Highways Agency

• Executive summary
• 1 introduction
• 2 route description
• 3 policy objectives
• 4 route functions
• 5 land use & development control statement
• 6 route issues and performance
• 7 route outcomes
• 8 strategy impact statement

2 route description

2 Route Description

2.1 Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the A49 between Ross-on-Wye and Shrewsbury including location plans indicating key features and constraints along the route. The route description has been undertaken in route sections, each section defined by its character and form. Figures 2.1 to 2.6 show key features and constraints along the route, the numbers on the plans relate to the environmental constraints listed in table 2.1 below.

2.2 Section 1: Ross-on-Wye to Hereford

2.2.1 The first section of the A49 runs between the Wilton Roundabout (A40/A49) and the southern approach into Hereford. It is approximately 19 km long and is subject to the national speed limit of 60mph, with the only exception being through the villages of Peterstow and Harewood End, where the speed limit is 40mph. It is rural in character, apart from the approach to Hereford, which is suburban.

2.2.2 It is a 2 lane single carriageway, and there is a two-way uphill crawler lane facility on Callow Hill, There are no other guaranteed overtaking opportunities in this partof the route. The alignment of the route is twisting with numerous junctions. Of particular note is the section from Wilton Roundabout through to Much Birch, which has limited verges and is enclosed by hedges and trees reducing forward visibility.

2.2.3 There have been 153 Personal Injury Collisions resulting in 195 casualties duringthe period 01/06/1997 to 31/05/2002, with a severity ratio of 0.25 (severity ratio is the ratio of fatal and serious collisions to total number of collisions). When compared to the national severity ratio of 0.22, it can be seen that this section of the A49 is above the national average.

2.2.4 Locations where five or more personal injury collisions occurred are Poolmill Junction (6 Slight, 2 Serious), Winters Cross Junction north of Peterstow (7 Slight), the A4137 junction north of Pengethley (6 Slight), Llandinabo Farm, (2 Serious, 3 Slight), Whitewell House south of The Cleaver (2 Serious, 3 Slight), Much Birch Crossroads (1 Fatal, 1 Serious, 3 Slight), the corner south of King's Thorn (1 Fatal, 4 Slight) and the Callow Hill junction south of Callow (4 Serious, 4 Slight).

2.2.5 This section of the route does not suffer from congestion. Two Way AADT traffic flows are in the region of 11,500, with AM peak hour flows in the region of 900 vehicles and PM peak flows around 870, of which twenty per cent of vehicles are HGV's.

2.2.6 Public transport facilities consist of a number of bus stops and lay-bys in each direction. Northbound there are 3 type A lay-bys, one located at The Cleaver, and two at Callow Hill. Southbound there are two type A lay-bys at Callow Hill, and 2 type B lay-bys one at Pengethley and one at Portway. There are no controlled pedestrian/cycling crossing facilities. There are junctions with 2 A classification roads and 2 B classification roads, including the A4137 and the A466 north of King's Thorn.

2.2.7 There are a number of environmental constraints, comprising 7 Listed Buildings, 1Conservation Area, 1 Area of Great Landscape Value and 1 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The locations of these are shown on Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.7 The settlement of Harewood End

2.3 Section 2: Hereford City

2.3.1 The second section of the A49 runs between the location where the A49 crosses the railway line to the south of Hereford, near to Red Hill. The junction with the A4103 forms the northern boundary of this section. It is approximately 5 km long and subject to a 30mph speed limit throughout. The route is urban in character.

2.3.2 The alignment of the route is that of an urban environment with several junction forms. Signal controlled junctions and roundabouts are present between the major roads through the City. The majority of the busier section of the A49 is dual carriageway (Holme Lacy Road to Newtown Road), with the A49 through the outskirts of the City being a single 2 lane carriageway route.

2.3.3 There have been 172 Personal Injury Collisions resulting in 187 casualties during the period 1/06/1997 to 31/05/2002 with a severity ratio of 0.13. When is compared to the national severity ratio of 0.12, it can be seen that this section of the route is above the national average.

