Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

20 May 2003

Project Appraisal: A30 Southwood Corner, Dummer - Traffic Signals and Junction Improvements

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 4

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

A30 SOUTHWOOD CORNER, DUMMER - TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND JUNCTION IMPROVEMENTS

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2003

COMPLETION DATE:

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2003

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2003/04

1.

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

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at May 03

(at May 03

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Construction

350

350

Fees

50

50

400

400

Less developers/

Nil

Nil

other contributions

400

400

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

400

400

(b) Developers contributions

(c) Environmental budget

400

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

5.5

0.007

Capital charges

37.0

0.040

TOTAL net expenditure

42.5

0.047

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

A feasibility study was carried out in 2001 to look at safety improvements for the A30/A30 Southwood Corner, Dummer as a result of a poor accident record at the junction. The study recommended a traffic signal junction with the objective of reducing the accident rate for right turning traffic from Winchester towards the M3 Junction 7.

There have been nine personal injuries recorded over the past three years. Five of these involved vehicles travelling from the M3 towards Basingstoke in collision with vehicles from the Winchester direction turning across their path to head towards the Motorway junction. One of these accidents resulted in a fatality and one had a serious injury.

On 8 November 2002 the Basingstoke and Deane Highway Management Advisory Panel considered a paper entitled Other Programmes and Scheme Status Report which included this scheme and the proposed measures to be undertaken. Following a review of the study the detailed design of the recommended traffic signal option has been carried out with construction due to take place late summer 2003.

The scheme is included in the Capital Programme 2003/04 Casualty Reduction Programme.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

The scheme is part of a programme of works aimed at reducing the number of personal accidents, supporting the County Council's road safety and casualty reduction policies and contributing to the overall objective of the County Council's Local Transport Plan.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

Existing Junction: The attached location plan shows the existing layout of the junction between the A30, Basingstoke to M3 Junction 7, and the A30 to the A33 for Winchester or the A303 for Andover and the West.

The junction operates as an uncontrolled `T' junction. The right turn from Basingstoke towards Winchester was banned due to a poor safety record. This manoeuvre currently requires vehicles to continue to the M3 Junction 7 roundabout before doubling back to make a left turn at the junction.

Proposed Junction: The attached general arrangement drawing shows the proposals, which involve the introduction of traffic signals together with a rearrangement of the junction layout. The previously banned right turn from Basingstoke towards Winchester will be restored by way of a segregated lane. The approach to the junction from Basingstoke will be reduced to one lane and the speed limit lowered to 60 miles per hour (mph). The approach from the Winchester direction will be realigned and lowered.

The design adheres to the design standards of the Department for Transport as well as those of the County Council. The design will be safety audited during the design process and post construction.

The Peak Copse site adjacent to the junction is the subject of proposals linked to the County Council's Natural Resources Initiative objectives. This was the subject of a report to the Executive Member for Environment in November 2002. It is not envisaged that any access arrangements for this site will render the current proposals for the junction abortive to any significant extent.

The average accident rate at traffic signals is likely to be three in three years. Therefore, six accidents will be saved over three years or two per year. The first year rate of return is therefore 38 percent.

Environmental Impact

The installation of traffic signal poles and equipment will add to the street furniture at the junction.

The proposed scheme will control vehicle movements and reduce approach speeds at the junction. There will also be the visual impact of coloured surfacing, however this will enhance driver awareness on all approaches.

Land Requirements

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

Statutory Procedures

It is necessary to revoke the existing right turn prohibition Traffic Regulation Order to implement the proposed traffic signal junction. A Traffic Regulation Order will also be processed to reduce the speed limit to 60 mph on the A30 dual carriageway from Basingstoke.

Public Consultation

The Police fully support the proposals. No formal consultation has taken place with Dummer Parish Council but its members have been involved in meetings with officers and support the proposals. The Council's comments have been included in the design process.

Local Member's View

The local Member, Councillor Mrs McNair Scott, fully supports the proposal.

Facilities for the Disabled

As the site is in a rural location there is very limited pedestrian movement. However, existing pedestrian routes within the new junction layout will be improved. It is not necessary to have a pedestrian phase in the traffic signals.

Maintenance Implications

Traffic signal equipment is costly to repair and has a limited operational life. Installations require periodic preventative maintenance and need to be fully refurbished every 15 years. In addition they consume electricity and require connection to an appropriate telecommunications system, incurring call charges and rental. The annual average cost of maintaining and operating a traffic signal installation of this type is £2,500.

It is proposed to provide skid resistant surfacing on all approaches to the new traffic signals. This material is expensive to repair at £12 per square metre and will need to be replaced on average once every 10 years.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

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

Sustainability

The proposed traffic signal scheme will provide a safer environment for all road users. The pedestrian routes through the junction will be improved.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

The only appropriate solutions to improve safety at this junction have involved traffic signal options. Four options were investigated and considered in the Feasibility Report of 2001. Option 2 has been developed into a detailed design as shown on the general arrangement drawing.

The other three options all had similar layouts with the main differences being associated with the junction at the southbound approach from Basingstoke.

Option 1 -

included two straight ahead lanes and a right turn, Basingstoke to Winchester

Option 3 -

included one straight ahead lane and a right turn lane Basingstoke to Winchester and the right turn lane, Winchester to M3 Junction 7 was realigned to run into the dual carriageway 80 metres to the south

Option 4 -

the existing junction layout remained but was signalised, ie no right turn Basingstoke to Winchester

A roundabout solution was also considered but rejected due to the cost which was likely to be over £1.5 million and the environmental impact of such a proposal.

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.

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LOCATION

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