Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Executive Decision Record

1. The decision:

a) That the Project Appraisal to implement Phase 2 of the M27 Junction 5 Improvement Scheme (A335 Wide Lane into Eastbound On-Slip), at an estimated cost of £3.13 million, be approved, subject to the full funding being assembled.

2. Reasons for the decision:

2.1. The M27 Junction 5 currently experiences significant peak-hour delays that have a direct effect upon accessibility in the area, particularly in relation to Southampton International Airport and Southampton (Airport) Parkway Station, as well as Eastleigh town centre. Delays at the junction also have safety implications in terms of the effective operation of the motorway mainline and its off-slips, and in particular the westbound off-slip, which regularly has peak-hour queues of over 200 metres. The situation at Junction 5 is being compounded by incremental additional traffic growth associated with piecemeal developments in the area and will be further compounded by forthcoming allocated and planned growth.

2.2. Improvements are essential in order to manage the traffic at Junction 5 in a more effective way. Phase 2 of the scheme will implement improvements to the A335 Wide Lane and Eastbound on-slip only. The construction work for Phase 1 (Westbound off-slip into A335 Stoneham Way) is commenced in October 2009. Phase 3, the final section of the overall scheme, will be implemented as soon as funding can be secured.

2.3. The policy justification for improvements to Junction 5 stem from the growth objectives of the South East Plan (SEP). In addition, the scheme will assist in furthering the strategic development proposals of the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) region.

3. Other options considered and rejected:

3.1. Option 1: An alternative long-term solution involving a three-tier grade separated junction and an east-to-west flyover was considered as part of the early scheme development.

a) Risk Assessment: An east-to-west flyover was inconsistent with surrounding motorway infrastructure and was identified as a possible longer-term solution, subject to further work regarding the requirements of the surrounding motorway network and associated junction strategy. The proposed scheme is identified as an interim solution that will not compromise the future deliverability of a more complex and expensive longer-term solution once a wider network improvement strategy has been developed.

3.2. Option 2: An option to deliver all three phases of the currently proposed scheme as a single scheme was considered.

a) Risk Assessment: Funding for the scheme is reliant on developer contributions and successful bids for regional funding through various bodies. The overall cost of the entire scheme is in excess of £8 million, which could not be secured in total from funding bids at this time.

4. Conflicts of interest:

4.1. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker: none.

4.2. Conflicts of interest declared by other Executive Members consulted: none.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee: none.

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent: not applicable.

7. Statement from the Decision Maker: