Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

12 November 2002

Project Appraisal - B3354/B2177 Fishers Pond - Junction Improvements

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 8

Contact: Gareth Hughes, ext 7507

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the Project Appraisal for the improvements at the junction of the B3354/B2177 Fishers Pond be approved.

2. Reason

2.1 To implement the provision of traffic signals at the existing junction.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 A revised priority scheme was considered but would not have achieved the safety targets. A roundabout option was also considered but required land acquistion, was not cycle friendly and would have incurred additional cost.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer Consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

_____________________________________________

12 NOVEMBER 2002

_____________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

PROJECT:

B3354/B2177 FISHERS POND - JUNCTION IMPROVEMENTS

____________________________________________________________________

COMMENCEMENT DATE:	FEBRUARY 2003
COMPLETION DATE:	APRIL 2003

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2002/03

____________________________________________________________________

1.	FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

____________________________________________________________________


		Current	Capital
		Estimate	Programme
		(at October	(at October
		2002 prices)	2002 prices)
Capital Expenditure		£'000	£'000

Land to be purchased		0	0
Construction		327	327
Fees		48	48
Supervision and Testing		25	25
		400	400
Less developers/
other contributions		0	0

		400	400


Financial provision for total scheme			Total Cost

1.	From Committees own resources

	(a) Capital programme (as above)		400
	(b) Other


2.	From other resources

	(a)
	(b)
	(c)

		TOTAL	400

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications		£'000	% variation
			to Committee's
			budget
Net current expenditure		2.5	0.004
Capital charges		31.0	0.032

TOTAL net expenditure		33.5	0.036

____________________________________________________________________

2.	STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT (Client Department)

____________________________________________________________________

Early 2001 a feasibility study was carried out to look at the safety improvements for the junction of B3354 (Winchester Road) and B2177 (Portsmouth Road) at Fishers Pond as a result of a poor accident record. Following a review of these improvements a signal junction and roundabout were taken through to the preliminary design, with the signal junction being the preferred option.

The B3354 Winchester Road and B2177 Portsmouth Road originally formed the main through route; however priorities were changed several years ago with minimal alteration to the junction layout. The main traffic flow is along the B3354, with the largest flows being northbound in the morning peak and southbound in the evening peak.

In the past three years there have been six personal injury accidents at the junction. Five of these accidents involved southbound vehicles colliding with vehicles turning right out of the B2177 Portsmouth Road. A low cost safety scheme was implemented with limited success. In view of the dominant injury pattern (right turning vehicles from B2177 in collision with B3354 southbound vehicles) there was a requirement to look at further improvements.

In May 2002 it was decided to carry out the detailed design of the signal junction with construction during 2002/03.

____________________________________________________________________

3.	ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

____________________________________________________________________

National/County network and policies

The scheme supports the County Council's road safety and casualty reduction policies and improves pedestrian facilities.

Cycling facilities are included in the design as the junction lies on a cycle strategy spine route, running from Winchester, via the B3354, onto the B2177 Portsmouth Road towards Bishops Waltham.

Details of scheme and design standards

Works will comprise realignment of the existing layout to allow for a permanent traffic signal junction (see attached location plan). This will involve amendments to the existing traffic island and localised widening, together with diversion of services. The majority of the widening is required on the west side of the B3354 Winchester Road, and a small retaining structure is included in the design to accommodate a widened footway. The geometry of the junction is designed to slow traffic, whilst allowing movement by abnormal loads. The design adheres to the design standards of the Department for Transport as well as those of the County Council. Road safety audits are being undertaken at the appropriate stages in the design process.

Environmental impact

The scheme will control vehicle movements, reduce speeds at the junction and reduce queueing lengths on the B2177.

An outline Environmental Assessment is being carried out in order to ascertain the impact of the scheme on the existing hedges, watercourses and landscape design.

Land requirements

No land acquisition required. All works to be confined within existing public highway limits.

Statutory procedures

Temporary traffic signals will be required during construction to reduce the carriageway to one running lane.

Public consultation

District Councillors and Parish Councils have been consulted, along with the Police and the Cycle Touring Club, on the comparison of the three options for the junction. All supported the traffic signal layout; any relevant comments have been included in the design.

Local Member's View

Councillor Mason supports the proposals.

Facilities for the disabled

The site location is rural and the use of tactile paving in isolation is not thought to be beneficial.

Maintenance implications

The existing street lighting will be removed hence no maintenance is required. However, the new traffic signals will require maintenance.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The provisions of this Act have no impact on this proposal.

Sustainability

The existing footways are being improved and the scheme incorporates provisions for cyclists. These will help support sustainable forms of transport.

____________________________________________________________________

4.	ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED (Client Department)

____________________________________________________________________

Two alternative options were initially investigated - a roundabout and a revised priority junction.

A revised priority junction was thought to be of little benefit and therefore dismissed.

A preliminary design and assessment of the roundabout option was carried out but rejected in favour of the signalised junction due to better performance with regards to safety, junction capacity, land requirement, cycle facilities and construction cost.

____________________________________________________________________


Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1.	Published works.

2.	Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE	LOCATION
None

7466/GH