Why #M6 toll owner has no reason to drop fees even if it is a ghost road @richardwestcott

So much for privatising the road network or encouraging private sector investment in it, now there are those who are calling for those small parts of the network not in public hands to be nationalised.

Today’s FT (page 2) reports a plea for the M6 Toll road to be returned to us and run on our behalf by the government or its agents, presumably the Highways Agency.

According to the paper, Geoff Inskip, chief executive of CENTRO, the West Midlands transport authority, is rightly warning that even with the utilisation of the hard shoulder, the existing M6 route through Birmingham will be even more heavily congested in the future as traffic is forecast to rise by a quarter in the next decade and a half.

He says this rise should be seen against a steady decline in the numbers of vehicles using the toll route, down from a peak of 55,000 a day in 2006 to around 30,000 now.

The operator of the M6 Toll, Macquarie, apportions much of the fall to the downturn in the economy and the associated general decrease in traffic. But this is not the whole story. Much is down to pricing.

To understand why, you only need look at this table from the M6T Research Study Modelling Report by AECOM which is dated 2009 but for some reason was published on the DfT website – along with several other related documents – today:

The figures seem to say it all. Even as you increase prices and traffic violume falls the revenue continues to go up, all the way to a toll of somewhere between £4.50 and £5.00. In the absence of a reason not to, why would an operator have any incentive in doing anything other than maximising revnue especially when – so one would suspect – your costs actually fall: fewer cars = lower running costs in terms of wear and tear, and staffing levels?

Things would be different in a regulated industry where there are limitations on price rises and an arbitrator (regulator) balances the needs of the consumers with the requirement of the companies to make a return. As and when we have more private sector investment in the road network ministers would do well to remember the importance of this role.

As for the M6 toll, don’t expect anything to change soon. While Macquarie apparently discusses with its lenders how to restructure its debt, the DfT says it has no plans to change the ownership status of the route; at least not until 2054 when the current concession ends.

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Empty red box. Chancellor fails to expand road investment. #budget2013

By Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation.

The Budget marks a sad end to a period of keen anticipation for those of us who recognise the vital importance of a reform that would deliver the road infrastructure needed to cope with growing population and economic recovery.

A year ago the Prime Minister recognised the problem and announced an aspiration for pension funds and sovereign wealth funds to step in and provide the necessary capital. Civil service reviews into national roads strategy and the feasibility of new funding and financing models were duly completed in the autumn. But in the Autumn Statement announcements were delayed until today’s Budget.

Except today there weren’t any.  The Budget confirmed that the government has no plans to reform Vehicle Excise Duty in the life of this Parliament. That essentially kicks the whole subject into touch.

So what are we left with? There is a possibility that a discussion document on road funding and financing may be published in the summer. There is a possibility that some of the new increased capital spending plans by £3 billion per annum might be for roads: but it does not start until 2015-16, there will be other pressing claims on it and it only amounts to a ten percent increase on current levels.

Meanwhile, there remains nothing for the private sector to invest in.  There are some welcome new government funds for maintenance and to relieve pinch points—but there is no proper roads strategy and no committed funding to go with one. We still await a National Policy Statement on roads and railways. We await a promised National Transport Policy. The crucial A14 languishes whilst  local controversy over tolls are resolved and a complex local funding packages is negotiated.

The Budget announces “a focus on delivery … an enhanced cadre of commercial specialists in Infrastructure UK who will be deployed into infrastructure projects across Government, and the establishment by the summer of tough new Infrastructure Capacity Plans to drive forward progress in key Government Departments…” So what has been going on over the last year?

It’s all vague talk. Without institutional reform, including some way to bring in new money nothing much is going to happen. Our road network will become less and less adequate for a growing, civilised county.

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The case for tow ropes – standard equipment for 4x4s? #snow @kent_cc

Here’s a suggestion for anyone buying a 4×4. If you are prepared to spend £25,000 (or whatever) on such a fancy bit of kit, how about spending £25 or so on a tow rope?

