Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT: NORTH HAMPSHIRE AND SPATIAL STRATEGY

ITEM 2

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

A31 LYMINGTON BOTTOM, FOUR MARKS - JUNCTION IMPROVEMENTS

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

OCTOBER 2005

COMPLETION DATE:

DECEMBER 2005

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2005/06

1.

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

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at 2005

(at 2005

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

nil

Construction

87

87

Fees

23

23

110

110

Less developers/

10

10

other contributions

100

100

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme 2005/06

100

(b) Developer contribution (

10

110

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

110

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

11

0.009

TOTAL net expenditure

12

0.010

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.8

The A31 in Four Marks was formerly a trunk road and hence designed for capacities higher than those realised today. The construction of the M3 has attracted some of the traffic on this route and so reduced the amount of capacity needed at the moment. The junction of the A31 with Lymington Bottom is a staggered, four-way junction (crossroads). The A31 at the junction is now much wider than it needs to be for current traffic volumes, with a wide single two-way section and a short section of dual carriageway. The junction is also at the bottom of a dip. The combination of high carriageway widths, the topography and the open nature of the junction has resulted in excessive vehicle speeds through the junction. This is exacerbated by people occasionally using the outside lanes for overtaking.

The carriageway widths at these crossing points are 18.35 metres for the Winchester-bound bus stop and 16 metres for the Alton-bound bus stop. Speed surveys from August 2004 showed 85%ile speeds of 46 miles per hour (mph) and 45 mph respectively (12 hour peak speeds) for these locations. The speed limit is 40 mph. Between the hours of 7 am and 9 am there are approximately 600 vehicles per hour travelling through the junction on the A31. In the afternoon, between 4 pm and 6 pm, the number is around 500 per hour. The nature of the junction layout does not restrict drivers from overtaking. There are two lanes on each side of the carriageway. The outside lane on each side is a right-turn lane. However, there are no physical restrictions that prevent the right-turn lane being used as a second through lane.

The potential dangers of the A31/Lymington Bottom junction have been explicitly mentioned in the School Travel Plan for Four Marks Primary School as a reason why so many parents do not let their children walk to the school. The Travel Plan states that nearly one-third of children attending the school live to the north of the A31 (the school is located to the south). The school sees better crossing facilities on the A31 as important in meeting the potential for more children to walk to school instead of being driven by car. Improved crossing facilities at this junction is a specific action in the school's travel plan.

The junction is also the focal point for two bus stops, which are used by 80-85 secondary age school children travelling to and from Perins Secondary School in Alresford - requiring a daily crossing of the junction. The junction does not include any formal or informal crossing features. Observations of the site have shown that the current pedestrian desire lines cross the A31 at this location to access the bus stops. Perins Secondary School does have a completed School Travel Plan, however it does not include any specific issues the school may have with this junction. The proposals outlined here are targeted specifically at Four Marks Primary School in direct response to its travel plan, and the serious accident involving a child in 2004.

This proposal will also complement the Safer Routes to School (SRTS) scheme being undertaken in 2005/06 in the vicinity of Four Marks Primary School. The SRTS scheme involves measures consistent with the travel plan and includes new signing, white lining, footway improvements and `wig wag' warning signs.

In the period November 2001 to November 2004 there were three personal injury accidents at the junction. Of these, one was a serious injury to a child crossing the junction and being hit by a car. The other two accidents were vehicles hitting other vehicles and resulted in minor injuries for the occupants.

The Alton-bound bus stop is a concrete-structured, cantilever design with no windows. The narrowness of the footway at this location, coupled with a tall and overgrown hedge at the rear of the footway, creates the effect of a dark `tunnel' through which any pedestrians have to walk to get past the bus stop.

Four Marks Parish Council has been lobbying for the proposed improvements for several years, quoting many of the issues described above in its correspondence.

Targets and Outcomes

2.9

2.10

2.11

The principal objective for the scheme is to bring about a reduction in speed through the junction to comply with the 40 mph limit. Six locations through the junction were used for the August 2004 speed survey. There is a target speed reduction of 4 mph, which will be assessed by monitoring the same locations after completion to determine the impact of the modifications. This should provide a contribution towards road safety improvements.

