Feature
Better information for your journey
The National Traffic Control Centre collects real-time information on road conditions.
Quick Links
How We Manage Our Roads
In this section you can find out more about how we manage and maintain these roads and plan for the future
The Project Control Framework
On 1st April 2008 we launched the Project Control Framework. The Framework sets out how we, together with the Department for Transport, manage and deliver major improvement projects.
Traffic news on your desktop
Helpful ways to access the latest traffic information when you need it.
2.1 BACKROUND INFORMATION
2 WORKSHOP FINDINGS
2.1 BACKROUND INFORMATION
Presentations on the Route Management Strategy were given to provide attendees with background and issues associated with the route. Please refer to Appendix A for full presentation details.
The following sub-sections provide information on the route functions, outcomes and issues which the participants were asked to review.
2.1.1 Route Functions
These are categorized into Strategic, Regional, and Local functions and describes the role that the route currently has, the nature of journeys that occur on the route and the relationship between the route and other parts of the transport infrastructure and how this might change in the future.
For the purpose of the RMS, the route has been divided into 10 route sections and the functions associated with each section have been assessed and defined. These functions are listed, together with a summary table showing the related functions within each section.
View larger image
Strategic Functions
The motorways...
| A | Are part of the two Trans-European network routes for North-South movements in Yorkshire (Routes E13 and E15) |
|---|---|
| B | Provide a major transport link between the North and North East of England and the East Midlands, London and Continental Europe. |
| C | Are a part of the national motorway strategic core network. |
| D | Provide a link to important North-South and East-West corridors (A1, M62, M18, A616/A628) including the North European Trade Axis. |
| E | Are a strategic link between the M62 and the A1 for Trans-Pennine traffic to and from the North East of England |
| F | Are part of YDIS, the strategic diversion system for the Yorkshire motorway box |
| X | Provides an abnormal, high or wide load route, subject to restrictions. |
Regional Functions
The motorways...
| G | Provide a major transport link between the regional centres of population, employment, tourism and recreational areas |
|---|---|
| H | Are of vital importance to the economic performance and growth of the Yorkshire region |
Local Functions
The motorways...
| I | Provide bypasses around urban centres |
|---|---|
| J | Provide local access for employment and leisure purposes |
| K | Provide main commuter routes for traffic entering the cities of Sheffield and Leeds |
2.1.2 Route Objectives/Outcomes
In order to assist the RMS process, eight Strategy Components have been defined to help target the outcomes required for the RMS. They are:
- Safety
- Economy
- Environment
- Accessibility
- Integration
- Maintenance
- Operating the Network
- Improving the Network
Safety
Possible Route Objectives and Outcomes:
| S1 | provision of service area facilities that better meet needs and demands, including HGV's |
|---|---|
| S2 | application of a methodology to identify accident clusters and causation factors and to implement preventative actions to reduce incidents |
| S3 | to improve safety during maintenance works |
| S4 | to seek to improve safety for more vulnerable users |
| S5 | to encourage road users to travel at an appropriate speed |
| S6 | to encourage improved driver behavior |
| S7 | to achieve a consistent high standard of signing along the route |
| S8 | to improve the safe operation of junction merges and diverges |
Summary of issues identified prior to the workshop:
- issues are generally related to congestion, which causes unexpected queuing on the motorways and therefore potential vehicle conflicts
- the merging of traffic caused by the close proximity of junctions such as between J31-J32 (M1), and J2a-J3 (M621)
- poor lane discipline at junctions and at on and off slip-roads, e.g. merging traffic crossing the southbound ghost island at A1(M)/A64 Bramham Crossroads
- excessive speed approaching traffic lights and roundabouts
- concerns about the positioning of parapets on over bridges between J36-39 where the emergency phones are in front of the barriers
- footbridges over the motorways, where debris is thrown onto the road below
- J39 (Crigglestone, Southbound) where vehicles drifts across the lanes during night times on the long sweeping left hand bend, drivers over-react and clip the central reservation
- tight radii at J44 and J45 of the M1, and on J27 of the M62
- J39-42 and M621/ M1 Southbound merge, where high winds, flooding, and water build up on the carriageway causing very bad spray in wet weather
- informal crossing of the M621 by pedestrians gaining access to the Leeds United football ground when in use
Economy
Possible Route Objectives and Outcomes:
| C1 | implementation of a Land Use and Development Policy supporting sustainable development and regeneration without introducing further traffic congestion |
|---|---|
| C2 | continuing use of the Objective 1 Memorandum of Understanding in South Yorkshire |
| C3 | implementation of Objective 1 Memorandum of Understanding procedures elsewhere |
| C4 | to contribute to Regional and Local transport and development plans |
Summary of issues identified prior to the workshop:
- Congestion is one of the main issues raised so far, either on the motorway due to insufficient capacity, on a gradient that affects larger and older vehicles, at specific junctions where developments increases demand or at intersections of two or more main routes.
- Locations where congestion is identified as a significant problem are listed under Section 4.7 Operating the Network and will be considered there.
