Archived decisions

Contact: Barry Armstrong, ext 5175 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report provides a progress update on transport schemes within the 2004/05 Capital Programme together with the schemes for the 2005/06 Capital Programmes that were approved by the Executive Member for Environment on 21 January 2005. The summary of schemes is shown on the attached appendix.

1.2 The table below shows the county-wide improvement programmes for 2005/06 and where applicable to the Test Valley area the report item is given for reference.

1.3 Schemes in the Capital Programme are financed from the Local Transport Plan (LTP) and/or external funding (EF) received from developers or other contributors.

2. Capital Schemes 2004/05

Castle Lane Junction with Templars Way, Knightwood £100,000 EF

2.1 This scheme, which is also mentioned in the report at Item 10, involves the addition of a pedestrian/cycle phase to the existing traffic signals. Works commenced in January, and, subject to good weather, are programmed for completion by the end of March 2005.

Foxcotte Road/Foxcotte Lane/Charlton Road/Hatherden Road,

Andover - Traffic Management - £370,000 LTP

2.2 The aim of the scheme is to moderate traffic speeds on the Foxcotte Road and Hatherden Road approaches to Charlton and to provide improved facilities for vulnerable road users along Foxcotte Road and Charlton Road, including cyclists and pedestrians near to the hospitals and schools. Caroway Contractors Limited commenced implementation of this scheme in early December 2004 and works are programmed initially for Foxcotte Road, followed by Charlton Road, Penton Mewsey and Hatherden Road and will be substantially completed in April 2005.

New Footways, Middle Wallop £30,000 LTP

2.3 The preliminary design is now complete, and the works are estimated to be completed in March 2005. The scheme consists of a new link to connect with the existing footways.

North Baddesley - Rownhams Cycleway £400,000 LTP

2.4 The detailed design for this scheme is complete and flail mowing in advance of ground clearance and tree crowning, commenced on 17 January 2005, prior to the bird nesting season. Various obstacles have been encountered in the design progression including the discovery of several separate areas of Japanese Knotweed which has affected the clearance operation, as it requires specialist treatment. A decision was made to redesign the North Baddesley Gateway following comments from the local Parish Council. A completion date is scheduled for September 2005.

2.5 The cycle route commences on road at the Southampton City Council border. It then heads north along Rownhams Lane and continues to just north of the junction with Routs Way to a new Village Gateway feature where the road will be narrowed as part of the Rural Traffic Calming Programme. The existing bollards are to be removed to provide a pedestrian crossing area.

2.6 Just prior to the motorway bridge, the route continues on the eastern side of the road and makes provision for a new bus shelter and hard standing just north of the bridge. From this point the route winds along past several specimen trees and on to the existing North Baddesley gateway which will benefit from some upgrading, including a new rumble strip section on the western side of the road, which has been designed as a traffic calming feature prior to the existing 30 mph speed limit. This feature will also include a pedestrian crossing area.

2.7 A new secondary gateway feature with central islands and road markings will make provision to connect with the existing on road cycle scheme.

Romsey Route 15 Quality Bus Partnership - Bus Infrastructure Improvements £150,000 LTP

2.8 An order has been placed for the civil engineering work to improve bus route 15 from Romsey town centre to the Southampton city boundary via North Baddesley. The improvements will include raised boarding kerbs, bus stop markings and clearways, together with new bus shelters and bus stop poles.

Winchester Road Footways - Andover - £50,000 EF

2.9 Works on this scheme commenced in early February 2005. The delay in the start of these works was due to the Contractors work load and programming. The scheduled completion date is now March 2005.

3. Capital Schemes 2005/06

Andover Cycles/Pedestrians - Andover Station - Town Centre

£340,000 LTP £10,000 EF

3.1 The delivery of this scheme has been delayed due to unforeseen difficulties with the negotiations for a small area of land. It is now estimated that the works will commence in March/April 2005 with a completion date in August 2005.