2.3.4 Locations where ten or more personal injury collisions occurred are Holme Lacy Road junction (10 Slight), Belmont Road Roundabout (12 Slight), Greyfriars Bridge (2 Serious, 17 Slight), Barton Road (3 Serious, 11 Slight), and Newmarket Street Roundabout (1 Serious, 9 Slight). 10 personal injury collisions is taken as the measure in consideration of this section of the route, because this section is urban in character.

2.3.5 This section of the route suffers from congestion at some times. Two way AADT traffic flows are 32,700 with peak hour flows in the region of 3,180 vehicles. Approximately nine per cent of the traffic flows are HGV's.

2.3.6 Public transport facilities consist of three bus lay-bys; one northbound and one southbound at Redhill, and one northbound approaching Belmont Road A465 roundabout to the south of Greyfriars Bridge.. There is also a Bus Station and a Railway Station but neither has direct access onto the A49.

2.3.7 There are a number of signalised pedestrian crossing facilities within Hereford anda few uncontrolled pedestrian facilities along with subways in the town centre. There are 3 A classification roads and 2 B classification roads which form junctions with the A49, including the A4103 and the A438. There are no lay-bys.

2.3.8 There are a number of environmental constraints, comprising 3 Scheduled Ancient Monuments, 6 Listed Buildings, 2 Conservation Areas and 1 Site of Special Scientific Interest. These are shown in figure 2.2, on page 8.

2.4 Section 3: Hereford to Leominster

2.4.1 This section of the A49 runs between the A4103 Starting Gate Roundabout on the northern approach into Hereford and the roundabout of the A49 with the A44 to the east of Leominster Bypass. It is approximately 18 km long and predominantly a two lane single carriageway. It is subject to a 60 mph speed limit, apart from the dual carriageway north of Wellington which has a 70 mph speed limit.

2.4.2 It is generally rural passing through and near to a number of small villages.and generally straight, apart from the bendy section through Dinmore Hill. It includes the only stretch of dual carriageway along the route, the short section near Wellington. Opportunity for overtaking also exists at Dinmore Hill, due to the crawler lane. There are a number of minor accesses along this section in addition to the 3 main A class roads, including the A417 north of Hope under Dinmore, and the A44 junction with Leominster bypass.

Figure 2.8 Dual Carriageway, near Wellington

2.4.3 There have been 129 Personal Injury Collisions resulting in 248 casualties duringthe period 1/06/1997 to 31/05/2002, with a severity ratio of 0.29. When compared to the national severity ratio of 0.22, it can be seen that this section of the route is above the national average.

2.4.4 Locations where five or more personal injury personal injury collisions occurred between 1/06/97 and 31/05/02 are Moreton on Lugg (1 Serious, 4 Slight), south of Wellington Marsh (5 Slight), the A417 north of Hope under Dinmore (3 Serious, 12 Slight), Wharton Court (2 Serious, 4 Slight) and the A44 Leominster (3 Serious, 6 Slight).

2.4.5 This section does not suffer from congestion. Two way AADT traffic flows are 12,000, with AM peak hour flows in the region of 975 vehicles and in the PM peak hour flows in the region of 1100 vehicles. Twenty per cent of vehicles are HGV's.

2.4.6 Public transport facilities within this section consist of a number of bus stops andlay-bys in each direction. The bus stops are located north and southbound in the settlements including Pipe and Lyde, Wellington and Hope under Dinmore. Also within this section is Leominster Rail Station although it does not have direct access onto the A49.

2.4.7 There are no controlled pedestrian or cycle crossing facilities but there are limited cycling route facilities, with Hope under Dinmore having a short section of cyclepath. There are junctions with 3 A classification roads and 1 B classification road.

2.4.8 Northbound there are 3 type A lay-bys, one located near Morton on Lugg, one near Burghope and one near Hope under Dinmore, with 2 type B lay-bys, located near Wharton. Southbound there are 2 type A lay-bys, one located at Hope under Dinmore and one at Burghope, and 6 type B lay-bys, one at Eaton, one at Marlbrook, two at Hope under Dinmore, one at Burghope and one at Wellington Marsh.