Environment
Possible Route Objectives and Outcomes
| E1 | improved air quality, particularly in Air Quality Management Areas |
|---|---|
| E2 | implementation of a Landscape Management Plan and Biodiversity Action Plan over the whole route |
| E3 | to identify locations where noise levels are high and mitigate where appropriate |
| E4 | to encourage traffic to use the most appropriate route |
| E5 | to ensure effective measures are in place to protect watercourses from pollutant spillage on the Highway |
| E6 | to protect and enhance existing flora and fauna |
| E7 | to seek to maintain a clean and tidy route |
| E8 | to use environmentally friendly clean lighting when replacing existing or providing new systems |
| E9 | have due regard for visual intrusion |
Summary of issues identified prior to the workshop:
- J34 M1, with noise problems and poor air quality (it is within an Air Quality Management Area)
- Litter/ rubbish problems have been identified at Woolley Edge and Woodhall Services, and along the M621 in general
- Light pollution from high mast lighting on the M621
- there is a need for a Bio-diversity Action Plan covering the whole route
- there is a need for a Landscape Management Plan
Accessibility
Possible Route Objectives and Outcomes:
| A1 | implementation of a driver information strategy to promote the use of and improve access to park & ride sites, park & share facilities, and other public transport facilities |
|---|---|
| A2 | to improve facilities for non-motorised users crossing the route |
| A3 | to improve facilities for non-motorised users at grade separated junctions |
| A4 | to reduce community severance |
| A5 | to improve access to and from Public Transport and Park & Ride facilities |
Summary of issues identified prior to the workshop:
- issues occur at Chapeltown, Rotherham, and Sheffield (J34, 35 and 35a), where a Quality Bus Corridor is operating and there is extensive commuter traffic
- potential problems also exist for development sites along the whole route
- issues occur at Bramham Crossroads Junction on the A1(M)/A64 intersection
- the possible re-location of Leeds United Football Club
Integration
Possible Route Objectives and Outcomes:
| G1 | a strategy to encourage and formalize the use of park & share |
|---|---|
| G2 | a partnership with South Yorkshire PTE to influence and aid the implementation of their Park & Ride Strategy |
| G3 | to make better use of the route by working in partnership with road users, transport providers and operators, local authorities and those affected by the network |
| G4 | to contribute to Regional and Local transport and development plans |
Summary of issues identified prior to the workshop:
- possible park and ride sites have been identified at J30, J31, J33, J34, J35, J35a, J36, J37, J38, and J44 (M1)
- Sheffield City Airport is accessed via J33 (M1)
- potential Supertram extensions to Waverley site near J33 (M1), and to the Waterside development near J34 (M1)
- Supertram crossing of J7 (M621) may provide opportunity for modal interchange
- possible Sheffield International Rail Freight Terminal between J33-34 (M1)
- possible relocation of Dodworth Rail Station on the Sheffield-Barnsley-Huddersfield railway
- potential to set up coach park and ride and park and share at Woodall and Wooley Edge
Maintenance
Possible Route Objectives and Outcomes:
| M1 | application of 'best practice' traffic management |
|---|---|
| M2 | to maximize the serviceability of the road, structures and other highway infrastructure |
| M3 | to minimize delay and disruption due to roadworks |
| M4 | to minimize adverse effects on the environment |
Summary of issues identified prior to the workshop:
- better coordination of resources might result if the maintenance programme was reviewed earlier
- safety during maintenance work at Tinsley Viaduct
Operating the Network
Possible Route Objectives and Outcomes:
| O1 | application of 'best practice' incident management |
|---|---|
| O2 | a strategy to implement Active Traffic Management and other capacity improvements to maximize the route availability for users where appropriate |
| O3 | a strategy to implement Demand Management measures where these are appropriate, to deliver an achievable and defendable balance between future demands and constraints |
| O4 | to take action to reduce congestion and increase the reliability of journey times |
| O5 | to improve the availability of the route for abnormal, high, and wide loads |
Summary of issues identified prior to the workshop:
- there is a lack of high / wide loads facility on the route
- historic problems with traffic lights at J42 (M1), Lofthouse Interchange with the M62
- that improved information/ live media strategy would forewarn drivers about any disruptive incidents and enable them to choose alternative routes or travel arrangements
Locations on the M621 where congestion has been identified as significant include:
- J1 (Queuing on A6110, commuter traffic on inner ring road for Bradford/Leeds)
- J1-2 (Congestion when Leeds United football ground is in use)
- J2a-3 (Closeness of junctions causing problems for merging traffic)
- J3 (Congestion from Dewsbury Road)
- J4 and J5 (New developments planned)
- J7 (Severe peak hour congestion at present with further development planned)
Locations on the M1 where congestion has been identified as significant include:
- J31
- J32 (Junction with the M18)
- J33 (Junction for Sheffield, Sheffield City Airport, and the Special Enterprise Zone incl. the Waverley development and others)
- J34 (Meadowhall retail park and other Objective 1 developments)
- J35/J35A (Further development near Chapeltown),
- J36 (Objective 1 development sites on A6195),
- J36-37 (Long gradient affecting HGV's),
- J37 (Dodworth Bypass planned, new Objective 1 developments adjacent to A628)
- J38 and J39 (Multiple developments for retail and business parks),
- J40 (Development of Silkwood Park),
- J42 (Lofthouse Interchange with the M62),
- J43 (Junction with M621 into Leeds)
- J44 (Delta Park development)
- A1(M)/A64 Bramham Crossroads Junction (Traffic to Leeds, York and East Coast)
Improving the Network
Possible Route Objectives and Outcomes:
| N1 | a strategy for TPI schemes to widen sections of the M1 where appropriate |
|---|---|
| N2 | a strategy for LNMS schemes (e.g. climbing lanes, merge/diverge improvements) to make better use of the network |
| N3 | a strategy to reduce standing traffic on the motorways, and to reduce the variability of journey times and average speeds |
Summary of issues identified prior to the workshop:
- similar junction numbering system between M1 and A1(M) often causes location identification problem for breakdown and rescue services and confuses drivers
2.1.3 Making Better Use Solutions
The participants were also given a presentation from FaberMaunsell on recent work to consider Making Better Use of the network in South Yorkshire (SWYMBUS). Details are given in Appendix A.
As part of the workshop review process participants were also asked to review the options and to also identify potential making better use solutions.
