Better information for your journey
The National Traffic Control Centre collects real-time information on road conditions.
How We Manage Our Roads
In this section you can find out more about how we manage and maintain these roads and plan for the future
The Project Control Framework
On 1st April 2008 we launched the Project Control Framework. The Framework sets out how we, together with the Department for Transport, manage and deliver major improvement projects.
Traffic news on your desktop
Helpful ways to access the latest traffic information when you need it.
4 route functions
4 Route Functions
4.1 Introduction
4.1.1 This chapter outlines the purpose and impact functions that have been derived for the A49. These functions have been identified through consultation between the Highways Agency, Stakeholders and the Consultant.
4.2 How They Were Derived
4.2.1 The functions outlined in this chapter have been identified following a review of the types of journeys undertaken on the A49, the relationship between the A49 and other parts of the national and local road network, and regional land use development. These functions assist the identification of the issues.
4.3 General Functions of a Trunk Road
4.3.1 The Strategic Road Network operated by the Highways Agency comprises some 8244 kilometres of motorways and trunk roads (source Highways Agency Website October 2004), including the A49. The network carries a third of all road traffic in England, and two thirds of all freight traffic, with over 170 billion vehicle km of journeys undertaken each year. It provides a vital service to commerce and industry and has a huge impact on the lives of individuals and communities. The overarching functions of the Trunk Roads, as set out by the Highways Agency can be summarised as;
- To provide an efficient route;
- To provide reliable journey times;
- To provide safe transportation of people and goods;
- To be environmentally acceptable;
- To be part of an integrated transport system; and
- To support sustainable development.
4.4 List of A49 Functions
4.4.1 The functions for the route have been split into purpose functions and impactfunctions. Purpose Functions have been derived based on what the HighwaysAgency expects the route to do, whilst Impact Functions arise from the routescharacter. The Purpose Functions for the route are defined as follows:
(Strategic)
- F1 - A strategic link between South Wales and the Midlands via the English Trunk Road Network
(Regional)
- F2 - A regional spine: providing for north/south movements and connections to other routes within the region;
- F3 - Contributes to and facilitates economic activity, including farming and tourism, and regeneration aspirations;
- F4 - Provides a public transport route and opportunities for modal interchange;
(Local)
- F5 - A local road: providing access for local communities along and near the route to everyday facilities;
- F6 - Providing access to shopping, education, work, leisure and health facilities for motorised and non-motorised users of the route; and
- F7 - Providing access for local commercial, tourism and farming activities.
The Impact Functions for the route are defined as follows:
- Safety: Multiple junctions and communities result in conflicts with vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorised users. Limited overtaking opportunities;
- Environment: Part of a generally high quality rural landscape and is part of the local environment that people travel through and live alongside;
- Economy: Route standards do not assist regional economy;
- Accessibility: Introduces severance; and
- Integration: Shared corridor with bus and rail.
4.4.2 These functions also build on the policy objectives outlined in chapter 3. Sincethese functions have been derived originally based on the January 2000 RMS Guidance, they represent the current functions of the route; future functions have not been specifically outlined. However, future functions of the route are likely to remain the same as the current route functions of the A49, since no major developments have been identified which would be likely to impact on the performance of the A49. The Purpose Functions have been used to develop the Route Outcomes for the A49.
4.4.3 To comply with the May 2003 Version 2 RMS Guidance, the functions listed in paragraph 4.4.1 have been considered against the Government's 5 key objectives to identify factors that are currently affecting route performance. This review will enable poor performance to be identified, and the possible issues and causes of these issues to be examined. Any conflict between the functions has also been highlighted. The analysis of the performance of the existing route functions is contained in the following Table 4.1.
| Factor No. | Existing Route Functions | Factors Affecting Route Performance | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety | Economy | Environment | Accessibility | Integration | ||
| F1 | A strategic link between South Wales and the Midlands via the English Trunk RoadNetwork | Collision locations along the route can result in disruption to this function. Limited overtaking opportunities coupled with relatively high HGV flows of generally 20% and farm traffic can lead to disruption | Collision locations, limited overtaking opportunities, inconsistent signing, congestion and unreliable journey times can impact on the economic function | Settlements adjacent to the route affected by noise pollution, particularly dueto relatively high HGV flows | Collision locations, congestion, limited overtaking opportunities, inconsistent signing and unreliable journey times can impact on the accessibility function | No issues identified |
| F2 | A regional spine; providing for north/south movements and connections to otherroutes within the region | Collision locations along the route can result in disruption to this functionLimited overtaking opportunities coupled with HGV flows of generally 20% and farm traffic canlead to disruption | Collision locations, limited overtaking opportunities, inconsistent signing, congestion and unreliable journey times can impact on the economic function | Settlements adjacent to the route affected by noise pollution, particularly dueto HGV flows | Collision locations, congestion, limited overtaking opportunities, inconsistent signing and unreliable journey times can impact on the accessibility function | No issues identified |
| F3 | Contributes to and facilitates economic activity, including farming and tourism, and regeneration aspirations | Limited overtaking opportunities, collision locations along the route, including at junctions, can impact on this function Limited overtaking opportunities results in conflict between farm traffic and other vehicles | Collision locations, limited overtaking opportunities, inconsistent signing, congestion and unreliable journey times can impact on the economic function | Settlements adjacent to the route affected by noise pollution, particularly due to HGV flows Visual impact of the route and congestion through Hereford may impact on tourism | Collision locations, congestion, limited overtaking opportunities, inconsistent signing and unreliable journey times can impact on the accessibility function | No issues identified |
| F4 | Provides a public transport route and opportunities for modal interchange | Limited pedestrian access to some stops/shelters along the route impacts on this function | Improved signing of public transport facilities would improve this function | No issues identified | Limited pedestrian links to public transport facilities can impact on this function | Minimal integration of transport modes |
| F5 | A local road; providing access for local communities to everyday facilities | Limited controlled pedestrian/cycle crossing provision and public transport services, traffic speeds and flows through settlements, and HGV volumes of generally 20% can impact on the safety function | Traffic flows and congestion, as well as safety and collision locations affect local movements | Local commercial and farming activities result in noise pollution being experienced in settlements | Limited pedestrian links to public transport facilities can impact on thisfunction Limited provision for vulnerable users in many locations especially accessto facilities | Minimal public transport provision and integration of services |
| F6 | Providing access to shopping, education, work, leisure and health facilities formotorised and nonmotorised users of the route | Lack of controlled pedestrian/cycle crossing provision and public transport services, traffic speeds and flows through settlements, and HGV volumes of generally 20% can impact on the safety function | Limited overtaking opportunities, collision locations along the route including junctions, and traffic speeds through settlements can impact on this function | No issues identified | Limited provision for vulnerable users in many locations especially access to facilities | Minimal integration of transport modes |
| F7 | Providing access for local commercial, tourism and farming activities | Limited overtaking opportunities, collision locations along the route including junctions and speeds through settlements can impact on this function Limited overtaking opportunities results in conflict between farm traffic and other vehicles | Collision locations, the need to rationalise signing, inconsistent speed limitscan lead to disruption and inconsistent journey times | Drainage issues, noise and air pollution as well as the visual intrusiveness of the route impact on this function | Limited provision for vulnerable users in many locations especially access to facilities | Minimal integration of transport modes |
4.5 Discussion of Issues/Conflicts
4.5.1 The main issues that have been highlighted in the table include disruption as a result of collisions, congestion along the route and the inconsistency of standards and route infrastructure. There are currently limited overtaking opportunities along the route, which result in safety issues and unreliable journey times especially due to the HGV flows. Some of the settlements along the route are affected by noise pollution, and substantial traffic flows and speeds. Limited vulnerable user provision in some of the settlements leads to severance and safety issues. There is also limited integration of different transport modes along the route.
4.5.2 Function conflicts that have been highlighted during the assessment include that the rationalisation and improvement of the route may result in increased vehicles speeds. This may be of particular concern in settlements and where there is a potential conflict between vehicles and vulnerable users.
4.5.3 The function of the A49 as a strategic route for Wales and a Regional Spine Routeis evidenced by its use by HGVs. Due to the current limited overtaking opportunities this can lead to disruption, unreliable journey times and safety issues. As well as causing disruption, HGVs also have a negative impact on settlements along the route. The promotion of the route as a strategic route of economic importance therefore needs to be balanced with the needs of vulnerable users and communities along the route.