This scheme will also contribute to the provisional LTP target for mode share of journeys to school for ages 5-10 years (1% reduction to car journeys to school by 2010). This target applies to those children attending the Four Marks Primary School who can contribute to reducing the proportion of school journeys made by car (alone) from 31% to 30% by 2010/11.

The other prime method for determining the success of the scheme will be to survey the parents of Four Marks Primary School to determine if the junction is perceived to be safer once the modifications are implemented. This will be done via the Safer Routes to School team as part of its routine monitoring of School Travel Plan effectiveness.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

3.1

This scheme improves conditions for pedestrian safety by better vehicle speed management and the addition of new crossing facilities. This will facilitate more journeys by foot or bicycle, thus supporting the policies of the LTP, which has been developed to meet national transportation needs.

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

3.8

3.9

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

The existing right-hand turn lanes/dual carriageway central reservation will be re-shaped and widened, resulting in single lane dualling. The existing islands on the outside of the central island will also be substantially widened. The carriageway width will remain suitable for the type of vehicle using the road and the speed limit.

The new islands will incorporate dropped kerb crossing points with tactile paving, which will be matched by dropped kerb crossing points on the existing footways on each side of the A31.

The carriageway narrowing will continue on the Winchester-bound side of the A31 in the form of a kerb line extension into the carriageway at the mouth of the bus stop lay-by.

Due to the new island being constructed on the Winchester side of the junction, the kerb-line into Lymington Bottom will be cut back to allow large vehicles to turn off the A31 into Lymington Bottom.

Both existing concrete bus shelters at the junction will be replaced with a new, metal framed structure with polycarbonate panels on the upper half. The hedge behind the shelter on the Alton-bound side of the carriageway will be trimmed back to give a greater usable footway width.

Several of the existing bollards at the junction will need to be relocated as part of the works. No lamp columns to be moved, replaced or upgraded.

The white lining on the carriageway will be modified to guide drivers through the new junction layout. This includes new right-turn direction arrows and new centre hatching from the islands towards Alton. Centre hatching from the islands towards Winchester already exists.

A location plan is attached.

Environmental Impact

3.10

There is no direct environmental impact from this proposal but it does promote and encourage sustainable travel.

Land Requirements

3.11

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

Statutory Procedures

3.12

No statutory procedures were required for this scheme.

Public Consultation

3.13

Consultation with the Parish Council, local councillors and stakeholders was undertaken during the detailed design process; all support the scheme proposals. Advanced notice of construction will be provided through the Four Marks Parish Council's Magazine and a press statement issued through the County Council Press Office.

Local Member's View

3.14

The local Member, Councillor Kemp-Gee, supports the scheme.

Impact Assessments

3.15

The scheme is not considered to compromise equalities in terms of race, creed or gender. It will enhance safety and accessibility at the junction, especially for pedestrians and cyclists.

Maintenance Implications

3.16

3.17

The fiscal implications for the County Council's maintenance budget are shown in section 1 of this report.

Maintenance responsibility for the two replacement bus shelters will continue to be with East Hampshire District Council. The scheme budget includes a commuted sum for new maintenance costs to be made to the District Council.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

3.18

The scheme will have a positive impact on crime and disorder. The existing bus stop on the Alton-bound carriageway has no windows and, coupled with the overgrown hedge at the back of the footway, creates a dark `tunnel' through which all pedestrians have to walk, unless they take to the road. Changing to a metal-framed structure with polycarbonate, vandal-resistant panels will increase the amount of light on the footway behind the bus stop and hence improve people's perception of personal security.

Sustainability

3.19

3.20

The scheme promotes walking as an alternative mode of transport by improving safety and the perception of safety at the junction - especially for parents of primary age schoolchildren who are currently being taken to Four Mark Primary School by car.

Recycled materials will be used for the construction of the scheme wherever practicable.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

4.1

The option of a roundabout was considered early in the design process, due to its speed management capabilities. This junction is one of the highest points in Hampshire and as such has experienced severe weather in the winter. In order to afford vehicles the maximum opportunity to reach the top of the hills on both sides of the junction during severe snow falls, a roundabout was discounted as it would force all vehicles to slow dramatically and deviate off the optimum path up the hills. A roundabout would also not provide the pedestrian crossing points that the final design does.

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

A31/Lymington Bottom, Four Marks, East Hampshire Junction Improvements

Environment Department