Highways Agency

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Highway Design and Layout
• 3 Bridge Design and General Arrangement
• 4 Environment and Land
• 5 Scheme Costs
• 6 Traffic and Economics
• 7 Project Appraisal Report
• 8 Conclusions and Recommendations

A19 Dishforth to Tyne Tunnel

Feasibility Study

1 Introduction

1.1 Objectives

1.1.1 The objective of the study is to investigate the feasibility of providing a bridge crossingat the Black Swan Crossroads on the A19 Trunk Road. Sufficient design work is to bedone in order to enable the Highways Agency Route Manager to decide whether thereis a robust case for a scheme to be included in the forward programme.

1.1.2 The study will include consideration of junction and bridge options; production of ascheme design shown on a layout plan and longitudinal section; a bridge generalarrangement drawings, costs, economic assessment using COBA and a Short ProjectAssessment Report (PAR).

1.2 Background

1.2.1 The Black Swan Crossroads on the A19 is located about five kilometres south of theA19/A67 junction near Crathorne and is shown labelled "The Site" on Figure 1. Theside roads at the Black Swan Crossroads lead to The Rountons to the west and HuttonRudby to the northeast. This junction has been the subject of several improvementschemes in recent years with the aim of improving safety. The latest of these schemeswas carried out in the summer of 2002 and its aim was to improve the visibility forvehicles waiting in the central reserve.

1.2.2 In July 2004 the Highways Agency stopped up the central reserve gap at the junctionusing an experimental order that lasts until 16th January 2006. The order also includesbanning 'U' turns at the remaining central reserve gaps between Crathorne and TontineJunctions. The at-grade crossroads has been closed to crossing and right turning trafficby blocking up the central reserve opening. A decision will need to be made by HAwhether to extend the order or re-open the central reserve gap. There has been localopposition to the gap closure and the Highways Agency has agreed to look at thepossibility of providing a bridge at this location to cover all turning movements.

1.3 Information Provided

1.3.1 A copy of an earlier report by Halcrow entitled "Area 18 Motorway and Trunk roadsDurham and North, East and West Yorkshire A19 (T) Crathorne to Tontine Safety StudySupplementary Report December 2002" (Ref 1) has been made available to the studyteam and provides useful data on the A19 and local roads in the vicinity of the BlackSwan junction, including traffic survey and assessment results.

1.3.2 The Highways Agency also provided Ordnance Survey digital mapping at 1:2500 scaleaccuracy, covering the Black Swan junction and surrounding area. Landform digitalcontours were also obtained through the Highways Agency's Pan-governmentarrangement with Ordnance Survey.

1.3.3 Ground level photographs of the junction were provided and these were supplementedby the study team during the site visit on 5 January 2005. At the request of theHighways Agency, no contact or enquiries were made to utilities companies, statutoryauthorities or landowners.

1.3.4 Following discussions with Highways Agency's Traffic and Economics Team (TAME) itwas agreed that the economics would be assessed using the latest version of COBA,v11.6 and that the PAR would be the short version. The latest issue of PAR (Version3.3) and its guidance notes were provided to the study team.

1.3.5 As-built and record drawings were also provided to the study team by Autolink Ltd (A19concessionaires) covering highway drainage, street lighting and utilities. Wherepossible this information was supplemented by observation from within the highwayboundary during the site visit by the study team on 5 January 2005.

1.4 Output Required

1.4.1 Output from the study comprises a completed PAR with relevant worksheets and othersupporting information; cost justification and supporting information and generalarrangement drawings of bridge options. Supporting information will include schemelayout plans and longitudinal sections of the proposed junction layouts, site locationplan and COBA results.