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9.3.21 Strategy Element
A12 and A120 Route Management Strategy
| 9.3.21 | Strategy Element | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Action: | Investigate Active Traffic Management and Driver Information | ||
| Priority: | Medium | Ref: | 7A |
| Initiation: | The A12 is subject to severe congestion when incidentssuch as accidents occur, as suitable alternative routes are very limited. There iscurrently no effective method of getting news of delays to approaching drivers intime to allow suitable alternative routes to be used for drivers to rescheduletheir journeys. A real time information system is required. Drivers frequently drive at inappropriate speeds for conditions ahead, such asfog, breakdowns, accidents and roadworks. This problem is exacerbated as the A12was not built to current design standards and has some tight radius curves.Resources for police enforcement of speed limits are limited. | ||
| Action description: | The active management of traffic, through closemonitoring with cameras and vehicle detector loops, variable speed limits andmessage signs, etc is considered particularly appropriate along the A12 fromthe M25 to A120 Colchester. North of the A120 Crown Interchange traffic flows are less and any benefitswould have to be carefully balanced against the environmental affects of thenecessary hardware, such as sign gantries, in the countryside which includesthe Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. | ||
| Objective(s) met: | This proposal contributes to many objectives,environment OE5 and 6, safety OS1 to 4, and economy OC2 to 4. | ||
| Benefits: | Accident rates and particularly their severitywill be reduced with the enforcement of appropriate speeds for the conditions. Variable speed limits will reduce the breakdown of traffic flow and, henceimprove journey time reliability. Drivers will benefit by being given alternatives to being stuck in queuingtraffic caused by incidents. | ||
| Timescale: | Active traffic management and increased driverinformation will be investigated along this length once trials on other partsof the trunk road network, eg M25 variable speed limits have been completedand the MMS has reported. | ||