Yesterday the weather was appalling across Kent, the southern and eastern part at least, with heavy snow, serious drifting in high winds and bone chilling temperatures. The media reports over the past 24 hours have shown a catalogue of mayhem. It is sometimes tempting to think the media exaggerates conditions but my own experience suggests that in this case they have not.

Outside my house near Ashford, the road – a minor but busy route on a sharp hill running past the village primary school – was throwing up difficulties by late afternoon. The real problems started as people began heading home from work.

One car became stuck close to the brow of the hill causing several which were following it – too closely? – to halt behind it, unable to regain the traction to get past and blocked in from behind thus preventing reversal back down the slope.

I lent my (limited) assistance and by pushing managed to get a couple of the smaller vehicles going. A Land Rover (I think it was) turned up to try and help the car at the top of the slope but without a tow rope. I hurried off to try and secure one from a neighbour but by the time I got back, the Land Rover driver had thought better of waiting and had gone, taking the driver of the stuck car with them, but leaving the vehicle itself. Therefore we had an abandoned car creating a real obstacle at the top of the hill (it would be another four hours or so until it was successfully moved).

As the evening progressed more cars, going both up and down hill, became stuck on what was now sheet ice.

By this morning, the ice remained, as did two cars which had been stationary on the hill overnight, and the local school had closed because the headmaster – rightly in my view – had determined that it was unsafe for children to be delivered by vehicle (as many are given the large catchment area).

During earlier cold snaps this winter I thought that Kent County Council (headline on the front page of the website alongside a picture of a gritter: ‘We’re prepeared- are you?’) dealt well with the conditions, pre-treating roads and then ploughing them as the snow fell. I could not say that was the case this time round, at least from where I was standing. I understand the wind caused particular problems, particularly on exposed coastal routes like the A20, and that there are priority routes to maintain, but surely access to a school (which is only half a mile from a major A road) is one of them?

At least we should be grateful of one thing. Once again the weather has given us something to talk about.

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Will 2013 be the year we get a decision on the A14 upgrade?

There’s still no firm date for a decision on how the A14 will be upgraded – in particular the bit between Huntingdon and Cambridge – or where the money will come from but it is worth being reminded of the importance of the route for freight and also the extent of the disruption caused by accidents and incidents.

Last year every sixth vehicle using the route from the M1/M6 interchange to Felixtowe (the busiest container port in the UK) was an HGV. Yet at least one carriageway (either eastbound and/or westbound) was closed because of an accident on 27 occasions during 2011 – once every two weeks. There were a further twelve carriageway closures for maintenance and repairs.

Throw in the structural failings of the Huntingdon viaduct, the fact that the road is already operating at above capacity, and the large amount of local traffic joining and leaving the road and mingling with those travelling long distances, and the difficulties surrounding the route are easily apparent.

Perhaps 2013 will be the year when a way forward is finally decided.

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Road schemes listed in National Infrastructure Plan update. #AS2012

This is the summary of road schemes in the Autumn Statement as listed in the update of the National Infrastructure Plan:

2.5 The Government is committed to ensuring that the road network is fit for the UK’s future transport needs. The Government is investing £1.5 billion to enhance and improve the road network and reduce congestion. The Government will:
• invest £378 million to upgrade key sections of the A1 (Lobley Hill and Leeming to Barton) in the North East bringing the route from the M25 to Newcastle up to motorway standard;
• expand capacity through building a new link between the A5 and M1 in the East of England and dualling the A30 Temple to Carblake in the South West, an investment of £157 million;
• tackle congestion with £150 million of investment for improvement works to J30 of the M25 starting in 2015; and £10 million funded from within the departments existing budget on improvements works at Junction 12 of the M40 in the West Midlands, starting in 2013;
• provide £270 million for priority national and local projects to remove bottlenecks and support development;
• invest an additional £333 million in the essential maintenance of national and local road networks to renew, repair and extend the life of these roads;
• invest £42 million to develop the pipeline of potential Highways Agency road schemes for investment in the next Spending Review period; and
• make a £42 million investment in the Sustainable Transport Fund in cycling infrastructure, including cycling safety.

