Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

ITEM 3

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

PORTCHESTER RAIL BRIDGE, FAREHAM - NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

FEBRUARY 2005

COMPLETION DATE:

MARCH 2005

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2004/05

1.

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

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at 2004

at 2004

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Construction

38.4

38.4

Fees

14.1

14.1

52.5

52.5

Less developers/

Nil

Nil

other contributions

52.5

52.5

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital Programme: 2004/05

-

52.5

(b) Other

m

52.5

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

52.5

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

1

0.001

Capital charges

6

0.005

TOTAL net expenditure

7

0.006

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

Hill Road/Station Road provides a link between the A27 at its southern end near Portchester town centre and Ports Down to the north (see attached location plan). It also gives access via Allaway Avenue to the Paulsgrove area of Portsmouth to the east. Just north of the A27 the road passes under the Fareham to Portsmouth railway line adjacent to Portchester railway station. The bridge has both limited headroom and restricted overall width, and originally accommodated a substandard two-way carriageway with a guard railed narrow footway on one side only.

Between Monday and Friday, the 24-hour, two-way traffic flow on Hill Road exceeds 10,000 vehicles, with an average morning and evening peak hour flow of more than 900 vehicles. The flow of this traffic is not evenly distributed through the bridge, and approximately 10% more traffic travels southbound than northbound during the morning peak period, with this proportion reversed during the evening peak period. During the morning peak period, which generally coincides with the peak pedestrian flow because of children walking to school, 233 pedestrians crossed through the bridge.

Following a number of complaints from wheel chair users and people with pushchairs regarding the narrowness of the footway which, on occasions, caused people to use the road to pass under the bridge, an experimental priority give-way system was installed in July 2003 to facilitate the construction of a much improved and wider footway. The overall width through the bridge was such that this could only be achieved by narrowing the carriageway to a point where shuttle-working became essential. This was achieved using a priority signing system which requires southbound traffic to give way to northbound traffic. The revised layout was constructed partly in temporary materials to facilitate any adjustments that might be required in the light of operational experience. It formed the final phase of the Hill Road traffic calming scheme aimed at influencing traffic volume and speed along the route generally.

Since the scheme was first introduced, it has been subject to intermittent monitoring. Minor adjustments to signing and carriageway markings have been made in response to complaints about visibility through the bridge and the intimidating behaviour of a minority of drivers who force others to give way without proper regard to the established priorities. However, incidents of near misses, uncertainty and aggressive driving continue to be reported; in addition three slight injury accidents have occurred in the 15 months since the introduction of the priority scheme. These all involved southbound vehicles, two tail end shunts both involving motor cycles and one emergency stop resulting in an injury to a mini-bus passenger.

A system of traffic signal control would positively manage the shuttle working arrangements under the bridge whilst maintaining the much improved pedestrian footway facilities.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

The scheme makes walking and cycling more attractive, helping to meet the County Council's objectives of reducing the environmental impact of transport.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

Traffic signals are proposed to formalise the present informal shuttle-working arrangement. Right of way will alternate between Hill Road and Station Road, with the duration of the green period varying with traffic demand. In the absence of traffic a red signal will be displayed to both Hill Road and Station Road to encourage traffic approaching the bridge to slow down. This arrangement will also reduce delay as the signals are able to return right of way to whichever road the vehicle is approaching on when that vehicle gets within approximately 40 metres of the bridge.

A selective vehicle detector, located on Kelvin Grove in the vicinity of the fire station access, will enable suitably equipped fire appliances to force the signals to return right of way to Hill Road. This priority request will curtail the green signal for Station Road, reducing the delay for appliances responding to an emergency call. An existing yellow-box junction will enable these appliances to join Hill Road, and the green signal will be held long enough for appliances to travel through the bridge.

The existing pedestrian guard railing is a temporary construction. It will be replaced with a more permanent type of guard railing that provides motorists with adequate visibility of pedestrians walking through the bridge.

