Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE

5 OCTOBER 2006

BRIEFING PAPER BY DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT

MOTORWAY DIVERSION ROUTES

1. Background

1.1 Members will be aware of the traffic difficulties that arise when a section of a motorway is closed for an incident. As well as long delays for those stuck on the motorway, traffic is also diverted onto the County's road network, sometimes in a planned way but often in an ad-hoc way. The Government has set targets for the Highways Agency to reduce delays on the motorway network and one way the Highways Agency is dealing with this is by establishing `diversion routes' for when the motorway becomes blocked by a traffic incident. The Highways Agency is currently reviewing what `diversion routes' might be established to alleviate incidents on the motorway network and has indicated that it has a budget to provide any necessary works to help the operation of the diversion routes. It has asked the County Council to agree routes and identify any works needed.

2. Key Scrutiny Issues

2.1 In this context the Committee may wish to consider whether scrutiny should be applied to identify the approach that would best achieve the Highways Agency objective while minimising the impact on local communities.

3. Suggested Approach

3.1 Members consider whether this issue should be added to the PRC work programme as an urgent priority (otherwise the Highways Agency is likely to have implemented its plans and allocated funds), and the best means for taking this forward.

C81691/AQ/SJ

September 2006