2.6 The Government is assessing the feasibility of new ownership and financing models for the strategic road network, and will report on progress by Budget 2013.

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#Potholes set to turn into voids, as money dries up. Bleak future on the roads predicted by @lgacomms

The LGA is talking of a crisis on a roads: literally a crumbling infrastructure which the government is not providing the money to adequately patch let alone replace.

As Councillor Peter Box, chairman of the LGA’s economy and Transport Board, puts it: “Keeping roads safe is one of the most important jobs councils do and over the past two years they have fixed almost four million potholes, one every 16 seconds. They’ve also reduced the cost of filling a pothole by 25% and are constantly looking for ways to make their dwindling funds go further.

“However, for decades Whitehall funding for repairs has not kept pace with demand. Damage caused by severe winters and widespread flooding has compounded this deterioration and councils are now contending with massive cuts to roads maintenance funding and millions of pounds in compensation payouts for pothole damage.”

The trouble is, the situation is set to get worse. Another report from the LGA earlier this year highlighted that the problem is not one of central government funds but also what councils are expected to spend the cash on. By the end of the decade councils’ obligations to provide social care – for the elderly and vulnerable young – and meet environmental commitments will have swollen. As things stand there will be next to no money for anything else. At all.

“Unless reform is introduced immediately the money available by 2020 to fund council services like road maintenance, libraries and leisure centres will have shrunk by 90 per cent in cash terms, a detailed financial projection by the Local Government Association reveals.”

Welcome to the future.

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Small print could save road expenditure from savage cuts at @BhamCityCouncil

There was grim news the other day from Birmingham City Council as it announced £600m of savings would have to be made between 2012 and 2017. This is likely to result in the workforce shrinking from 19,000 full-time employees to just 15,000.

The Council leader, Sir Albert Bore, said Birmingham would have to “start decommissioning services” and foresaw that the financial crisis would lead to “the end of local government as we have known it.”

Amongst all the bad news for city residents and council staff, a big question mark hangs over the future scope and scale of the road maintenance programme.

Birmingham is one of a small band of authorities that have contracted out their roads programme, in this case to Amey, in what are essentially PFI deals. The company’s website explains the scope of the project:

“Amey is responsible for improving and maintaining Birmingham Highways infrastructure, including 2,500km of road network, nearly 100,000 street lights and over 850 highway structures and bridges across the city. Additionally, we deliver a wider Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) element within the contract that aims to benefit the local community through various initiatives.

“The contract has a 25 year service delivery period which includes the improvement and repair of roads in Birmingham, maintenance of footways, bridges, street lighting and traffic signals along with the upkeep of street scenery, such as safety barriers, seats and trees.”

The key point lies at the start of the second paragraph. Amey has, presumably, a legally binding contract with the council to carry out the work for a quarter of a century. Which means that if it keeps its part of the bargain then the city has to keep paying up, no matter what other demands there are on its financial resources. On the one hand this would appear to be good news for road users – and the businesses which depend on a smooth running transport network – in the West Midlands, and there are positive reports from councillors about the success of the deal. But on the other hand it raises questions over the nature of long-term contracts in times of shrinking public budgets.

The RAC Foundation has long argued for more long-term certainty around road provision and management, and the government is considering introducing five-year funding and spending plans for the Highways Agency-managed roads, just as there is for railways (the High Level Output Specification and Statement of Funds Available). One of the reasons a broader horizon is needed is exactly to counter the hand to mouth existence created by varying political pressures now being seen in Birmingham. However if all services are outsourced on a contractual basis then where exactly do councils make cuts? Just one more thing to consider in tough times.

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New #dft #road schemes give astonishing BCR of around 15 to 1.

Money well spent. This is the latest list of improvements announced today by the dft under its pinch point programme. Gives an astonishing benefit cost ratio of around 15 to 1. Details from a department press release

The Highways Agency is to deliver 57 vital road improvements to boost the economy, reduce congestion and improve safety, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced today.

The £170 million investment is part of a £217 million programme to remove bottlenecks and keep traffic moving on England’s motorways and major A roads. The economic benefit of these 57 schemes is estimated at around £3 billion.

Many of the improvements will be delivered in 2013 and 2014, and they will all be completed by March 2015. Today’s announcement brings the total number of schemes to receive investment from the Government’s pinch point fund to 65. A third stage of projects will be announced next year.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:

“These £217 million road improvements prove the Government’s determination to accelerate growth and cut congestion.

“Keeping traffic moving is vital to securing prosperity. By removing bottlenecks and improving access to local enterprise zones, key international trading ports and communities, these road schemes will help get people to and from work and power the economy. They also have the potential to help deliver more than 300,000 new jobs and 150,000 new homes.”

The improvements include an £11 million scheme to widen and improve junction 4 of the M5 near Bromsgrove, with significant benefits for Longbridge, former home of the MG Rover manufacturing plant. It will support a local authority and local enterprise partnership development plan that aims to create around 10,000 jobs and 3,000 homes in the region.

At junction 5 of the M27, near Eastleigh, a £4.9m scheme will reduce congestion by widening approach roads and slips roads and providing a segregated left turn lane onto the M27 eastbound. This supports several local development plans, including Solent Enterprise Zone, Eastleigh Riverside, Southampton Airport and Southampton City Centre, with the potential to create around 12,000 jobs and 7,000 homes.

These improvement schemes form part of the Government’s growth initiative outlined during the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement in November 2011. Funds have been allocated to the Highways Agency to undertake focused improvements to the strategic road network.

Details of the schemes:

Yorkshire, Humber and the North East

M1 junction 41 improvement, Leeds (map ref. 2)
Reduce congestion by widening the A650 approaches to three lanes and creating three lanes on the overbridge. Improving traffic signals and signage.
Supports the Snowhill and other development, which are expected to create 3,800 new jobs and 395 homes by 2020.
Cost £2m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

M1 junction 33 Catcliffe Interchange, Sheffield (map ref. 3)
Reduce congestion by widening the exit slip roads to three lanes and creating three lanes on the overbridge as well as localised widening to some connecting roads and roundabouts.
Supports the planned new advanced manufacturing park, the Highfield commercial office campus, the Waverley new community and other community facilities. 4,517 jobs and 360 new homes predicted by 2020.
Cost £1.9m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

M1 junction 44 improvement, Leeds (map ref. 4)
Reduce congestion by providing a cut-through in the northern roundabout, full-time traffic signals and localised widening.
Improves access to Lower Aire Valley Enterprise Zone and other sites in the Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan. Could support around 3,300 new jobs and 300 new homes by 2020.
Cost £1.8m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

M1 junction 40 southbound exit improvement, Wakefield (map ref. 5)
Reduce congestion and improve safety by widening the southbound exit slip road, using the hard shoulder, as well as some local widening to connected roads.
Suports several development sites that could provide around 2185 new jobs and 85 new homes by 2020.
Cost £0.7m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

M18 junctions 2 to 3 northbound improvement, Doncaster (map ref. 6)
Reduce congestion and improve safety by introducing a lane gain at junction 2 and a lane drop at junction 3, using the hard shoulder and part of the central reserve.
Provides access to Robin Hood Doncaster Airport via two recently built dual carriageways, with the potential to create 24,000 new jobs and 5,000 new houses by 2020.
Cost £3.5m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

M62 junction 32 eastbound exit improvement, Pontefract (map ref. 7)
Reduce queuing traffic by widening the eastbound exit slip road.
Supports proposed development sites in the area that could generate 1,300 jobs and 314 houses by 2020.
Cost £2m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

