Contact: Paul Turner, ext 6978 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the Executive Member for Policy and Resources approves the attached Project Appraisal to carry out the A33/Ringway and Popley Way junction improvements at an estimated cost of £3.7 million:

(i) installation of traffic signals on all six arms of the roundabout with additional carriageway widening;

(ii) provision of a bus lane on the Ringway Interchange;

(iii) introduction of traffic signals on the interchange from Norn Hill;

(iv) provision of a segregated cycle route alongside the A33 between Norn Hill and Popley Way; and

(v) alteration of the A33/Popley Way junction to allow all turning movements under traffic signal control.

2. Reason

2.1 This decision supports the following aims of the Corporate Strategy:

(i) Aim 2 (Stewardship of the Environment) by encouraging sustainable transport initiatives;

(ii) Aim 3 (Achieving Economic Prosperity) by managing traffic delays at the junctions to optimise the efficient movement of vehicles;

(iii) Aim 4 (Building Strong and Safe Communities) by providing safe and convenient access for local people; and

(iv) Aim 5 (Improving Services) by improving road safety for all road users.

2.2 The safety target within Local Transport Plan 2 is to reduce the most serious road casualties by 40% by 2010 from their mid-1990s levels, together with a further 30% reduction by 2010 from a new 2000-04 baseline, and a 10% reduction in the number of slight casualties from the five year 2000-04 average baseline to 2010.

2.3 Traffic signal control at the Ringway Interchange will allow safer and managed vehicular movement, which should reduce significantly the turning conflicts and can reasonably be assumed to reduce the number of incidents by as much as half. A halving of the 43 collisions recorded over the last three years could also therefore be expected to save the public purse an estimated £1.3 million in associated accident costs to the community over the subsequent three years, as based upon the Department for Transport Highways Economic Note 1 (December 2004).

2.4 The Executive Member for Environment: North Hampshire and Spatial Strategy recommends this proposal.

2.5 On 13 October 2005 the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel recommended this proposal.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 The size of the existing roundabout and the constraints of two bridges over the A339 Ringway preclude major reconstruction. The feasibility of traffic management measures not involving signal control was investigated and rejected as the accident reduction benefits and vulnerable user facilities could not be achieved. Bus priority at the signals is not considered suitable as it would disrupt the progression of the general traffic flow.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member Consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: ...................................... Date: ...............................

Councillor T K Thornber

363/PST Decn