which will be sent to the various local authorities concerned, whilst others indicated issues concerning policing, which will be sent to the Northumbria Constabulary.
• Some comments concerning additional lanes, the improvement of the A-class roads to Motorway standard and investment on other routes were considered in the Tyneside Area Multi Modal Study and the A1 Multi Modal Sudy. The remaining comments will be considered by the Highways Agency in consultation with Regional partners.

What happens now?

The Route Management Strategy will form the basis on which the Highways Agency will develop solutions and priorities over the next 10 years. The delivery of individual improvements to achieve the aims of the Strategy will be subject to funding availability. Reviews of the Strategy will be carried out periodically.

The Highways Agency would like to thank you for your contributions to the consultation.

Finding Out More about the Final Strategy

Copies of the Final Strategy Report may be seen at the following council offices:-

• Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth
• Castle Morpeth Borough Council, The Kylins, Morpeth
• Blyth Valley Borough Council, Planning Offices, Seaton Delaval
• North Tyneside Borough Council, Town Hall, Wallsend
• South Tyneside Borough Council, Westoe Road, South Shields
• Newcastle City Council, Civic Centre, Barras Bridge, Newcastle
  • also at West Denton Way and 137 Shields Road
• City of Sunderland, Civic Centre, Burton Road Sunderland
  • also at: Washington Library, Independence Square
• Gateshead Borough Council, Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead
• Durham County Council, County Hall, Durham