Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Public information july 2004

Public Information July 2004

Why do we need a bypass?

The new bypass will address the significant environmental impact of through traffic in Haydon Bridge. Traffic results in community severance, noise, air pollution and safety concerns affecting the quality of life of local people

What have we already done?

• The Haydon Bridge Bypass was included in the Highways Agency's programme of major schemes in December 2002.
• The preferred route for the scheme, outlined on the map, was announced in December 2003.
• The planned route will take around 12,000 vehicles a day away from the centre of the village.
• The new bypass will be a 1.8m (2.9 kms) long single carriageway and will include the building of a new multi-span viaduct over the South Tyne River and Newcastle-Carlisle Railway.
• Bullen Consultants, who have undertaken much of the initial development of the scheme, now act as advisors to the Highways Agency who continue to manage the whole project.

What will we do to speed up delivery of the bypass?

The Highways Agency has awarded a contract for the scheme to CVC Highway Solutions, a Joint Venture group of Volker Stevin and Cumbrian Industrials, supported by designers from Capita Symonds.

• CVC will take the project forward through design and statutory procedures during the coming year.
• Following the statutory procedures CVC will continue through the construction phase having utilised the skills of the contracting staff working alongside the designers to ensure an early start and timely completion of the scheme.
• In addition many Key Stakeholders will be contributing to the development of the scheme including the Environment Agency, Network Rail, Northumberland CC.

What will happen this year?

During the coming months the CVC team will be undertaking a variety of surveys including;

• The development of a model of the ground over which the bypass is to be built.
• Identifying the flora and fauna to be found on and close to the route.
• Assessing the landscape and visual impact of the route.
• Taking the opportunity to understand any previous activity along the route by undertaking Archaeological investigations.
• Assessing the underlying structure of the landscape with a mixture of bore holes and trial pits.

This information will allow the team to assess the impact of the road and how best to mitigate its effects. The previous points are being undertaken following an agreement with local landowners and their tenants. We are grateful for their help and co-operation as we carry out these essential jobs.

What will we do to maintain safety?

• Throughout our project CVC will keep landowners fully informed of our plans.
• Team members and their contractors will all carry appropriate identification, provided by the Highways Agency.
• During July & August 2004 CVC contractors will be digging trial pits several metres deep and using drilling machinery along the potential route of the bypass.
• Individual sites will be guarded but we would welcome the local communities support in ensuring that the operations are undertaken safely.

If you have any concerns about the activities that CVC are undertaking or would like to know more about the development of the project please contact Kevin Walsh the Liaison & Communications Manager on 01228 673099 or Email kevin.walsh@cvc-highwaysolutions.co.uk

What happens next?

• The next major event for the public will be the publication of draft Orders for the scheme. Orders are our detailed proposals for the road, showing precisely where we want to go, how we propose to deal with its impact on local roads and footpaths, and the land we will have to buy to build it.
• We intend to publish the Orders in Spring 2005 together with an Environmental Statement explaining the effects of the proposals. We will hold local exhibitions at that time where we will explain our plans to you and listen to your views. The Orders will be in draft form and you will be invited to look at them, offer comments and if you have concerns, make formal objections.
• It is the team's intention to work closely with the local community to ensure that, where possible, your concerns are considered during the design phase.
• The likelihood is that a Public Inquiry will be arranged where an independent inspector will assess the arguments and concerns that have been raised.

The potential timescales following the publication of orders cannot be precise at this time, but we aim to begin construction during 2007, opening the new bypass in 2009.

Highways Agency Contacts

Project Manager: Iolo Williams
Assistant Project Manager: Colin Harrison
Business Manager: Marilyn Sinfield

Further information

For further information call our information line: 0300 123 5000 or visit our website www.highways.gov.uk or write to us at:
Highways Agency
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