3.2 The scheme will provide cycle links from Andover Station through to various areas in and around the town centre. The main route commences on road at the railway station crossing over Cross Lane and into Bishops Way then onto Junction Road where after a short distance a link branches off towards the underpass on Western Avenue and continues in the direction of the Magistrates Court.

3.3 The main route continues to follow Junction Road until it reaches The Broadway where once again the route splits to form one link following off road to cross Western Avenue via an upgraded Toucan crossing (also mentioned in the report at Item 10) and turning to the left in the direction of West Street and The Chantry Centre, through the car park and down towards Bridge Street. The right turn link heads south in the direction of the Post Office.

3.4 The other link from the Broadway crosses Eastern Road and Suffolk Road and leads in the direction of Anton Mill Road through the Bordon Gates car park where the route splits once again, one link continuing through the car park ending at Bridge Street and the other link turning right under Western Avenue, and continuing through to the junction with Eastern Avenue.

Winchester Road/Cupernham Lane, Romsey - Traffic Signals

£200,000 LTP, £100,000 EF

3.5 Re-assessment of previous preliminary design for signalising the junction are being undertaken by the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) group. This follows a recent traffic flow study and precedes a preliminary cost estimate being prepared.

Chilworth - Southampton Cycles £120,000 EF, £30,000 LTP

3.6 Following a feasibility study carried out in 2002, a new shared cycle scheme was identified commencing at the Chilworth Science Park and following a route off road on the western side of the A27 Chilworth Road to connect with the existing cycle route at the Southampton City Council border. Following the accumulation of contributions from the various Science Park developments, and in support of the Science Park Work Travel Plan, it has now been possible to progress this scheme to the preliminary design stage which is programmed to complete in March 2005. Early consultation with residents on both sides of this road in the form of a public consultation document and questionnaire delivered to each property outlining the proposed scheme, indicate that the majority of residents returning the form are in favour of the scheme.

Andover Cycles, Eastern Avenue £150,000 LTP £50,000 EF

3.7 In 2002 a feasibility study was undertaken on behalf of Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council to identify the most suitable routes for six prioritised cycling schemes within Andover. A total of 36 cycle routes were identified by the County Council and incorporated within the Local Transport Plan. The routes were then presented to the former Andover Transportation Strategy Members' Panel where six schemes were prioritised. Eastern Avenue is identified as Scheme 2 on the priority list and has links to various important areas in the town centre and surrounding areas connecting with other cycle links currently under construction to form part of a circuitous route. In the same year Test Valley Borough Council developed a Test Valley Borough Local Plan Review which developed a Cycle Strategy and Network beyond 2000 which was updated. This scheme forms a further part of the Andover Cycles and Pedestrians routes and a project inception meeting will shortly take place to agree the project brief to take this scheme to the preliminary and detailed design stage.

A343 Newbury Road, Andover - Pedestrian Facilities £375,000 EF

3.8 The scheme, which is also mentioned in the report at Item 10, comprises a new Puffin crossing immediately north of Enham Arch to serve the footpath which runs parallel to the railway line, together with other measures to improve conditions for pedestrians on the section of Newbury Road between the Arch and the Smannell Lane Roundabout. This proposed crossing will benefit pedestrians, giving particular consideration to older persons and the disabled by means of detectors to control crossing activity whilst maintaining traffic flows.

Nursling and Rownhams Traffic Management Scheme £50,000 LTP

3.9 A detailed design for this scheme is being finalised. The gateway feature section on Rownhams Lane close to Routs Way is to be incorporated in the construction of The Rownhams - North Baddesley Cycle way, where site clearance has already commenced. The remainder of the scheme is planned for completion later in 2005.

Recommendation

That Members note the progress with the schemes in the Transport Capital Programme and support the schemes for inclusion in the Capital Programme for 2005/06.

165/BA

2004/2005 CAPITAL PROGRAMME

APPENDIX

TEST VALLEY AREA

2005/2006 CAPITAL PROGRAMME

TEST VALLEY AREA