Highways Agency

Birkenhead to the welsh border

Birkenhead to the Welsh Border

Introduction

The Highways Agency is responsible for the management, operation, maintenance and improvement of the trunk roads in England, including the M53, A55, A483 and the A550. A strategy has been developed for the management of the M53, A55, A483 and A550 over the next ten years. It has been prepared following a detailed study of the route, which included consultation with interested parties, including local authorities, environmental groups, the police and users of the route. This leaflet outlines the proposed strategy for the M53, A55, A483 and A550 and invites the views of the general public.

Route Description

The route includes trunk roads located between Birkenhead, Wirral, and the Welsh Border.

• M53 from Junction 1 at Wallasey to Junction 12 east of Chester.
• A55 from Junction 12 of the M53 to the Welsh Border.
• A483 from the junction with the A55 to the Welsh Border.
• A550 from junction with A41 to junction with A5117.
• A41 from junction with A550 to Junction 5 of the M53.

Route Problems

The perceived problems of the route have been summarised below. These problems have been considered within the Government objectives for transport.

Government objectives

To protect and enhance the built and natural Environment

To improve Safety - need for improvement for all travellers

To contribute to an efficient Economy, and to support sustainable economic growth in appropriate locations

Promote Accessibility to everyday facilities for all, especially those without a car

Promote the Integration of all forms of transport and land use planning

Problem

• Traffic noise generated on A55 through Christleton
• Need for improvement / alternative to A550
• Safety study needed for M53 Junctions 5-12
• Safety study needed for M53 Junctions 1-5
• Incident Management Plan requires review
• Unclear and inconsistent signing
• Further improvement necessary at A55/A483 junction
• Quality of facilities requires improvement including signing to existing facilities
• Congestion at junctions on A55, east side of Chester
• Non Motorised User Provisions on routes requires investigation
• Insufficient signing to park and ride facilities
• Road based public transport requires

Route Proposals

In order to meet the Route Management Strategy Objectives, issues raised by the process have been divided into Short Term, Medium Term and Long Term Proposals as follows:

Short Term Proposals

• Improve strategic and local signing
• Improve variable and responsive signing
• Improve signing to Birkenhead on M53
• Improve signing at Junction 1, M53
• Improve signing at Junction 6, M53
• Improve signing and access to facilities
• Improve Non-motorised User provision
• Improve access to Wrexham Road Park and Ride
• Implement plant/farm machinery bans on A55/A483 at peak periods
• Provide local widening, pedestrian and cycle facilities on A550
• Investigate possible speed restrictions on A550
• Widen northbound off slip at M5 Junction 5
• Improve park and ride signing

Medium Term Proposals

• Improve layby facilities
• Improve A41/A51 roundabout to reduce traffic shortcutting through Christleton
• Implement safety scheme M53 Junction 1-5
• Improve A55/A483 junction
• Improve public transport Wrexham/Chester route
• Improve A483/B5445 junction
• Investigate traffic noise at Christleton from A55
• Investigate congestion at A55/A51 junction
• Implement safety scheme M53 Junction 5-9
• Improve M53 Junction 10
• Improve road based public transport facilities

Long Term Proposals

Review the need:

• for a A550 improvement from Hooton to Sealand
• to provide a link from A550 to M53
• for M53 Junction 11 west/north links

Consider:

• straightening alignment on northbound carriageway of M53 west of Junction 5.

Route Objectives

The objectives of the 10 year strategy for the route are given below.

Environment

• Identify locations where noise levels are high and mitigate where appropriate including the use of low noise surfacing
• Seek to improve air quality
• Encourage traffic to use the most appropriate route
• Improve environment, by encouraging modal transfer and use of local traffic management measures
• Use environmentally friendly lighting when replacing existing or providing new systems
• Ensure effective measures are in place to protect watercourses from pollutant spillage on the highway
• Protect flora and fauna
• Maintain and improve, where necessary, soft landscaping
• Work with the responsible authorities to seek and maintain a clean and tidy route

Route Objectives

The objectives of the 10 year strategy for the route are given below.

Safety

• Improve the quality and quantity of traveller facilities
• Improve safety during maintenance works
• Improve the safe operation of junctions
• Investigate where the provision of improved lighting would improve safety
• Define and encourage road users to travel at an appropriate speed (as defined in policy AR4 in draft regional planning guidance)
• To seek to improve safety for more vulnerable users, particularly cyclists, pedestrians and equestrians
• Improve safety on the M53 between Junctions 1 and 5
• Improve safety on the A550 (especially at Woodbank Junction)

Economy

• Provide efficient route guidance, including responsive signage
• Give priority to the strategic and regional functions of the route
• Minimise traffic disruption due to roadworks
• Plan all works to achieve optimum whole life costs with minimal disruption to users
• Maximise the availability and reliability for use of the route for users, and the serviceability of the road, structures and other highway equipment
• Reduce congestion due to freight movements by working with other organisations to encourage modal transfer
• Reduce congestion due to HGV's using appropriate traffic management
• Investigate the effects of local authority transport and land use development schemes on the highway network
• Investigate the reduction of congestion at major interchanges i.e A55/A483
• Improve operational efficiency along the A550
• Work with local authority to effect a transfer of some traffic from the A41 in the Wirral to the M53.

Accessibility

• Improve crossing facilities at junctions for non-motorised users
• Improve facilities for non motorised users (NMU's) along the route
• Improve access to/and for public transport
• Make appropriate provisions to encourage the use of public transport
• Improve crossing paths of 'Right of Way' on the A483
• Improve facilities for non-motorised users along the A550

Integration

• Improve user information (eg signing for public transport interchanges)
• Increase knowledge of user patterns and needs
• Encourage use of park and ride
• Encourage modal transfer to Birkenhead rail freight
• Make better use of the route by working in partnership with road users, transport providers and operators, local authorities, Mersey Tunnel and those affected by the network
• Contribute to regional and local transport and development plans.

What happens next? / Your comments / Exhibition Venues / Additional information

The draft Strategy is currently available for Public Consultation. Any comments recieved during this process will be considered before its publication. On completion of this stage, the M53, A55, A483, A550 Route Management Strategy will be finalised and implemented by the Highways Agency.

Your comments

If you wish to comment on the draft M53, A55, A483, A550 Route Management Strategy, you can write to the following address:
Jonathan Turley
Room 703
Highways Agency
Sunley Tower
Piccadilly Plaza
Manchester
M1 4BE

Your comments should be received no later than Friday 22nd February 2002.

Exhibition Venues

Public exhibitions will be held at

Capenhurst Village Hall 3rd December 11.00 am to 8.00 pm

Eccleston Village Hall 10th December 11.00 am to 8.00 pm

Ellesmere Port Boat Museum 17th December 11.00 am to 8.00 pm

Additional information

For more general information on the Highways Agency, you can contact the Highways Agency Information Line on: 08457 50 40 30

Map of Scheme Location

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