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

Executive summary

Executive Summary

This report outlines the process undertaken during the Route Management Strategy (RMS) study on the A194(M), the A184 and the A19 trunk road from the south of Gateshead to the North of Newcastle upon Tyne It describes the findings of the study and the outcomes that will improve the co-ordination and planning of future investment to operate and maintain the route.

A draft RMS was published in April 2004 and a formal Public Consultation on the draftRMS took place over a 12-week period between the 8th May and 31st July 2004.

The majority of people who responded to the consultation endorsed the findings.Providing measures to reduce congestion was clearly the most important issue.

This final version of the RMS takes account of the comments and submissionsreceived during that consultation, although the number of changes are relatively fewand not significant to the overall strategy.

The final Strategy also takes account of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act,which came in to force in July 2004, and the Government's White Paper "The Future ofTransport" published in the same month.

The A194(M)/A184/A19 trunk road forms part of a strategic link between the main trunkroads of the region i.e. the A1(M) from Darlington, the A1(T) in Northumberland andareas within Tyne and Wear including the Port of Tyne and regeneration areas onTyneside and SE Northumberland. It also links the south and north of Tyneside via theRiver Tyne tunnel (which is not itself part of the RMS) and acts as an alternative routefor A1(M)/A1(T) traffic. In total the route is 27.7km (17.3 miles) in length. The A194(M)is a 6.1km (3.8 miles) section of motorway, the remainder is all-purpose dualcarriagewaywith both grade-separated and at-grade junctions.

This report outlines the following:

• Policy Objectives - These are objectives used to define the context of the study and guide issues that it will investigate. They are developed from the wider planning, economic and transport objectives obtained from a variety of national, regional and local sources relevant to the study.

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

  The study confirms the route's strategic nature of serving the motorway and trunk road functions and also identifies its local significance.

• Land Use and Development Control Statement - This is an integral part of the RMS process. Its purpose is to provide the Highways Agency with a source of information that will support the development control strategy for the route. It will allow the HA to contribute effectively to the integration with regional and local planning strategies.

  In developing the statement, the land use development pressures exerted on the route have been investigated and their likely impact along sections of the routeassessed.

• Route Problems and Issues - A number of problems and issues have beenidentified from consultation with the public, relevant authorities and organisationswho have an interest in the route. The issues have also been identified throughan independent assessment of performance based on factual data obtained. Adetailed description of these problems and issues is provided within this report.

  A summary of the main problems and issues identified during the study are asfollows:

  • Congestion is occurring and this is most significant at junctions. This is also impacting upon the local highway authority network.
  • Groups of accidents have been identified at a number of locations.
  • Pedestrian, equestrian, cyclist and disabled facilities could be improved. This would also contribute to reducing community severance.
  • Future land use and development will put added pressures on the already congested junctions.
  • Congestion is resulting from roadworks or incidents occurring on the route e.g. accidents and breakdowns.
  • There are limited facilities for travellers including tourists and freight drivers
  • There are limited information and direction signs for freight, tourism, public transport and diversionary routes.
  • If progressed, the Second Tyne Tunnel would increase traffic growth on the route.
  • The route maybe affecting the environment along its length. This includes effects on nature conservation, biodiversity, noise, air quality, cultural heritage and water quality.

• Route Outcomes - These will set out what the Highways Agency will seek to obtain from the route over the 10-year period of the Route Management Strategy.These have been produced on the basis of an understanding of the problemsand issues that are occurring. The impact of the Route Outcomes on the route isillustrated in a Strategy Impact Statement included at the end of the report.

  The Route Outcomes are as follows: