Archived decisions

Contact: Geoff Topps, ext 7959

1. Summary

1.1 This report is to provide Members with details of recent developments and current highway management issues relating to the A3 corridor phase of the South Hampshire Rapid Transit (SHRT) network. Additional information about the scheme was given in the previous A3 progress report (Item 11) submitted to the November 2002 meeting.

2. Current Position

Section 1 Widley to Purbrook

2.1 The roadworks for Section 1 began in April 2002 and were completed in February 2003. The work took longer than initially estimated for two main reasons. Firstly, additional works were undertaken across the top of Portsdown Hill to maximise the use of the contractor and complement the other new works. Secondly, a previously unknown public utility company cable was diverted. This, however, will not cause a significant delay to the overall project.

2.2 Road widening on the west side of the A3, south of the Ladybridge Road roundabout, was originally intended to have been supported by a retaining wall (to avoid the need for land purchase). However, further negotiation with the landowner has allowed this to be replaced with a cheaper, more simple and aesthetically pleasing landscaped embankment.

2.3 The highway works have been completed to the high quality and standard expected of the contractor. They have been undertaken in a professional manner on a busy road whilst maintaining two-way traffic, and through liaison with local residents and businesses to minimise disturbance and inconvenience.

2.4 The provision of new bus shelters along Section 1 has been greatly delayed by the current shelter maintenance contractor, Adshel, being unable to honour its original intention of free provision in return for use of the shelters as advertising space. With Havant Borough Council's assistance, the shelters have now been purchased direct and will be installed shortly. It is hoped that the original deal with Adshel can be fulfilled on the remaining sections of the corridor but a better alternative procurement method will be prepared in case the problem recurs.

2.5 Neither of the new systems for closed circuit television or real-time passenger information is at a point where the new facilities can be installed for Section 1. Both systems are being developed for the County Council half of the corridor and it is planned that the first cameras and bus shelter information signs will be installed this year.

Section 2 Purbrook to Waterlooville

2.6 The advanced works for Section 2b (north of Purbrook) are now underway. Earthworks are being carried out in the area where the road will be widened and public utility company pipes and cables under the west side verge are being diverted. These will be followed later in the year by the main roadworks, more details of which will be available when the contractor has prepared his programme.

2.7 A manifestation of its previous trunk road status is that the A3 carries some major public utility services, including part of British Telecom's (BT) national fibre optic network. This had been identified and financial allowances made during the project development. BT has estimated that the diversionary work will take two years. In an attempt to reduce this period BT has agreed to allow the contractor to carry out the civil works, which should save several months. BT has promised, however, to try and accelerate its programme. The implications to the construction programme are still being assessed and it will mean that lengths of the west side will be left in a temporary state until 2005. While a disappointment, this should not be a significant issue since the existing road is not affected and the landscaping works can still be completed this year.

2.8 Road widening of Section 2b will result in the need for additional capacity of the existing drainage system. Southern Water has given two options for gaining the required capacity. The first is to upgrade the main drainage, which would be extremely costly and time consuming. The second and adopted solution is to provide a temporary storage (attenuation). The water will have to be stored under the carriageway because of limitations on space, possibly in two 40 metre-long box culverts. However, the designer and contractor are currently discussing the most suitable method of storage and construction to adopt. These will also probably require single way traffic control during construction and temporary access facilities for some local residents.

2.9 Parking and waiting restrictions are being rationalised as part of Section 2a Purbrook Village works and, following significant consultation with residents and businesses, the proposed Traffic Regulation Orders are being advertised. Local consultation will be maintained, including with the local residents' association PAWES, during the construction period. A first newsletter has already been issued and a new one is being prepared for the end of March.

Section 3 Waterlooville Town Centre

2.10 Extensive consultation has been undertaken with the Waterlooville Town Centre Consultative Panel about how all bus services gain access to Waterlooville town centre. Many alternative solutions have been examined and associated issues studied and explored. The objection of ASDA to the loss of parking means that Swiss Road cannot be progressed for the time being, so a temporary solution has been developed that meets most of the bus service and pedestrian needs without significant compromise or abortive works.

2.11 The final concept is to stop all vehicles using the town centre end of Stakes Hill Road and only let buses have two-way access through the extended pedestrian zone in St George's Walk and London Road south. The detailed design of this is now underway, with additional public consultation in April, with a view to starting roadworks in 2003.

Section 4 Waterlooville to Cowplain

2.12 Initial consultation has been held with the Forestry Commission and Forest Enterprise about the potential impact of the corridor on the boundary of Queen's Enclosure. Road widening would affect some existing trees and, while further environmental studies are being carried out, the Forest Enterprise did not object to the potential loss of trees. It has a new policy about its liability for branches of trees falling on the highway and the works potentially could assist in its own more extensive boundary felling.

Section 5 Cowplain to Horndean

2.13 There has been no further significant development of this section of the corridor.

Portsmouth City Council

2.14 Despite earlier concerns, English Heritage has now accepted that there is a good case to relocate the historic tram shelter from Cosham Interchange to Gunwharf Quays, where its long term future is more certain. Following relocation, new shelters and facilities will be provided through the PORTAL project.

2.15 Hilsea Stage 1 and 2 works (Old London Road to Torrington Road) are substantially complete (other than the laying of some red surfacing as part of a larger package of work. Consultation on stage 3, Mayfield Road to Ophir Road, has been completed and the scheme received Executive Member approval. Work will start early in the next financial year.

2.16 Securing bus priority through North End is seen as a key element of the North End (Stubbington Avenue to Kingston Crescent) route. A successful scheme will need to take account of the function of the road as a through route, a busy shopping street and meeting legitimate needs for short term parking. Consulting on and negotiating an appropriate solution is expected to be more protracted than earlier phases and the programme is to undertake this through 2003/03 with a view to implementation of agreed measures in 2004/05.

3. Project Funding and Programme

3.1 The current project programme is based on the fastest possible implementation. This minimises the number of years funding is required but maximises the funding required each year. A major scheme bid is still being evaluated by the Department for Transport and if it is successful the current programme can be maintained. If it is not, then the remainder of the project will have to be funded from the Capital Programme and the project programme revised so that the annual scheme costs can be catered for.

4. Bus Lane Use and Enforcement

4.1 After consideration and consultation, the A3 corridor bus lanes are being established for the use of buses, local buses and cycles. Although taxis can now use all Portsmouth bus lanes there was not a demand to extend this to the A3. This could be allowed for in the future for the Havant, Fareham and Gosport areas. However, it would require a similar agreement with the local authorities and bus operators to that being used in Portsmouth so that enforcement would be manageable.

4.2 At present the Police have not requested any specialised enforcement technology for the A3 corridor and they intend to wait and see how conditions settle after completion and how conventional enforcement copes. The only initial observation is the difficulty in making drivers aware of the speed limit reduction from 40 mph to 30 mph. As there is street lighting 30 mph repeater signs are not allowed, so the new, lower speed limit cannot be re-emphasised once past the start of the 30 mph zone.

5. Conclusion

5.1 The first section of significant roadworks has been completed successfully and the second has started. This contains more difficult work for the contractor which may result in greater traffic delays during construction, and part of the works cannot be completed until BT finishes its work in 2005. The real benefits to public transport will not start to truly materialise until the works in Waterlooville have been completed and the new facilities can function unhindered.

Recommendation

That progress on the elements of this transportation scheme be noted.

7816/GT