Highways Agency

• 1 introduction
• 2 route description
• 3 land use and development control policy
• 4 route functions and objectives
• 5 spatial planning statement
• 6 route problems and issues
• 7 route outcomes
• 8 strategy impact statement

1 introduction

1.1 Background

The A5 (from M1 Junction 9 to M1 Junction 18) Route Management Strategy (RMS) is a plan for the management and development of the A5 from just south of Luton/Dunstable through Milton Keynes and northwards past Daventry, a length of approximately 87km (54miles).

The A5 RMS is part of a series of about 70 RMSs that are being developed for the Highways Agency's (HA) trunk road network. The RMS process is a means by which the HA can identify and collate existing problems and concerns along a route, including development issues. It can then link these with agreed route objectives and functions that identify and prioritise what the HA wants the route to do now and in the future and prepare a vision for the improvements that will make better use of the road.

The aim of the RMS is to provide an open and optimum way of planning future investment in the maintenance, operation and improvement of the network, which integrates local and regional spatial planning and transport interests in the decision-making process. 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
• Through public consultation processes 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 strategy period.

More specific details on the purpose and aims of an RMS are provided in Appendix A, Route Management Strategy Overview.

1.2 Route Description

The A5 is a trunk road, and this length originally was a Roman road known as Watling Street. It links the major local communities of Milton Keynes, Dunstable and Towcester, and via the A45 Daventry, as well as forming the main local north-south distributor route through Milton Keynes.

For the purpose of this RMS, the A5 route has been divided into four main sections as follows:

• The single carriageway section from M1 junction 9 (near Harpenden) to just Southeast of Little Brickhill, 25km in length.
• The dual carriageway section through Milton Keynes from Little Brickhill to Old Stratford, 19km in length.
• The single carriageway section from Old Stratford to the A428 roundabout, 40km in length.
• The triangle of connecting roads that, comprises the A5 and A428 and, leads to the M1 at Junction 18, being some 3.25km in length.

Chapter 2 provides more details on these route sections.

1.3 Development of the A5 RMS

1.3.1 Development Features

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

• Data collection and compiling the performance indicators.
• Drafting the strategic, regional and local route functions and the route objectives.
• A thorough investigation of the committed schemes and current studies on the route.
• A study of existing and likely future condition of the route, including a review of potential developments that may impact on the route.
• Meetings with stakeholders e.g. County and District Councils, and the Police etc. to agree route functions and objectives, discuss problems and issues and assess potential solutions and measures to be included as Route Outcomes in the RMS.
• Public Consultation, with exhibitions, between October and December 2004.

1.3.2 RMS Document

The RMS document was developed from the various stakeholder and public consultations.

A summary of the development issues considered is provided in Chapter 3.

The Route Functions and Route Objectives are described Chapter 4.

The Highways Agency's Spatial Planning Statement is in Chapter 5.

The route's problems and issues are summarised in Chapter 6 with the Route Outcomes in Chapter 7.

Chapter 8 provides the Strategy Impact Statement.

1.4 Scheme Development through the Route Management Strategy Process

Route Management Strategies are a tool developed by the HA to help manage and develop the motorway and trunk road network. Outcomes lead to a 10-year Route Management Plan that can be progressed by the HA. Solutions to problems that are not within the remit of the HA to progress independently include major 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.

It should be noted that the RMS process is a means of identifying problems and possible solutions. The solutions will need more detailed appraisal and be subject to funding and the outcome of statutory and other procedures in due course. Funding of specific scheme development would be through other HA budgets, for example the Local Network Management Schemes programme.

It is noted, in Section 3, that regional development plans are emerging and as they do so new schemes will have to take account of the revised planning structure.

1.5 RMS Updates

The Route Management Strategy and Route Outcomes will form the basis for planning future works along the A5. The Route Management Plan will be subject to annual update and will be reviewed as necessary as particular circumstances change. The Strategy (this document) was published in spring 2005. Progression of all outcomes will be subject to the availability of funds, more detailed appraisal and the outcome of statutory and other procedures.

1.6 Current Schemes and Maintenance Work

There are a number of on-going schemes along the route, including regular maintenance work. The Strategy assumes that this programmed work will go ahead as planned.

Table 1.1 below shows the proposed and committed improvement schemes on the route.

1.7 Multi-Modal Studies

Multi-Modal Studies (MMS) are a separate Government initiative, which have been progressed through the Government's Regional Offices. These studies were designed to establish the priorities for major investment, looking at all transport modes and across a 30-year time frame, within a defined area. In his response to a number of these studies, including the London to South Midlands MMS, the Secretary of State announced in July 2003 plans for the M1 to A5 Link Road (Dunstable Northern Bypass), and the widening of M1 to dual four-lane standard between M25 and Milton Keynes (Junction 13). The M1 to A5 Link Road (Dunstable Northern Bypass) is not expected to be constructed before 2011, see section 1.8.2.

1.8 Other Studies

1.8.1 A43/A45 Route management Study

The A43/A45 RMS has recently been completed. It covered the corridor connecting the M40 to the A14 via 4 km of the M1 between Junctions 15A and 15. The section of M1 was not included, as the motorway is part of the RMS for the M1 Junctions 1 to 19. However, the A43/A45 RMS did include the junction with the A5, Tove Roundabout.

Land Use and Development Control - It appears to HA that junctions and accesses are generally sufficiently numerous and closely spaced to serve development along the A43/A45, particularly in light of the rationalisation of junctions and accesses along the A43 by virtue of the recent dualling schemes between the M40 and Towcester.

Generally the HA is likely to oppose any new accesses to or junctions on the A43/A45. However, possible exceptions to this general rule may be necessary on the A43 at Towcester (where a proposed southern link road could serve a wider strategic role as a re-routed A5 Towcester Southern Bypass), and on the A45 near Wellingborough (where the Wellingborough East development area may need its own connection to the strategic road network). Junctions along the A45, in particular, will need rationalising.

Route Outcomes - The A43/A45 RMS identifies a series of 18 Route Outcomes which set out what the Highways Agency will seek to achieve on the route over the ten-year period of the RMS The following summary of the Route Outcomes is the result of the development of the Strategy process and public consultation:

1.8.2 M1 to A5 Link Road (Dunstable Northern Bypass)

The scheme aims to reduce congestion on the A5 trunk road through Dunstable by enabling through traffic to use the M1 motorway as an alternative. In addition, the new route will aim to reduce traffic wishing to reach Junctions 11 and 12 from the local road network in Dunstable, Houghton Regis and the surrounding area.

The proposed M1-A5 Link consists of a new all-purpose dual two-lane carriageway approximately 3 miles (4.5km) long, running west from a new Junction 11A on the M1 to join the A5 at its junction with the A505. The line of this link will approximately follow the protected corridor included within South Bedfordshire's Local Plan. The estimated cost of the scheme is approximately £48 Million.

Based on the recommendations contained within the London South Midlands Multi Modal Study issued in February 2003, the Secretary of State announced on 9 July 2003 that the M1-A5 Link was to be added to the Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements.

The Highways Agency has appointed Parsons Brinckerhoff as the firm of consulting engineers to take this scheme forward. The consultants are currently considering options for the scheme prior to the Public Consultation planned for Spring 2005.

The anticipated timetable is summarised below:

• Public Consultation 2005
• Preferred Route Announcement 2005
• Draft Order Publication 2006
• Public Inquiry 2007
• Start of Works 2008
• Open to Traffic 2011