2.4.9 There are a number of environmental constraints, comprising 5 Listed Buildings, 2Conservation Areas and 4 Sites of Special Scientific Interest. These are shown in figure 2.3 on page 9.

2.5 Section 4: Leominster to Ludlow

2.5.1 This section of the A49 runs between the roundabout of the A49 with the A44 at the northern end of the Leominster Bypass to the Rail Bridge to the north of Ludlow on the Bypass near to the junction with the B4361. It is approximately 20 km long, rural in character, and is subject to the national speed limit of 60mph.

2.5.2 The alignment of the route is generally rural passing through and near to a numberof small villages. In this area it has a narrow and twisty alignment, and there are no guaranteed overtaking opportunities. Within this section is Berrington Park.

Figure 2.9 Berrington Park

2.5.3 There have been 86 Personal Injury Collisions resulting in 132 casualties during theperiod 1/06/1997 to 31/05/2002, with a severity ratio of 0.31. When compared to the national severity ratio of 0.22,, it can be seen that this is above the national average.

2.5.4 Locations where five or more personal injury collisions occurred are the B4361 to Overton (1 fatal, 1 serious and 5 slight) and Bromfield (5 slight).

2.5.5 This section of the route does not suffer from congestion. Two way AADT traffic flows are 9,000, with peak hour flows in the region of 680 vehicles in the AM and around 800 vehicles in the PM peak. Twenty per cent of vehicles are HGV's.

2.5.6 Public transport facilities consist of one bus lay-by southbound in Ashford Bowdler, and Ludlow Rail Station, although the station does not have direct access onto the A49. There is a section of off-road segregated cycle path between Leominster and Stockton Cross, but no controlled cycle crossing facilities. There are no controlled pedestrian crossing facilities, however, there are two uncontrolled crossing facilities, north and south of Woofferton crossroads. Along this section there are 3 A classification roads and 3 B classification roads, including the A456 which joins the A49 at Woofferton crossroads, and the A4117 whichforms a junction with the A49 at Ludlow bypass.

2.5.7 Northbound there are 3 type A lay-bys, one located north of Stockton Cross, onenorth of Ashton and one in Ludlow. There are 4 type B lay-bys, one located in Woofferton, 2 in Ashford Bowdler, and one south of Steventon. Southbound there are 2 type A lay-bys, one located at Ashford Bowdler, and one near Ashton, and 3 type B lay-bys, one at Ludlow, one near Steventon and one near Woofferton.

2.5.8 There are a number of environmental constraints, comprising 1 Park and Gardens of Special Historic Interest, 16 Listed Buildings and 2 Conservation Areas. These are shown in figure 2.4, on page 10.

2.6 Section 5: Ludlow to Church Stretton

2.6.1 This section of the A49 runs between the Rail Bridge with the B4371 to the north of Ludlow on the Bypass near to the B4361 junction, and the Traffic Signals at Church Stretton with the B4371. It is approximately 22 km long and is primarily subject to the national speed limit of 60mph, with the exception of Craven Arms and Church Stretton. In Craven Arms there is a speed limit of 30mph. In Church Stretton the speed limit is 40mph with 30mph through the traffic lights. The section of the route is rural in character, apart from the section through Craven Arms which is urban. It is twisty in nature such as through Marshbrook and there are no guaranteed overtaking opportunities.

2.6.2 Traffic calming has been implemented in Craven Arms, and in Church Stretton.

Figure 2.10 Uncontrolled pedestrian crossing facility in Craven Arms,


Figure 2.11 Marshbrook


Figure 2.12 Onibury Level Crossing

2.6.3 There have been 100 Personal Injury Collisions resulting in 171 casualties during the period 1/06/1997 to 31/05/2002, with a severity ratio of 0.18. When compared to the national severity ratio of 0.22 for this type of road it can be seen that this is below the national average.

2.6.4 Locations where five or more personal injury personal injury collisions occurred are the B4368 Craven Arms (7 Slight), south of Little Stretton (1 Fatal, 1 Serious, 4 Slight), and Church Stretton (7 Slight).

