Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

14 May 2002

Project Appraisal: Winchester Movement and Access Plan - Station Interchange/City Road, Winchester - Junction Improvement

Report of the County Surveyor

Item 7

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

ROADS

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

WINCHESTER MOVEMENT AND ACCESS PLAN - STATION INTERCHANGE/CITY ROAD, WINCHESTER - JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JULY 2002

COMPLETION DATE:

DECEMBER 2002

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 Mar 02

(at Mar 02

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Construction

453

453

Fees

22

22

475

475

Less developers/

50

50

other contributions

425

425

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

3

(b) Other

425

425

2.

From other resources

(a) SW Trains

50

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

475

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Nil

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

5

0.007

Capital charges

33

0.035

TOTAL net expenditure

38

0.042

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

This junction improvement is one of the key projects within the Winchester Movement and Access Plan (WMAP) area.

The underlying objective is to better link public transport services to facilitate a seamless interchange between rail and bus services. It builds on the existing bus-rail services but additionally enables a greater number of services to pass through the station forecourt to enhance this facility, incorporating a two-way bus/taxi/cycle link at Station Hill.

The needs of the passengers in making an effective interchange will be addressed by incorporating new bus shelter facilities which will include bus arrival/departure information systems.

In addition, it will also recognise the pedestrian demands at the junction of Station Hill, City Road, Andover Road, Stockbridge Road and Sussex Street by providing dedicated pedestrian demand stages in the traffic signal operations. This will enable the existing central islands in the junction area to be removed and therefore eliminate the congestion which arises when two larger vehicles need to pass through the junction where the carriageway widths are restricted.

The existing carriageway in this area is also badly scarred by past works of statutory undertakers, resulting in a poor ride quality and the frequent need for further remedial patching works. The opportunity will be taken to carry out significant repairs and fully resurface the junction.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

This improvement to the Station Hill/City Road junction fully accords with the aims and objectives of WMAP. These are supported through the Winchester District Local Plan and endorsed by the WMAP Panel.

Details of scheme and design standards

The scheme will be built in a number of discrete phases to minimise the impact of the works on the travelling public. It will commence with alterations to the layout around the station building, forecourt and drop off areas. New bus shelters will be provided with dedicated bus waiting areas for the existing bus-rail link to Romsey and the planned new service to Alton. The carriageway will be reconstructed and the one-way entrance from the crossroad junction will be widened to allow two-way working for buses to reach City Road. This will require some modification to the layout of the City Road/Sussex Street junction, including the removal of the existing central pedestrian refuges. As a result the existing traffic signals will be upgraded and signal heads relocated, together with the present road signing.

The approach roads will also be reconstructed and any statutory undertaker's services affected will either be diverted or laid at a greater depth. Where this is not possible, additional protection will be provided to that service.

This scheme will involve a series of complex traffic management plans whilst the work is carried out and will result in additional delay arising at critical stages. The work will be arranged, where possible, to minimise these delays but may involve some traffic diversions in order to reduce delays at the junction.

The works have been designed in accordance with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridgeworks (DMRB) issued by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. It also complies with the Hampshire County Council Standards where these supersede those in the DMRB.

A location plan is attached and a detailed plan will be displayed at the meeting.

Environmental impact

There is expected to be only minimal environmental impact arising from these works once completed. However, there will be some impact during the works arising from noise from contractors' plant and the nature of the temporary diversions in place to maintain the passage of traffic through the junction. By carrying out these works over the summer school holidays, when traffic flows are lighter, the overall effect is expected to be minimal.

The overall impact of the completed scheme is expected to be broadly neutral. This will be achieved by the removal of the central refuges to create a more effective flow of traffic through previously restricted areas of the carriageway.

Land requirements

No land acquisition is required but in the rearrangement of the highway layout near the Station, Railtrack has offered to dedicate an area to facilitate the new bus stopping areas. All other works will be confined to the existing public highway limits.

Statutory procedures

As part of this improvement, a review of the parking and waiting restrictions in the area will be carried out to ensure that road safety is maintained and the objective of the scheme is fully achieved.

Public consultation

A consultation exercise was carried out in October 2001. This involved a letter drop to local residents and businesses likely to be affected, website information and a static exhibition of the proposals in the County Records Office located near the junction. The proposals were generally welcomed. No significant issues were raised.

Facilities for the disabled

The needs of disabled people have been considered in the design of this scheme with the provision of tactile paving and dropped kerbs. This new arrangement will afford a significant improvement for disabled people, especially wheelchair users, since on completion of the scheme all movements around and across this junction will be possible, whereas currently wheelchair users must take a very circuitous route across this junction.

Maintenance implications

There will be minimal revenue implications arising from this scheme as advantage has been taken to bring forward significant maintenance proposals during the course of the works. Any minor changes will be taken into account when setting the annual base budget.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The provisions of this Act have no impact on the proposals.

Sustainability

The proposed scheme will provide a significant improvement in safety for pedestrians as they cross and re-cross this busy junction. In addition to the usual demands of pedestrians walking between the Station and the city centre, there is a heavy city centre to Peter Symonds College movement of students who will benefit from these improvements.

The enhancement of the interchange facilities between buses and trains will further support the promotion of use of alternative forms of transport.

Local Members' View

The local Members, Councillors Mrs Dickens and Mrs Peskett, support the proposals.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

No viable alternatives were found in assessing any improvement which might be carried out at this junction.

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