Highways Agency

M1 to Birmingham Route Management Strategy

The Strategy

Introduction

Route Management Strategies are being developed by the Highways Agency to provide a framework for managing trunk roads and motorways as part of wider traffic networks. This study involved consulting with stakeholders and other consultees to formulate a strategic plan for M1 to Birmingham for the next 10 years.

Route Management Strategies were developed taking a holistic view of the problems and issues occurring over a defined part of the core trunk road network. From this, a series of outcomes were developed to provide guidance to the Highways Agency with regards to actions that will need to be taken in the short to medium term. The outcomes generally relate to local management issues rather than major schemes and are developed and assessed against the Government's five-investment criteria-Safety; Economy; Environment; Accessibility; and Integration.

Policy Objectives

Policy objectives have been derived for the all routes included in this RMS because of similarity of policies for each section. These objectives have been derived from various data sources and are briefly outlined for each of the Government's investment criteria as follows:

Economy

• Ec1 To minimise road delays and congestion and to improve reliability of journeys
• Ec2 To provide information to travellers to contribute to a safe and economical journey
• Ec3 To contribute towards the efficiency and effectiveness of the route and help support economic activity

Safety

• S1 To reduce road casualty numbers and the severity of injuries
• S2 To provide safer conditions for vulnerable road user groups

Environment

• E1 To protect and enhance the built and natural environment
• E2 To reduce the impacts of traffic and transport on the environment including noise, light and air pollution
• E3 To enhance the living environment for communities along the corridor

Accessibility

• A1 To provide better accessibility to facilities and services along the route
• A2 To reduce the impacts of community severance caused by trunk roads
• A3 To promote safer and more frequent non-motorised travel

Integration

• I1 To facilitate improved interchanges between transport modes
• I2 To promote and enhance more frequent use of public transport and other alternatives to the private car
• I3 To encourage the evolution of a balanced and integrated transport system

Route Functions

Route Functions describe the purposes the route serves currently and those it is intended to serve in the future. Functions are based on the nature of the journeys that occur on the route and the relationship between the route and other parts of the national and local transport infrastructure and regional land use development. The Route Functions for the each of the sections of the route have been summarised below:

A5 between A38 Weeford and M1 J18

• F1 Part of a network forming a National/International route for long distance traffic
• F2 A designated heavy load and diversion route for the M6 and M1 (between the M69 and M6)
• F3 To provide connections to major towns within the region
• F4 An important link from major distribution centres to the motorway network
• F5 Providing access to residential areas, shops and businesses by connecting towns and villages along the corridor
• F6 To provide a route for non motorised users
• F7 Assists business development, goods movements, regeneration and employment opportunities
• F8 Provides commuter links
• F9 Provides agricultural access
• F10 Serves public transport

M6 between J4 and M1 J19

• F1 Part of the strategic motorway network
• F2 Links a number of motorway routes across the Midlands
• F3 A link in the Trans European Network
• F4 An important link between the East and West Midlands trunk road and motorway network
• F5 Provides access to major towns and sites within the East and West Midlands
• F6 Removes traffic from local roads and communities
• F7 Serves business and goods movements
• F8 Provides commuter links
• F9 Assists business development, goods movements, regeneration and employment opportunities

A46 Coventry Eastern Bypass

• F1 Diversion alternative to the M6
• F2 Part of a longer distance cross region route
• F3 Provides access to residential areas, shops and businesses by connecting towns and villages along the corridor
• F4 Assists, business development, goods movements, regeneration and employment opportunities
• F5 To provide an eastern bypass of Coventry
• F6 A strategic link between two Trans European Network routes (M6 & M42)
• F7 Serves public transport

A45/M45 between A46 Stivichall and M1 J17

• F1 Diversion alternative to M6
• F2 Provides access to Coventry and Rugby from the M1
• F3 Provides access to residential areas, shops and businesses by connecting towns and villages along the corridor
• F4 The A45 provides a route for pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorised users
• F5 Provides agricultural access
• F6 Assists business development, goods movements, regeneration and employment opportunities
• F7 Serves public transport

Route Problems and Performance

Route problems and performance issues were identified by taking into account a wide range of sources of information varying from:

• the RMS itself and its component parts to Multi-Modal and planning studies that have occurred,
• general appreciation of the problems from the investigation of statistics for accident, congestion etc.
• Stakeholder consultation and
• public consultation where the general public had the opportunity to voice its views on the RMS.

