Highways Agency

• 1. introduction
• 2. scheme proposals
• 3. engineering assessment
• 4. environmental assessment
• 4. environmental assessment (continued)
• 4. environmental assessment (continued)
• 4. environmental assessment (continued)
• 4. environmental assessment (continued)
• 4. environmental assessment (continued)
• 4. environmental assessment (continued)
• 4. environmental assessment (continued)
• 4. environmental assessment (continued)
• 4. environmental assessment (continued)
• 4. environmental assessment (continued)
• 5. traffic and economic assessment

4. environmental assessment

4. Environmental Assessment

4.1 Introduction

The following sections cover the baseline conditions, mitigation and the assessment of environmental effects for each of the environmental topics. Refer to Volume 3 for copies of the Environmental Constraints Maps.

4.1.1 Background to the Environmental Addendum to the SAR

The objective of this part of the addendum is to appraise and compare, from an environmental perspective, the Alternative Proposal against the CHUMMS Strategy.

This addendum addresses topics previously assessed in the SAR Part I for the earlier route options. Generally the addendum describes the section from Ellington to Fen Drayton, the section between Fen Drayton Interchange and Fen Ditton being identical to that of the CHUMMS Strategy.

However due to the nature of methodologies for Noise and Air Quality assessments, chapters for these topics describe the impacts for the full length of the scheme, Ellington to Fen Ditton.

4.1.2 Traffic Considerations for Environmental Assessment

It is noted that the introduction of a junction at Brampton Road in the CHUMMS Strategy is likely to have implications on local traffic conditions across Huntingdon town centre as traffic patterns change due to the new access arrangements. Whilst an increase in traffic flows along Brampton Road could be expected, the traffic model is strategic in nature and hence not designed to examine the local impacts within Huntingdon. Therefore any changes in flow forecast at this stage should be treated with caution.

A more detailed study of the local effects of the Brampton Road junction needs to be undertaken, including traffic and environmental considerations, which also takes account of other potential local transport interventions and policy measures to complement the introduction of the scheme.