M62 junction 31 eastbound exit improvement, Castleford (map ref. 8)
Reduce congestion by widening and extending the eastbound exit slip road.
Supports proposed development sites in the area that could generate 1,280 jobs and 290 houses by 2020.
Cost £2m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

A19/A174 Parkway junction improvement, Middlesbrough (map ref. 9)
Reduce congestion by widening the roundabouts and upgrading the traffic signal system.
Supports the creation of 2,950 jobs and four separate housing developments (1,123 houses) by 2020. Crucial to delivering three of the Tees Valley Enterprise Zone sites and supports access to Teesport.
Cost £6.3m. Starts 2013. Ends 2015.

A1/A19 Seaton Burn Interchange and Fisher Lane junction improvements, Northumberland (map ref. 10)
Reduce congestion by improving the A1 northbound and southbound diverge and merge facilities, widening the A1068, A1 and A19 approaches to Fisher Lane roundabout and installing traffic signals on the B1318 approach.
Supports a number of future developments, including identified strategic growth areas, with the potential to create 17,300 jobs and 16,300 homes by 2020.
Cost £6.1m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

A19/A689 Wolviston Interchange, Wynyard (map ref. 11)
Reduce congestion by upgrading the A19 southbound merge, widening the A689 west approach to the roundabout and installing traffic signals on all approaches to the junction.
Supports opportunities in three enterprise zones, each backed by a local development order. Two sites are expected to generate 1,940 jobs by 2020. A site has been identified in Hartlepool’s core strategy for 2,500 houses. Also supports export economy associated with Hartlepool port.
Cost £6.1m. Starts 2013. Ends 2015.

South West

A38 Drumbridges roundabout improvement, Newton Abbott (map ref. 14)
Reduce congestion by increasing capacity, installing traffic signals and constructing a pedestrian and cycle bridge.
Identified as a major, high priority improvement in the Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan, with the potential to support 1,760 new jobs and 1,200 new homes by 2020.
Cost £4.1m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

A38/A380 Splatford Split improvement (map ref. 15)
Reduce congestion by creating an additional lane for traffic merging with the A38 from the A380.
Supports growth in the region by unlocking significant pieces of land and attracting new businesses to the area. Potential to support 10,000 new jobs and 1,900 new homes by 2020.
Cost £5.5m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

A38 Manadon slip road improvement, Plymouth (map ref. 16)
Reducing congestion by widening and lengthening the entry slip roads onto the A38.
Supports major developments in the area that could create 2,350 jobs and 2,735 homes by 2020.
Cost £1.8m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

M5 junction 16 slip road improvement, South Gloucestershire (map ref. 17)
Reducing congestion by widening the northbound exit slip road, creating a lane for traffic turning left towards the A38 north.
Supports access to Bristol airport and port. Supports growth in places such as Filton Airfield, Patchway and Cribbs Causeway, with the potential to create 6,350 jobs and 2,990 homes by 2020.
Cost £0.3m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

M5 junction 30 slip road improvement, Exeter (map ref. 18)
Reducing congestion by widening the southbound exit slip road and improving traffic signals.
Supports planned developments such as Cranbrook, Newcourt and Sowton Industrial Estate. Supports development in the East of Exeter Enterprise Area. Potential to create 12,735 jobs and 5,480 homes by 2020.
Cost £0.9m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

M5 junction 17 slip road improvement, Bristol (map ref. 19)
Reduce congestion by widening the southbound exit slip road and providing an additional hard shoulder as well as providing a new, dedicated left turn lane on Merlin Road.
Supports growth at Filton, Cribbs Causeway and Patchway. Provides access to south west Bristol, Easter Compton and Severn Beach. Supports developments that could create 6,350 jobs and 2,990 homes by 2020.
Cost £1.1m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

A303 Cartgate roundabout improvement, Yeovil (map ref. 20)
Reduce congestion by providing two dedicated left-turn lanes form the A303 westbound to the A3088 towards Yeovil and the A3088 from Yeovil to the A303 westbound.
Supports developments that could create up to 21,235 jobs and 6,640 homes by 2020.
Cost £1.3m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

