Archived decisions

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1. Summary

1.1 The A339 between Black Dam Roundabout and the county boundary with West Berkshire is proposed for detrunking by the Highways Agency. The County Council agrees with the proposal in principle, subject to appropriate works being carried out to bring the route up to an appropriate standard prior to detrunking or provide adequate funding for the works to be carried out subsequently. This report summarises the current position regarding the route.

2. Background

2.1 The A339 corridor connects Basingstoke with West Berkshire and the A34(T) Newbury Bypass and includes Ringway North and East within the urban area of Basingstoke. The Highways Agency has declared its intention to detrunk the route between (but not including) the Black Dam Roundabout and the county boundary, given its reduced strategic role. Much of the route is designed for high speed vehicle movements although current flows are relatively low. This combination has created a situation where speed related safety problems occur. Table 1 indicates the levels of traffic flow on the route.

Table 1

Traffic flows on the A339(T)

2.2 Safety concerns have been raised, with 167 personal injury accidents being recorded between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2000, including 3 fatal, 41 serious and 123 slight. A number of locations have been identified where accident clusters have occurred and for which remedial measures are recommended. In addition, the A33 Reading Road and A340 Aldermaston Road roundabouts have accident clusters but traffic signals are proposed for both junctions which should reduce accidents considerably.

3. Proposed Improvements

3.1 A number of issues have been raised with the Highways Agency (responsible for the trunk road network within the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions) with regard to the proposed detrunking:

(i) drainage at a number of locations;

(ii) carriageway condition, such as the Kingsclere Bypass, with over 60% of the carriageway having a residual life of less than four years and 30% having a residual life of less than one year;

(iii) street lighting on Ringway East and cabling around Black Dam Roundabout;

(iv) routine maintenance costs;

(v) safety;

(vi) upgrading of direction signing and crash barrier protection; and

(vii) safety camera enforcement to help control speed and improve safety.

3.2 To date the Highways Agency has not responded positively to the above proposals, or offered funding as an alternative, on the basis of its overall regional policy that presently excludes the A339 from its investment strategy. The Highways Agency has suggested that, once the A339 is detrunked, the County Council bids for additional funding to improve the A339 through the Local Transport Plan. Negotiations are continuing.

4. Conclusion

4.1 A number of proposals have been put to the Highways Agency to meet the County Council's requirements for detrunking the A339 between Basingstoke and the county boundary. These proposals have taken into account the need to bring the route up to an acceptable standard. The Highways Agency has so far declined to take up these proposals.

Recommendation

That the Panel notes the current position regarding the detrunking of the A339 between Basingstoke and the county boundary with West Berkshire.

6804/NR