Highways Agency

A1 Elkesley Junctions Improvement

Questions and Answers

Why do the junctions need improving?

The A1 junctions at Elkesley are of a design which does not meet current standards, and Elkesley has no highway access other than from the A1.  Access into and out of the village is poor, relying on gaps in the central reservation of the dual carriageway which allow essential right-turn and U-turn manoeuvres.  To maintain the safety of these sub-standard junctions we have imposed a 50mph speed limit on traffic on the A1, causing delays to through traffic.  Although the lowering of the speed limit has reduced accidents, the layout of the junctions still causes concern to road-users.  Additionally, the junction layout allows no access between the local road network and Elkesley other than by using a short length of the A1.

What do the improvements involve?

In 2005 we consulted on two options, both providing better access to and from the A1 and direct access from the village to the local road network. Option A was preferred by around 70 per cent of those who responded.  It proposed the construction of a new two-level junction northwest of the village with a link road to Jockey Lane, the improvement of the Twyford Bridge junction southeast of the village and the closure of all central reservation gaps.  Since 2005 we have been developing designs of the new two-level junction and we exhibited our latest ideas in February 2008. Once the improvements are completed the speed limit along the Elkesley section of the A1 will be raised to 70mph, the national speed limit for dual carriageways.

What about Twyford Bridge Junction?

For the time being we have deferred the planned improvements at Twyford Bridge junction pending further design work and negotiations with the developer of the former Bevercotes colliery.  The speed limit along that section of the A1 will therefore remain unchanged in the short term, whatever works we undertake at Elkesley.

Will the improvements increase safety at the junction?

The accident record at the junction has been very good since the introduction of the 50 mph speed limit, speed cameras and road lighting in the late 1990s. The proposed further improvements are to improve accessibility to Elkesley including from the local road network, and improve journey times for both Elkesley residents and all A1 road users. They will also reduce the perception of danger by removing right-turns and U-turns.

Will the level of noise generated by traffic using the junction increase as a result of the junction improvement?

A noise assessment carried out prior to the 2005 consultation showed that the road improvement will not result in any additional traffic due to traffic diverting from other routes so there will be little increase in noise levels. Removing the 50 mph speed limit could cause some increase in noise levels, however noise levels will be kept to a minimum by low noise surfacing material. Assessments of noise and other environmental issues are being revisited during 2008.

Will I get secondary glazing?

Certain criteria have to be met for a property to qualify for noise insulation under the Noise Insulation Regulations Act 1975. Properties will be assessed against these criteria and if they qualify owners will be offered secondary glazing. As an alternative, the regulations allow us to pay a grant towards the cost of ordinary double-glazing.

What compensation am I entitled to if my land is Compulsorily Purchased for the scheme?

Compensation following compulsory acquisition of land is based on a principle of equivalence which means that you should be no worse off in financial terms after the acquisition than you were before. As the effects of the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) are ignored when assessing compensation, it is necessary to value the land on the basis of its open market value without any increase or decrease attributable to the scheme of development, which underlies the CPO.

Will I be able to claim compensation as a result of the junction improvement?

Claims can be made after the expiry of 12 months from the date when the new or altered road is first opened to public traffic. Anyone who believes they are entitled to compensation under Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 should contact the Highways Agency for information on how to make a claim. .

Why haven't you done something sooner?

The 50 mph speed limit and associated improvements introduced in the late 1990s improved the safety record of the A1 at Elkesley and dealt with the immediate problem. However, the need for improvements remains, and the Highways Agency has sought funding for them.  We follow strict funding procedures which determine where we can spend public funds. The costs of the favoured schemes at Elkesley exceed those usually expected for local junction improvement schemes of this type, and the Agency has struggled to identify an acceptable scheme which will be achievable in the short to medium term. Schemes on the A1 costing more than £5 million are usually deemed to be of regional significance and their funding is subject to additional prioritisation procesess against other transportaion schemes throughout the East Midlands region. However, because the Elkesley scheme is of immense local importance, the Highways Agency hopes to be able to progress it without further prioritisation being required, which should avoid further delays. 

Why is this scheme costing so much?

The scheme is working out more expensive than similar junction improvements elsewhere because of the local geography.  The need to provide a link between Coalpit Lane, south of the A1, and Jockey Lane, north of the A1, requires considerable lengths of side-roads which add to the cost of providing the new junction. Without those side-road links, access to and from the A1 could be improved but the local road network link would not be provided and the village would remain susceptible to congestion and incidents on the A1.

