Highways Agency

• 1 introduction
• 2 route description
• 3 land use & development control statement
• 4 a13/ a1089 gla boundary to tilbury draft rms development
• 5 route functions and objectives
• 6 route problems and issues
• 7 draft route management strategy
• 8 public consultation

1 introduction

1 Introduction

1.1 Background

The A13/A1089 GLA Boundary to Tilbury Route Management Strategy is a planfor the management and development of the A13/A1089 route between theGreater London Authority Boundary at the junction with the A1306 (NewRoad/London Road) near Wennington and the main entrance to the Port ofTilbury. The route is some 13.5km (8.4miles) long with several major junctionsalong the route, most notably Junction 30 of the M25 and the interchange betweenthe A13 and A1089 near Orsett.

The route is of all-purpose dual carriageway standard providing the main access toTilbury Docks and the Lakeside Shopping Centre as well as local communitiessuch as South Ockendon, Grays, Chadwell St. Mary and Tilbury. The non-trunkroad section of the A13 also links to the A130 and the A127 providing access toareas of East Essex including Basildon and Southend on Sea.

For the purpose of the Route Management Strategy the route has been dividedinto two main sections as follows:

• The mostly dual-three lane section of the A13(T) from the A13(T)/A1306 junction (near Wennington) to the A13(T)/A1089(T) interchange (near Orsett), some 9km in length.
• The dual-two lane section of the A1089(T) from the A13(T)/A1089(T) interchange (near Orsett) to the main entrance to the Port of Tilbury, 4.5km in length

Chapter 2 provides more details on these route sections.

The Route Management Strategy (RMS) for the A13/A1089 is part of a series ofmore than 60 RMSs being developed for the Highways Agency's core trunk roadnetwork. The RMS process is a means by which the Highways Agency can identifyand collate existing problems and concerns along a route, including developmentissues. It can then link these with agreed route objectives and functions thatidentify and prioritise what it wants the route to do now and in the future andprepare a 10-year vision for the improvements that will make better use of theroad.

The aim of the RMS is to provide an open and optimum way of planning futureinvestment in the maintenance, operation and improvement of the network, whichintegrates local and regional land and transport interests in the decision-makingprocess. The RMS process will:

• Provide a consistent approach to the maintenance, operation and improvement of a route over a period of about 10 years, which addresses the whole route including all individual problem areas
• Enable a public consultation process to ensure the views of local road users and residents are fully taken into account
• Provide route objectives and a management plan for improvements to be progressed within the 10-year period of the strategy.

More specific details on the purpose and aims of a Route Management Strategy areprovided in Appendix A, Route Management Strategy Overview.

1.2 Development of the A13/A1089 RMS

The main features to-date of the RMS development for this route have been:

• A study of existing and likely future conditions on the route, including a review of potential developments that may impact on the route or it's performance
• Consultation with key groups including road user organisations, Local Authorities, police, the Port Authority and the public from an early stage
• Closer involvement of these groups in the decision-making process to encourage a more unified approach to improving the route conditions
• Workshops and a seminar to discuss problems and issues, agree route functions and objectives and assess potential solutions and measures to be included in the draft RMS

A summary of the development issues considered is provided in Chapter 3. Detailsof the consultation process are provided in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 describes theroute functions and objectives. The problems and issues identified along the routethrough the consultation process to-date are summarised in Chapter 6.

The draft Route Management Strategy developed from these initial consultations ispresented in Chapter 7. The detailed proposals are now subject to publicconsultation and details of this are provided in Chapter 8. Comments from thepublic consultation will be considered before the final agreed strategy is adoptedand published.

1.3 Scheme Development through the Route Management Strategy Process

Route Management Strategies are a tool developed by the Highways Agency tohelp manage and develop the motorway and trunk road network. Actions includedwithin the draft 10-year plan are those actions that can be progressed by theHighways Agency. A number of potential or suggested solutions to problems arenot within the remit of the Highways Agency to progress independently. Theseinclude:

• Improvements to other modes of transport, for example to bus services. Suggestions for such improvements will be passed on to the relevant bodies for their consideration.
• Major road improvements costing over £5m (inc VAT). Schemes over this value are delivered through the Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI).

The process for delivery is by consultation with the Regional Planning Body,consistency checks with Regional Transport Plans and formal approval by theSecretary of State for Transport. One of the suggested actions for improvingthe A13/A1089 would fall into this category, and whilst consideration hasbeen given to the action, it would require a longer development period andwould need to follow a different procurement path.

It should be noted that the RMS process is a means of identifying appropriateschemes, which will need more detailed appraisal and be subject to the outcome ofstatutory and other procedures in due course. Funding of specific schemedevelopment would be through other HA budgets, for example the Local NetworkManagement Schemes programme.

1.4 Current Schemes and Maintenance Work

There are a number of on-going schemes along the route and other schemesprogrammed for implementation within the next four years, including regularmaintenance work. The proposed Strategy assumes that this programmed workwill go ahead as planned.

1.5 Multi-modal Studies

Multi-modal Studies are a separate Government initiative, which have beenprogressed through the Government's Regional Offices. These studies weredesigned to establish the priorities for major investment, looking at all transportmodes and across a 30-year time frame, within a defined area. The A13/M25Junction 30 intersection formed part of the remit of the M25 London OrbitalStudy (published November 2002) and is considered by the Secretary of State'sstatement on trunk road improvements that was made on 9 July 2003. However,issues affecting the A13 slip roads at this junction have been considered as part ofthe A13/A1089 RMS.

1.6 RMS Updates

The Route Management Strategy and Action Plan will form the basis for planningfuture works along the A13/A1089. It will be subject to annual update and will bereviewed as necessary as particular circumstances change. It is anticipated that theinitial Strategy will be published in late Spring 2004 following the publicconsultation on these draft proposals.