Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Related pages

• Executive summary
• 1 introduction
• 2 description of the route
• 3 policy objectives
• 4 route functions
• 5 land use and development control statement
• 6 route problems and performance
• 7 route outcomes
• 8 strategy impact statement
• 9 the next steps

4 route functions

4 Route Functions

4.1 Derivation of Route Functions

Route Functions identify the current roles of the route and those it intends to serve in the future. They are based upon the nature of journeys that occur and the relationship with other parts of the national and local transport infrastructure and regional land use development.

A review of the recent Tyneside Area Multi-Modal Study (TAMMS) indicates that approximately 70 percent of traffic flow is local in nature i.e. within Tyne and Wear.

The Route Functions have been identified in the following ways:

• A review of the nature of journeys that occur
• A review of the routes relationship with other parts of the national and local network
• A review of the nature of surrounding area i.e. residential or business related
• Applicable Policy Objectives
• From the TAMMS origin/destination information
• From consultations

4.2 Route Functions

The following sets out the Route Functions. It is considered that different sections of the route have different functions, therefore the relevance of a function to a particular section is indicated in the table overleaf.

The functions for each section will underpin the strategy and help to define how the policy objectives can be met and the scale/nature of solutions to the problems identified along the route.

4.2.1 Present Route Functions

No.	Function	A194(M)	A184	A19
F1	The route forms part of the national strategic route between the north-east, the midlands, the south of the country and Scotland.
F2	Major route of regional significance, connecting North and South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland, Northumberland, Tees Valley and North Yorkshire.
F3	The route connects the freight port (south of the Tyne) and passenger port (north of the Tyne) to the national motorway and trunk road network.
F4	Connects major industry and employment sites to the rest of the motorway and trunk road network. It is a major transport link for the movement of freight, supporting economic activity and facilitating regional regeneration.
F5	Provides indirect access to the regions ports and airports.
F6	Provides a distributor function around large population centres and into and around urban communities around Newcastle upon Tyne.
F7	Supports access to rural and regional services including shops, education, healthcare facilities, public transport, etc.
F8	Provides access for traffic at the River Tyne.
F9	It is an alternative route in emergencies, in particular to the A1 Western Bypass.
F10	Provides a public transport route corridor.
F11	Used as a means of access to rail interchanges and Park & Ride sites.
F12	Serves as a commuting route, especially the A184 into the centre of Newcastle and Gateshead.
F13	The route provides access for tourism (European as well as domestic).
F14	The route throughout its length connects the local communities to the motorway and trunk road network.
F15	Provides for movements between and linking communities along the route.
F16	Provides pedestrian and cycle routes within local areas along certain sections of the route.
F17	Provides for direct access and agricultural access along the A184.
F18	Bypasses urban communities.

The route also performs a number of general functions that the HA trunk road network would be expected to perform. These are:

No.	Function	A194(M)	A184	A19
F19	Provide safe transportation of people and goods.
F20	Provide reliable journey times.
F21	Inform travellers.
F22	Respect the environment.

4.2.2 Future Functions

The study has not identified any particular foreseeable changes that will significantly alter the function of the route.There is no intention that the future function of the route will change. The proposed Second Tyne Crossing, if built, will support and reinforce many of the functions.

There is however, the issue of the proposed strategic employment site near to the A184. This is still under assessment, but if it does progress then it is possible that some of the functions of the A194(M), A184 and A19 may change.

4.3 Function Performance

An assessment has been undertaken of the performance of the route against its functions and policy objectives. This assessment has been in two parts.

The first assessed the functions using the information obtained on problems and issues identified during consultation e.g. at the Stakeholder Workshops, at the Seminar. The second assessed the performance on the basis of factual data that has been obtained. These issues are discussed in detail in Section 6, however, Route Function Performance Tables identifying the factors that are affecting route function performance issues are shown below in Table 4.1.

