Highways Agency

• Introduction
• Route Management Strategy Overview
• Background
• Route functions
• Route objectives
• Strategy Overview
• Strategy Elements (Route Actions)
• 9.3.1 Strategy Element
• 9.3.10 Strategy Element
• 9.3.11 Strategy Element
• 9.3.12 Strategy Element
• 9.3.13 Strategy Element
• 9.3.14 Strategy Element
• 9.3.15 Strategy Element
• 9.3.16 Strategy Element
• 9.3.17 Strategy Element
• 9.3.18 Strategy Element
• 9.3.19 Strategy Element
• 9.3.2 Strategy Element
• 9.3.20 Strategy Element
• 9.3.21 Strategy Element
• 9.3.22 Strategy Element
• 9.3.23 Strategy Element
• 9.3.24 Strategy Element
• 9.3.25 Strategy Element
• 9.3.26 Strategy Element
• 9.3.27 Strategy Element
• 9.3.28 Strategy Element
• 9.3.29 Strategy Element
• 9.3.3 Strategy Element
• 9.3.30 Strategy Element
• 9.3.31 Strategy Element
• 9.3.32 Strategy Element
• 9.3.33 Strategy Element
• 9.3.34 Strategy Element
• 9.3.4 Strategy Element
• 9.3.5 Strategy Element
• 9.3.6 Strategy Element
• 9.3.7 Strategy Element
• 9.3.8 Strategy Element
• 9.3.9 Strategy Element
• Appendix A
• Section Details & Street Lighting Sheet 1 of 2
• Section Details & Street Lighting Sheet 2 of 2
• Appendix E
• Problem Identification Framework
• Route Performance Framework - (2001) Existing Solution
• Action Identification Framework
• Collated Study Data (2000)
• Appendix G
• Route management strategy overview
• Route management strategy study process

Strategy Elements (Route Actions)

A12 and A120 Route Management Strategy

9 Strategy Elements (Route Actions)

9.1

The initial consultations and workshops identified over 300 ideasfor overcoming the perceived problems along the route. Those whichare not matters for the Highways Agency or cannot be dealt with througha Route Management were identified and will be passed on to the relevantauthorities. Those which are relevant to a Route Management Strategy,either being solely the Highways Agency's responsibility or for whichother agencies would need to be involved with the Highways Agency, werethen prioritised. This full list of possible actions and how they havebeen dealt with is detailed in Appendix D.

9.2

From the list a range of measures was identified for further investigationthat were felt would best contribute to overcoming the problems along theroute and achieving the route objectives. Studies of these measures haveresulted in a prioritised list of actions which form the basis of theStrategy and its programme of works. The actions and the sections of roadto which they apply are summarised in the Action Identification Frameworkin Appendix E.

9.3

Details of strategy elements are summarised on the following pages.

9.4

Actions Not Included in This Initial Strategy

9.4.1

Some potential actions were investigated but not included in the Route ManagementStrategy at this stage, these follow.

9.4.2

Creation of High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

Experience has shown that to be successful High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (HOVL)need to be reasonably long in length, be on routes which carry substantial numbersof buses / coaches and be one element in a comprehensive package of measuresdesigned to deter car use. In the case of the A12 none of these conditions apply.The numbers of buses and coaches is low and High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes couldonly be considered along the three lane sections, which are all short lengths.They could be reconsidered in the future if there were proposals to widen the A12to dual three lanes, provided they were co-ordinated with other measures whichwould be the responsibility of the local authorities.

9.4.3

Creation of Bus Only Lanes

The low numbers of buses and coaches using the A12 make this an unrealisticproposal, certainly for the two lane sections, and the three lane sectionswould provide little benefit due to their short lengths even if numbers werehigh enough to warrant consideration. This should be reconsidered if numbersincreased or bus lanes were part of a comprehensive range of measures beingimplemented by local authorities.

9.4.4

Creation of HGV Only Lanes

9.4.5

Ban HGVs from Outside Lanes

It is acknowledged that HGVs can cause delay and frustration to other driverswhen overtaking on the two lane sections of the A12. They are however legitimateusers of the road, especially as the route serves the ports, and any proposals wouldcause other problems and be difficult to enforce.

9.5

Actions to be Addressed by Others

9.5.1

The consultations and studies undertaken as part of the Route ManagementStrategy study generated many ideas and issues which are not appropriate forinclusion in the Strategy. This is either because they are not matters overwhich the Highway Agency has any responsibility or they are matters whichneed to be considered and approved by others before they can be address bythe Highways Agency. For example major schemes costing over £5million needto be considered by the Regional Planning Bodies and programmed by the Departmentfor Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) before the HighwaysAgency takes on responsibility for their development.

9.5.2

The ideas, which vary from being sensible issues which deserve carefulconsideration to more radical ideas, are being passed onto the relevantbodies for their consideration. The issues have been categorised as follows:

• issues for the Multi-modal Study (MMS);
• government policy issues for consideration by the DTLR;
• regional planning issues;
• issues for Railtrack and the rail operating companies;
• issues for the bus operating companies;
• police issues and
• local authority issues.

9.5.3

The full list of ideas and issues under each category is included in Appendix F.