Highways Agency

• 1 executive summary
• 2 introduction
• 3 policy objectives
• 4 route functions
• 5 land use & development control statement
• 6 route problems
• 7 route outcomes
• 8 strategy impact statement

1 executive summary

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Route Management Strategy

The Highways Agency is responsible for the management and operation of the trunkroads and motorways in England. The A590 Route Management Strategy (RMS)provides a framework for managing the A590 trunk road as part of the widertransport networks for the next ten years.

This Route Management Strategy covers the A590 Trunk Road between theA590/A5087 roundabout, Barrow-in-Furness and the M6 Motorway at Junction 36.Work on the RMS began in November 2002 but following the data collectionexercise, the programme was put on hold pending the Secretary of State's decisionon the High and Low Newton Bypass. Work on the A590 Route ManagementStrategy resumed in late November 2003.

In November 2003, the Highways Agency published Version Two of their RouteManagement Strategy Guidance document. The study had been originally startedusing Version One and it was agreed that following the resumption of the study, theprocess undertaken would be in the form of a hybrid of both guidance documentversions.

In developing this strategy, key stakeholders such as local councils, regionalplanning authorities, freight operators, the police and other relevant organisations,together with the general public, have been consulted through an initial publicconsultation exercise, stakeholder meetings and a stakeholder seminar.

The A590 RMS identifies a series of Route Outcomes, which set out what theHighways Agency will seek to achieve on the route over the ten-year period of theRMS. These Outcomes should contribute to the Route Objectives, improve theperformance of the Route Functions, support the Land Use and DevelopmentControl Statement and address the Route Problems and Issues. The 15 RouteOutcomes have been developed in this strategy are summarised below:

Environmental impact

To minimise the conflict between route performance and the sensitive nature ofthe Lake District National Park and other designated areas along the wholeroute. This Outcome seeks to maintain and protect the environmental integrity ofthe route and areas adjacent to it.

Water Quality

To ensure that any water quality along the A590 conforms to the standards setout in the Water Framework Directive. This Outcome focuses on the protection ofwatercourses that are susceptible to degradation of water quality.

Protected sites

To address conflicts between the route performance and the sensitive nature ofthe Lake District National Park and other designated areas along the wholeroute.

Driver behaviour

To influence driver behaviour in the areas of speed, inappropriate manoeuvres,signing, parking and traffic management.

Accidents

To increase journey time reliability for strategic, regional and local traffic and toprovide improved safety for all users; particularly at accident cluster sites alongthe route.

Incident response

To improve journey time reliability along route by minimising traffic disruptioncaused by roadworks and incidents.

Journey times

To provide more reliable journey times along the route by seeking to reducecongestion and reduce the impact of slow moving vehicles, maintenance,incidents and major events.

Signing

To improve user information to ensure more efficient utilisation of the route.

Flooding

To reduce the incidence of flooding on the carriageway, thereby improving safetyand availability of the route.

Development Control

To ensure the efficient operation of the route by reducing the impact of futuredevelopments while assisting in the sustainable development and regeneration ofSouth Cumbria.

Single carriageway maintenance

Improve journey time reliability on single carriageway sections throughminimising the impact of maintenance operations.

Vulnerable User Accessibility

To provide safer and easier access for vulnerable road users and provide betterlinks between facilities and amenities.

Other Modes of Transport

To improve the integration between transport facilities across the whole routethrough partnership and the promotion of public transport and non-motorisedmodes.

Co-ordination

To improve co-ordination of activities of key stakeholder organisations thatundertake operations on the route and to continue to involve stakeholders in theroute management process.

User facilities

To seek to provide a consistent level of quality and safety of layby facilities alongthe route.