2.6.5 It does not suffer from congestion. Two way AADT traffic flows are 10,500 with both AM and PM peak hour flows in the region of 1,000 vehicles. Twenty per cent of vehicles are HGV's.

2.6.6 There are junctions with 1 A classification road and 4 B classification roads, including the A489 north of Craven Arms.

2.6.7 There are railway stations at Craven Arms and Church Stretton. Other public transport facilities consist of a number of bus stops and lay-bys in each direction. There are crossing facilities at Craven Arms and Church Stretton and a signalised pedestrian phase on the traffic signal junction in Church Stretton. Craven Arms has dropped kerbs and central refuges as provision for pedestrians to cross. Church Stretton has limited cycling facilities but there is no cycle path provision.

2.6.8 Northbound there is one type A lay-by, located at Upper Affcot, and four type B lay-bys, one located south of Wootton, one near Craven Arms, one south and one north of Little Stretton. Southbound there are five type B lay-bys, one north of Church Stretton, one at Little Stretton, two at Upper Affcot and one south of Wootton.

2.6.9 There are a number of environmental constraints, comprising 1 Regional Important Geological Site, 1 Park and Gardens of Special Historic Interest, 1 Scheduled Ancient Monument, 25 Listed Buildings, 5 Conservation Areas, 1 Site of Special Scientific Interest and 2 Areas of Outstanding National Beauty. These are shown in figure 2.5 on page 11.

2.7 Section 6: Church Stretton to Shrewsbury

2.7.1 This section of the A49 runs between the Traffic Signals at Church Stretton withthe B4371 and Bailey's Roundabout A5/A49 junction. It is approximately 17 km long and is mostly subject to the national speed limit of 60mph, although there is a section to the south of Leebotwood which has a 50mph limit in place. The village of Leebotwood itself is subject to a 40mph limit and Dorrington & Bayston Hill have speed limits of 30mph. There is an overtaking opportunity north of Bayston Hill on the approach to the A5 roundabout; however this is only available when long queues are absent.

2.7.2 It is rural in character, and its alignment is bendy, with hedges enclosing parts ofthe route.

Figure 2.13 Bayston Hill

Figure 2.14 Dorrington

2.7.3 There have been 89 Personal Injury Collisions resulting in 155 casualties during theperiod 1/06/1997 to 31/05/2002, with a severity ratio of 0.25. When compared to the national severity ratio of 0.22, it can be seen that this section of the route is above the national average.

2.7.4 Locations where five or more personal injury collisions occurred are north of Dorrington (1 Serious, 9 Slight), and Stapleton Crossroads (2 Serious, 8 Slight).

2.7.5 This section of the route generally does not suffer from congestion, but the northbound approach to A5 roundabout does become congested during the am peak. Two-way AADT traffic flows are 10,000 with AM peak hour flows in the region of 820 vehicles and 915 vehicles in the PM peak hour. Twenty-two per cent of vehicles are HGV's.

2.7.6 Public transport facilities consist of a number of bus stops and lay-bys in eachdirection located in Leebotwood, Lognor, Dorrington and Bayston Hill. There is a railway station in Shrewsbury but it does not have direct access onto the A49. There are no controlled pedestrian or cycle crossing facilities, but there is a shared use segregated cycle path to the north of Bayston Hill. There are no junctions with A or B classification roads.

2.7.7 Northbound there is 1 type A lay-by, located at Micklewood, there are 2 type B lay-bys, located north of All Stretton and north of Leebotwood. Southbound there is 1 type A lay-by, located south of Bayston Hill, and 4 type B lay-bys, one near Micklewood, one north of Leebotwood, one south of Leebotwood and one north of All Stretton.

2.7.8 There are a number of environmental constraints, comprising 1 Scheduled Ancient Monument, 16 Listed Buildings and 1 Area of Outstanding National Beauty. These are shown in figure 2.6 on page 12.

2.8 Summary Table

2.8.1 Table 2.2 contains a summary of the main features along each of the six sections of the A49.