Highways Agency

Public consultation june 2004

Public Consultation June 2004

Introduction

This leaflet and questionnaire form part of the consultation procedure for the Route Management Strategy being developed for the A590. The Strategy will set out how the A590 will be managed for the next ten years, and has been prepared following a detailed study of the route.

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What is a Route Management Strategy?

The Route Management Strategy is designed to help the Highways Agency plan how it will manage and operate the A590 trunk road for the next ten years. The Strategy is based upon analysis of the characteristics, functions and problems of the route, and will allow the Highways Agency to identify investment areas such as road safety and environment.

The problems

The consultation process has so far identifi ed the following problemsalong the A590:

Economy

• Congestion in urban areas.
• Congestion caused by events.
• Congestion at pinch points.
• Limited overtaking opportunities on single carriageway sections.
• Ability of junctions to operate with future increased traffic demands due to new developments.
• Maintenance issues on single carriageway sections.
• Potential for redistribution of traffic due to traffic management improvements external to the route.
• Review of signing strategy is required.
• Variations in the standard of carriageway provision.
• Delay caused by incidents and maintenance.
• Delays caused by slow moving vehicles.

Safety

• Accident Cluster sites.
• Junction layout safety concerns.
• Standard, location and frequency of lay-bys.
• Vehicles travelling at inappropriate speeds.
• Gaps in central reservation to allow access to side roads and properties.
• Unlit sections of the route may increase accident risk.
• Pedestrians using route where no facilities are provided.
• Inadequate pedestrian crossing facilities at bus stops.
• Security issues regarding secluded areas.
• Increased safety measures required to protect vulnerable users.
• Concerns over the layout of dual-carriageway terminations.
• Motorists performing U-turns at inappropriate locations.
• Parking on the A590 in urban areas causes obstruction.
• Lack of an Incident Response Plan.
• Narrow sections cause increased conflict between traffic and vulnerable users.
• Locations of route are liable to flooding.
• Inappropriate speed limits in some locations.
• Review of lighting required.
• Driver vision impaired by overgrown vegetation.

Environment

• Conflict of route and sensitive nature of the Lake District National Park/SSSIs/Conservation Areas.
• Noise/vibration/pollution issues due to the close proximity of house frontages to the route.
• Lack of up-to-date air quality information for the A590 corridor.
• The route has significant visual impact.
• Untidy route.
• Drainage pollution from A590 - impact of surface water drainage on water quality.

Accessibility

• Severance issues for residential and development areas.
• Inconsistency in provision of facilities for alternative modes of transport; including pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians.
• Lack of vulnerable user crossing facilities.
• Lack of visibility of vulnerable user crossing facilities.

Integration

• Signing to other forms of transport.
• Lack of viable alternative to A590 for freight movements.
• Lack of integration between modes on route.
• Green Routes for cyclists need linking up.
• Diversions unsuitable for some traffi c.

What are the proposals?

The Strategy has identified a number of proposals which we intend to carry out along the A590.

• Improve the understanding of the environmental impact of the route.
• Implement a water quality review following the Water Framework Directive.
• Undertake a review of statutory protected sites to reflect
• Section 28G of the Countryside Rights of Way Act.
• Seek to influence driver behaviour.
• Seek to reduce the number of accidents along the route.
• Implement a review of incident planning.
• Improve journey time reliability.
• Implement a signing review.
• Mitigate against flooding in locations that are liable to flooding.
• Review existing planning studies and take future aspirations into account.
• Reduce the impact of maintenance operations on single carriageway sections.
• Review the variations in the standard of carriageway provision.
• Improve accessibility for vulnerable users along and crossing the route.
• Promote alternative modes of transport.
• Promote integration of different modes of transport.
• Ensure co-ordination between the operations of the Highways Agency and other organisations.
• Ensure that there is adequate and safe provision of appropriate user facilities along the route.

Now it's your turn to have your say

We value your opinion in helping us to manage the A590 and meetyour requirements for the route. This leafl et contains a questionnairefor you to complete telling us your views about the A590. Pleasecomplete the leafl et and send it to the printed address so that yourviews can be taken into consideration in how we manage the A590in the future.

How do I make comments?

• Fill in the on-line questionnaire.
• You can e-mail your comments to the Highways Agency's consultants: a590rms@mouchelparkman.com

• Or you can write to our consultants at:A590 RMS
  Mouchel Parkman Ltd,
  25-27 Winders Way,
  Salford University Business Park,
  Salford,
  Greater Manchester,
  M6 6AR.

• Visit one of the public exhibitions.

Public exhibitions

A series of exhibitions are being carried out showing the ideas for improving safety, the operation and environmental conditions on the route. Members of the public will be able to talk to representatives from the Highways Agency and our consultants, Mouchel Parkman, about the A590 and to express any views or concerns which they might have.

Exhibition locations and dates

Public exhibitions of the A590 Route Management Strategy will beheld on:

• Wednesday 16th June
  Kendal Public Library
  Stricklandgate, Kendal
  11:00am - 6:30pm

• Saturday 19th June
  Forum 28
  28 Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness
  10:00am - 4:00pm

• Saturday 26th June
  Swan Hotel
  Newby Bridge
  10:00am - 4:00pm

• Thursday 1st July
  Coronation Hall
  County Square, Ulverston
  11:00am - 7:00pm

Please provide your comments by 8th September 2004

For further information on the Highways Agency call our information line: 08457 50 40 30