Based on this the key issues and problems identified on each of the sections are as summarised below:

A5 between A38 Weeford and M1 J18

• Safety at A444 Royal Redgate junction;
• Low Bridge at Hinckley;
• Congestion at Longshoot;
• Safety between Dodswell Island and M69;
• Safety at Smockington, Lilbourne and Wibtoft;
• Queuing and safety on approach to major junctions;
• Perceptions of excessive speed - better signing;
• Safety and accessibility through Dordon and Grendon;
• Safety at minor junctions;
• Congestion at M69 Junction 1 & M42 Junction 10; and
• Improve Public Transport

M6 between J4 and M1 J19

• Link congestion on approach to Birmingham at peak times;
• Future capacity of Junction 2;
• HGV accidents outside Corley MSA;
• Lack of driver information on the M6;
• Accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists across M1 J19;
• Noise pollution west of Junction 3; and
• Lane disciplines on motorway.

A46 Coventry Eastern Bypass

• Improved crossing facilities at TGI Friday Island;
• Junction safety at TGI Friday Island; and
• Better provision for cyclists along Bypass.

A45/M45 between A46 Stivichall and M1 J17

• Junction safety at A445 Leamington/Wolston junction in Ryton and Ryton village;
• Junction safety at Blue Boar junction;
• Improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists; and
• Need for improved public transport facilities and services.

Route Outcomes

The RMS has identified a number of key route issues. In order to overcome these route issues a strategy has been devised, resulting in Route Outcomes (RO's), which will enable the performance of the route to be improved and also address the identified route issues. The Key Route Outcomes are as summarised below:

Ref:	Short Name	Route Outcomes
RO1	Landscape	To preserve and accentuate the character areas along the route and to reduce the impact of the road on the landscape, wildlife and local environment
RO2	Noise and Air Quality	To reduce the impact of traffic noise and vehicle emissions where appropriate on the local communities and environment
*RO3	Community Severance	To reduce community severance caused by the route
RO4	NMU Safety & Crossing	To improve the safety and accessibility for vulnerable road users
RO5	Public Transport Provision	To facilitate public transport provision and the integration of public transport services
RO6	Route Planning	To plan diversion and HGV routes and to minimise the impact on smaller communities
RO7	Traveller Care	To improve the spacing and standard of lay-bys and facilitate the provision of service areas and facilities along the route
RO8	Congestion	To manage congestion and improve the reliability of journey times along the route
RO9	Junctions	Improve safety and operation at junctions where appropriate
RO10	Road Layout	Examine existing road layouts and markings where appropriate
RO11	Slip Roads	To improve the operation of slip roads where appropriate
*RO12	Speed Management	To use speed management techniques to improve safety and accessibility where appropriate along the route
RO13	Accidents	To reduce road casualties and the frequency and severity of accidents at cluster sites on the route in line with national targets
RO14	Signing	Provide consistent and clear signing along the route
RO15	Network Management	To enhance network management, the provision of information and road user education

* Not Applicable to M6 section

Strategy Impact Statement

The Strategy Impact Statement demonstrates how the implementation of the Route Outcomes will result in a beneficial impact on the performance of the route. The Route Outcomes are expected to have a positive impact on the route as a whole. The impact of the Route Outcomes were analysed on the following:

• Route Issues
• Route Functions
• Development Control and
• Policy Objectives

For detailed tables please refer to the 10-year Route Management Plan

The Highways Agency will use this strategy as the basis for further detailed studies on the issues raised and will produce a Route Management Plan that will include committed and potential actions that can realistically delivered within the ten year horizon.