Environmental Impact

Motorists waiting at the existing, informal shuttle-working arrangement with their engines running affect air quality by increasing vehicle emissions compared with the earlier, two-way traffic system through the bridge. The new traffic signals may increase vehicle emissions further as motorists may be stopped for longer. Any increase is likely to be small as the operation of the new traffic signals has been designed to minimise additional delay. The proposal is considered to have negligible consequences for the environment as a whole but will improve the local environment for pedestrians and is likely to encourage walking, reducing the adverse environmental impact of transport.

The light emitted by the traffic signals can be intrusive. Elsewhere, residents living close to traffic signal equipment have complained about light pollution overnight. During this period the signals are dimmed to reduce light levels, and cowls are fitted to the signal lenses to help focus the light on the carriageway.

Land Requirements

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

Statutory Procedures

The design and permitted operation of the traffic signals is prescribed in the Traffic Sign Regulations and General Directions. No additional statutory procedures are required.

Public Consultation

The proposal alters an existing junction with only minor civil engineering works to install the traffic signal equipment. The largest impact will be on the wider travelling public. The proposal reflects concerns expressed regarding the present informal shuttle-working arrangement, and has arisen as a result of public feedback on this experimental scheme.

Local residents who may be directly affected by the installation of traffic signal equipment have received a letter, with an indicative scheme drawing, inviting them to comment on the proposal. No objections have been received.

Local Member's View

The local Member, Councillor Price, has been involved in the project since inception and supports the proposal to make the shuttle-working system permanent using traffic signal control.

Equalities

The experimental priority system was implemented to enable the footway to be widened. This overcame the access difficulties formerly experienced by wheel chair users and people with push chairs using the narrow footway through the bridge. Installing the traffic signals would enable this widened footway to be retained, and would preserve the improved access arrangements for this minority of pedestrians.

There would also be considerable disbenefits for local residents, school children walking to local schools and passengers accessing the station.

Maintenance Implications

The revenue implications of this proposal will be taken into account in the setting of the annual base budget.

The installation of traffic signals at this location will result in additional revenue expenditure, both in respect of maintenance works and its operation. Maintenance works include repairing equipment reported faults, carrying out a biannual lamp change and undertaking an annual electrical inspection. Operating costs are incurred in respect of electrical power and telecommunications.

The traffic signals equipment is anticipated to operate satisfactorily for between 10 and 15 years. After this time it will need to be replaced. The antiskid surfacing may need to be renewed at more regular intervals to ensure adequate performance.

If the maintenance costs of new ITS installations and equipment are not taken into account at the setting of the annual base budget, and the budget does not match the rate of growth of equipment, then there will be an increasing pressure to reduce maintenance standards and on the ability to replace ageing and obsolescent equipment.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

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

Incidents of aggressive driving continue to be reported. The proposed traffic signals may help prevent further angry exchanges between motorists frustrated by the lack of clarity regarding who has right of way at the bridge.

Sustainability

The proposals will enable the footway to be retained in its current form, which provides a better environment for walking and cycling and, in so doing, may result in increasing numbers of people walking and cycling.

With a regime of annual maintenance, the traffic control and selective vehicle detection equipment is anticipated to operate satisfactorily for between 10 and 15 years. After this period it is likely to be no longer economic to repair in the event of an equipment failure. This operating life is consistent with other roadside electronic traffic systems. The system requires electric power, but the operation of the signals will be adjusted to minimise usage by dimming the signals overnight. This dimming function is a standard facility used elsewhere in Hampshire and the UK as a whole.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

To leave the junction as it is. This option is not considered a viable long term solution as the current informal priority system is causing difficulty for motorists in this location.

To remove the experimental priority system and footway. This is rejected as reinstatement of two-way traffic would result in the loss of the widened footway, which has overcome the access difficulties formerly experienced by wheel chair users and people with push chairs. There would also be considerable disbenefits for local residents, school children walking to local schools and passengers accessing the station.

Variable message signs exist that can be used in combination with appropriate vehicle detection to advise motorists of the presence of on-coming vehicles. These systems are typically used to detect specific types of vehicle, eg lorries and buses, and would not be appropriate here where general traffic presents the hazard. In addition, such a scheme would be unlikely to cost less than the proposed traffic signals, and would incur similar operating costs.

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

Project File

Pedestrian Footway Improvements, Hill Road Rail Bridge Project file

Environment Department

Monument House

Environment Department

Sheridan House