What about pedestrians or cyclists?

There are no existing pedestrian or cycle facilities across the A1 either at the junction or on the adjacent parts of the A1. The new bridge will provide a local road link with footways across the A1 to link with Jockey Lane, providing a safer and more pleasant route for pedestrians, cyclists and those riding horses across the A1.

How much will the improvements cost and who is paying for them?

The Elkesley junctions scheme, excluding Twyford Bridge junction improvements, will cost in excess of £7.5 million. It will be paid for mainly by the Highways Agency, which is funded from Central Government, although a contribution of funds will also come from Nottinghamshire County Council.

When will work start?

Subject to completion of the necessary statutory procedures and to confirmation of funding, we hope to start work on site in 2010. 

How long will it take to build?

We expect to works to take 12 to 15 months to complete.

Will there be much disruption to traffic during construction?

The Contractor for the scheme will be instructed to keep the junction open to traffic at all times, and will only be allowed to close lanes during off-peak times. There should be little disruption to the A1 traffic except for Option A during the placing of bridge beams. This is likely to take place overnight and will involve the the full closure of the A1.

Will construction traffic be allowed to use local roads?

No. The Contractor will be instructed that construction traffic may not use local roads.

Will there be speed limits during construction?

Yes, speed limits will be imposed through the works area during construction for the safety of the workforce and the travelling public.

What about noise during construction of the junction improvement?

Noise levels for work whilst the scheme is under construction will be agreed with and monitored by Bassetlaw District Council Environmental Health. Maximum noise levels will be set out in the contract documents.

Will a quiet noise surface be used?

Yes. Quiet road surfacing materials will be used in the construction of all new carriageways at the site.

Will air pollution increase locally?

Although traffic is expected to increase by the opening year, a previous air quality assessment showed that air quality will actually improve slightly due to improved vehicle emissions and a greater number of modern vehicles in the UK . The assessment is being revisited in 2008.

Will the junction improvement proposals have a detrimental impact on the environment?

An environmental assessment of the junction improvement proposals carried out prior to the 2005 consultation concluded that Option A would not have a significant effect on the environment. The appraisal is being revisited in 2008.

How much existing vegetation will be removed during the construction of the works?

A small number of trees and some hedgerow will have to be removed for construction of the new junction and to improve visibility along the A1, but we will preserve mature tress wherever possible. A biodiversity assessment of the site indicated that vegetation to be removed is generally of low value.

What will be the effect on wildlife at the site?

The area surrounding Elkesley is considered to be a landscape of good quality. Many surveys have already been carried out at the site for badgers, bat roosts, water voles and great crested newts. Although none of these were found to be present at the site, further surveys, including surveys for breeding birds, will be carried out before vegetation clearance commences.  New

Will planting be introduced to minimize the impact of the scheme on the environment?

Areas of land have been included within the scheme for landscaping to mitigate the vegetation being lost to the new junction. This area will be planted with dense native trees and shrubs, new hedgerows, species rich grassland as well as semi-ornamental tree planting over the existing junction.

What happens next?

The preferred route for the Elkesley Junctions Improvement was announced by the Secretary of State for Transport in July 2008.  That allows us to begin prearing detailed designs towards the preparation of draft statutory orders under the Highways Act 1980 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981. 

What does preferred route mean?

Preferred route status allows legal protection of the route of the preferred option.  It does not guarantee that the scheme will proceed, but it does ensure that other developments cannot go ahead which would prevent it. It also means that the road proposal should be revealed by local searches.

What are statutory orders?

The Highways Agency obtaints its powers to acquire land for highway improvements through the publication of unders under the Highways Act 1980 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981.  These orders are published at first in draft, which allows people to comment upon them or to express their support for or objection to them.  Once the draft orders are published we will hold public exhibitions and a statutory objection period will apply.  Notices of the publication of the orders and the environmental assessment report will be published in the local press, and we'll publicise the holding of the exhibitions locally.

Will there be a public inquiry?

Depending on the number, nature and weight of any objections to the draft orders, a public inquiry may be necessary in front of an independent inspector.  If so, then the Secretary of State for Transport would have to determine whether the scheme could proceed based on the independent inspector's report.