Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Pathfinder on target to deliver

Pathfinder on Target to Deliver

Welcome to the third edition of the Stoke Pathfinder Newsletter.

In this issue you will find out how the improvement of the new A500 is progressing since start of works in March 2004.

When completed in spring 2006 the scheme will help the economic regeneration of the City of Stoke on Trent by relieving the congestion at the Stoke Road and City Road junctions.

These improvements support the wider regeneration initiatives in the area, and have major benefits for:

• Public Transport
• Walkers
• Cyclists
• Highways safety
• The environment

Ariel view of works looking north from City Road Roundabout to Stoke Road. Construction of the realigned Fowlea Brook is taking place within the central reserve between City Road Roundabout and Glebe Street Bridge.

2. Aerial view of City Road roundabout. Construction works currently underway include:

a. Construction of the supports for City Road Canal Bridge

b. Temporary diversion of the River Trent

c. Interlocking steel supports being installed to allow the construction of an underground channel for the temporary diversion of Fowlea Brook.

Future works

• East side supports for the City Road Canal Bridge
• Partial demolition and rebuilding of a wall adjacent to the canal
• Installation of walls that will support the City Road underpass bridge

3. Aerial view of Stoke Road. Construction works currently underway include:

a. Preparation work for the Southwest and Northwest slip roads of the A500
b. Excavation prior to installation of permanent interlocking steel retaining walls
c. Installation of concrete supports for Stoke Road Underpass

Future works

• Installation of steel sheets to form new towpath for the Trent and Mersey Canal
• Installation of concrete supports for the Stoke Road Canal Bridge and for the Southwest and Northwest approach ramps of the A500

4. Construction of reinforced concrete base for the New Shelton Culvert which forms part of the realignment of Fowlea Brook.

5. Drilling works underway at Stoke Road roundabout.

6. Temporary steel retaining wall to allow the construction of the base and walls of the North Street Culvert. When completed it will carry the realigned Fowlea Brook.

7. The reinforced concrete base of the new retaining wall. This will be part of the Northbound off slip road from City Road roundabout

8. Concrete stairs being constructed at Southwest end of the new Trent and Mersey Canal Bridge

Protection from noise

Several local residents are already benefiting from the Highways Agency's offer of noise insulation. The package includes secondary windows, which fit inside the existing frame, leaving outside windows in place. It also includes ventilators, which maintain a supply of air without the need to open windows and let in the noise, and sun blinds.

If you have any queries about noise insulation, perhaps you received a letter last October but have not yet replied, contact Susan Yates at the Highways Agency on 0161 930 5643

Environmental improvements

As the scheme progresses a number of environmental improvements will gradually take shape.

The unpleasant subways at Stoke Road and City Road have already been closed. The temporary crossing points at the roundabouts will be with us for some time but the completed scheme will include wide footpaths on either side of new bridges crossing the underpasses at both junctions. At City Road the bridge will include an avenue of trees!

Canal boats are presently using a temporary tunnel designed to keep the waterway open while works continue overhead. Eventually the canal will be restored to its original 18th century route and the Conservation Area protected by new brick walls.

Another challenge is to work around the River Trent at City Road. As the work continues the Trent will be moved out of its culverts into a new open channel with benefits for wildlife.

Interest Point

Variable message signs are now installed on the approach roads to the A50 and A500. These signs will shortly be displaying the approximate journey time from the sign's location through the A500 roadworks.

The signs get their information from data gathered by traffic recorders, strategically located along the A50 and A500. Data from each site is transmitted to a control centre where it is processed.

Once processed, the data is sent to the city council's ground breaking SUMIT system (System for Urban Management & Information Transmission) in the Civic Centre via a high-speed direct connection. SUMIT then carries out numerous evaluations and calculation processes and if required, updates the variable message signs with correct journey time information.

Data is refreshed every four minutes and early testing is proving to be accurate and reliable. As the signs are fully variable, other information can be displayed if required.

Interest Points

Site safety is a high priority for the scheme, both for workers and general public. To reinforce this message local primary schools have been visited to warn them of the dangers of construction sites, this has proved very popular with children.

There is a permanent archaeologist on site who monitors and records all finds. Not surprisingly a lot of the finds are pottery, with dates ranging from the 1700s to late 1800s. The finds include pieces exported to Spain and track the potteries development with the earlier pieces coming from the City Road area and the later pieces coming from Stoke Road.

During excavations in the Stoke Road roundabout the original canal lock structure was unearthed. The lock would have been buried as part of the original scheme in 1977. Unfortunately due to its condition it will not be possible to re use it but the new canal alignment will follow the original course

How can you help us?

You already are by driving safely through the road works, keeping to the speed limits, being courteous and observing traffic signs, and keeping us informed of problems you are having with the roadworks so we can rectify them.

Scheme liaison officer:

The liaison officer Steve Cook (Edmund Nuttall Ltd.) is working on the site and will be on hand to answer day to day queries.
Tel: 01782 843600

General information:

Highways Agency Information Line
Tel: 0300 123 5000

The Highways Agency and Partnering

Partnering involves two or more organisations working together to improve performance. To ensure that the project objectives of the A500 were fully met, the Highways Agency entered into partnership with Stoke City Council, MouchelParkman, Edmund Nuttall Limited and their designers Hyder Consulting. All the parties have been working closely together to achieve where we are now. We have achieved this by working in a positive and effective manner through team working, cooperation and trust.