TABLE 4.1 - ROUTE FUNCTION PERFORMANCE TABLE

No.	Function	A194(M)	A184	A19	Factors Affecting Route Performance
					Economy	Safety	Environment	Accessibility	Integration
F1	The route forms part of the national strategic route between the north-east, the midlands, the south of the country and Scotland.				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks can impact on economic function	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption.	Issues arising e.g. animals crossing the route, pollution incidents can impact on this function.	Accidents and delays/congestion resulting from NMU usage can affect function.	Future land use can increase congestion which will affect function.
F2	Major route of regional significance, connecting North and South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland, Northumberland, Tees Valley and North Yorkshire.				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks can impact on economic function	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption.	Issues arising e.g. animals crossing the route, pollution incidents can impact on this function.	Accidents and delays/congestion resulting from NMU usage can affect function.	Future land use can increase congestion which will affect function.
F3	The route connects the freight port (south of the Tyne) and passenger port (north of the Tyne) to the national motorway and trunk road network.				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks can impact on economic function	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption.	Inadequate traveller care facilities e.g. lay-by facilities, may affect route effectiveness	Accidents and delays/congestion resulting from NMU usage can affect function.	Future land use can increase congestion which will affect function.
F4	Connects major industry and employment sites to the rest of the motorway and trunk road network. It is a major transport link for the movement of freight, supporting economic activity and facilitating regional regeneration.				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks can impact on economic function. Future development may add to congestion pressure.	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption.	Issues arising e.g. animals crossing the route, pollution incidents can impact on this function.	Accidents and delays/congestion resulting from NMU usage can affect function.	Few Park & Ride sites, transport interchanges and bus stops could affect this function
F5	Provides indirect access to the region's ports and airports.				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks can impact on economic function	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption.	Issues arising e.g. animals crossing the route, pollution incidents can impact on this function.	Accidents and delays/congestion resulting from NMU usage can affect function.	Inadequate signs can cause disruption.
F6	Provides a distributor function around large population centres and into and around urban communities around Newcastle upon Tyne.				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks can impact on economic function	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption	Issues arising e.g. animals crossing the route, pollution incidents can impact on this function	Accidents and delays/congestion resulting from NMU usage can affect function	Future land use can increase congestion which will affect function
F7	Supports access to rural and regional services including shops, education, healthcare facilities, public transport, etc.				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks can impact on economic function	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption	Issues arising e.g. air quality, noise, vibration, heritage, flora and fauna can impact on this function	Issues with facilities for cyclists and pedestrian affect function	Issues with signs affect the function
F8	Provides access for traffic at the River Tyne.				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks can impact on economic function	No issue identified	No issue identified	No issue identified	Issues with signs affect the function
F9	It is an alternative route in emergencies, in particular to the A1 Western Bypass.				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks and signs identifying alternative route can impact on economic function	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junction can cause disruption	Issues arising e.g. animals crossing the route, pollution incidents can impact on this function	Accidents and delays/congestion resulting from NMU usage can affect function	Inadequate signs can cause disruption
F10	Provides a public transport route corridor.				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks can impact on economic function	Safety issues occur at bus stops, this can affect function	No issue identified	Crossing facilities near bus stops can reduce function	Issues at bus stops, this can affect function
F11	Used as a means of access to rail interchanges and Park & Ride sites.				No issue identified	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption	No issue identified	No issue identified	Issues with signs affect the function
F12	Serves as a commuting route, especially the A184 into the centre of Newcastle and Gateshead.				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks can impact on economic function	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption	No issue identified	No issue identified	Issues with signs affect the function
F13	The route provides access for tourism (European as well as domestic).				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks can impact on economic function	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption	Issues arising e.g. air quality, noise, vibration, heritage, flora and fauna can impact on this function	Accidents and delays/congestion resulting from NMU usage can affect function	Few Park & Ride sites, transport interchanges and bus stops could affect this function. Inadequate signs
F14	The route throughout its length connects the local communities to the motorway and trunk road network.				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks can impact on economic function	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption	Issues arising e.g. animals crossing the route, pollution incidents can impact on this function	No issue identified	No issue identified
F15	Provides for movements between and linking communities along the route.				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks can impact on economic function	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption	No issue identified	Issues arise with facilities for crossing and parallel movement. These have an impact on function	No issue identified
F16	Provides pedestrian and cycle routes within local areas along certain sections of the route.				No issue identified	Accidents and issues related to NMU usage on links and at junctions reduce function	Issues arising e.g. air quality, noise, vibration, heritage, flora and fauna can impact on this function	Issues with facilities for cyclists and pedestrian affect function	Issues with signs affect the function
F17	Provides for direct access and agricultural access along the A184.				Possible conflict with strategic traffic can affect function	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption	No issue identified	No issue identified	Future land use and development may affect function
F18	Bypasses urban communities.				Continual traffic growth and congestion	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption	No issue identified	No issue identified	No issue identified
F19	Provide safe transportation of people and goods.				No issue identified	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption	No issue identified	Accidents and delays/congestion resulting from NMU usage can affect function	No issue identified
F20	Provide reliable journey times.				Congestion delays and delays resulting from accidents or roadworks can impact	Accident locations along the route, safety issues at junctions can cause disruption	No issue identified	No issue identified	Future land use can increase congestion which will affect function
F21	Inform travellers.				No issue identified	No issue identified	Inadequate traveller care facilities e.g. lay-by facilities, may affect route effectiveness	Direction signs for NMUs impacts on the performance	Direction signs for public transport impacts on the performance
F22	Respect the environment.				Incidents e.g. pollution spillages, wildlife entering onto carriageway can impact	No issue identified	Issues arising e.g. animals crossing the route, pollution incidents, air quality, noise, vibration, heritage, flora and fauna impact this	Issues affecting the environment of NMUs using or crossing, impact on this function	No issue identified