Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Related pages

• 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

1. introduction

1. Introduction

1.1 Overview of Stage 2 Scheme Assessment Report Part I

The Stage 2 Scheme Assessment Report (SAR) Part I summarised all previous studies carried out under the current commission. It identified a number of factors to be considered when assessing the various alternative schemes that followed the proposals of the Cambridge to Huntingdon Multi Modal Study (CHUMMS). The report also identified the environmental, engineering, economic and traffic advantages and disadvantages and constraints associated with each of the alternative schemes.

1.2 Background and Objectives of Stage 2 Scheme Assessment Report Part II

Following the submission to the Highways Agency of the Stage 2 Scheme Assessment Report Part I in October 2004, an internal 'scheme challenge' was undertaken on the capital costs of the Orange Route Junction Strategy B together with development work on the proposed junction with the A14 and Brampton Road at Huntingdon. As well as this and as a result of ongoing reviews of the available routes, an alternative proposal that differs from the strategy proposed by CHUMMS was investigated. This proposal, shown on drawing number 5021044/DR/HW/106 in Volume II Part A, involves following the same layout and profile as the Orange Route Option with Junction Strategy B but replaces the Huntingdon Railway Viaduct in order to retain the existing A14 between Fen Drayton and the A1/A14 Hinchingbrooke Junction for traffic to and from the north. Traffic travelling to and from the west will use the new section of A14 between Ellington and Fen Drayton.

The objective of this addendum to the October 2004 Stage 2 Scheme Assessment Report (SAR Part I) is firstly to describe the alternative option (herein referred to as the Alternative Proposal) from an environmental, engineering, economic and traffic perspective, and identify the advantages, disadvantages and constraints associated with it. It also serves to update the appraisal of the Orange Route Option with Junction Strategy B (herein referred to as the CHUMMS Strategy) to reflect the changes made to the economics and environmental assessment as a result of the 'scheme challenge' and development work undertaken on the A14 junction with Brampton Road.

1.3 Structure of the Report

The Stage 2 Scheme Assessment Report Part II is structured into a further four chapters:

• Chapter 2 describes the Alternative Proposal;
• Chapter 3 presents a detailed engineering assessment of route options in terms of highway alignment, junction layouts, existing and new structures, geotechnics and contaminated land, earthworks, public utilities and compliance with Standards. Significant engineering difficulties associated with route options are also identified;
• Chapter 4 presents a summary of the environmental assessment of scheme options, including Appraisal Summary Tables (ASTs);
• Chapter 5 summarises the traffic analysis undertaken, and presents traffic forecasts and economic assessment of route options;