South East

M20 junctions 6 to 7 improvement, Maidstone (map ref 22)
Reduce congestion with signing.
Supports several development sites, anticipated to create 10,400 jobs, and several residential developments, anticipated to create 8,400 homes by 2020
Cost £0.3m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

A27 Ford Roundabout improvement, Arundel (map ref. 23)
Reduce congestion by providing two lanes at the westbound entry to the roundabout and providing new lane markings on the roundabout and associated roads.
Supports several development sites, anticipated to create 10,400 jobs, and several residential developments, anticipated to create 8,400 homes by 2020.
Cost £0.04m. Starts 2013. Ends 2015.

A404 Bisham roundabout improvement, Maidenhead (map ref. 24)
Reduce congestion by converting the roundabout to signalised crossroads.
Supports a number of opportunity areas, which are anticipated to create 6,800 jobs and 2,403 new homes by 2020.
Cost £4.2m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

M27 junction 3 improvement, Southampton (map ref. 25)
Reduce congestion by widening the westbound exit slip road, providing four lanes on all four carriageway sections and installing traffic signals.
Supports the Adanac Park Development, other sites such as the Solent Enterprise Zone, Daedalus Airfield and Southampton Port. Anticipated to support the creation of 12,670 jobs and 7,015 homes by 2020.
Cost £2m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

A34/M3 junction 9 Easton Lane improvement, Winchester (map ref. 26)
Reduce congestion and improve safety by improving the signing and lane designations.
Supports the generation of 595 jobs and 2,185 homes by 2020.
Cost £0.4m. Starts 2013. Ends 2013.

M27 junction 5 improvement, Eastleigh (map ref. 27)
Reduce congestion by widening approach roads and slip roads and providing a segregated left turn lane on to the M27 eastbound.
Supports several local development plans, including Solent Enterprise Zone, Eastleigh Riverside, Southampton Airport and Southampton City Centre. Anticipated to support the creation of 12,800 jobs and 7,640 homes by 2020.
Cost £4.9m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

A3 Ham Barn roundabout improvement (map ref. 28)
Reduce congestion by creating a segregated left turn lane from the A3. Entry widths and lane markings will be improved and an additional lane created on the roundabout.
By 2020, supports the creation of 385 jobs through the Whitehill Bordon Eco Town, Petersfield development as well as 2,210 homes in the same development along with those at Liss, Liphook and Petersfield.
Cost £1.2m. Starts 2013. Ends 2013.

M3 junction 6 and Black Dam improvement, Basingstoke (map ref. 29)
Reduce congestion by converting the roundabout so that a lane passes through the centre, widening on the A30 and improving lane signing and markings.
Supports the 13,220 jobs created by the Basingstoke and Dean and Basing View developments by 2020. Also supports the creation of 4,080 homes by 2020.
Cost £4.3m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

North West

M6 junction 32 and M55 junction 1 improvement, Preston (map ref. 31)
Reduce congestion by widening the M6 south of the junction and providing three lanes within the junction. Signals will be added to the M55 junction 1 roundabout.
Supports the housing and employment sites designated within the emerging local development framework, and the significant presence of the aerospace industry in the region. Supports the creation of 25,235 jobs and 6,225 homes by 2020.
Cost £7.2m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

A590/A5092 Greenodd junction, South Lakeland (map ref. 32)
Reduce congestion and improve safety by replacing the existing junction with a roundabout including dual carriageway entry and exit roads for the A590. There will be a two-lane entry to the roundabout from the A5092, allowing for left and right turners to have separate lanes.
The A590 plays an important role in linking east and west Cumbria and so will benefit from improvement of the junction. Supports the creation of 3,700 jobs and 1,265 homes by 2020.
Cost £2.2m. Starts 2013. Ends 2013.

A5036/Bridge Road improvement, Sefton (map ref. 33)
Reduce congestion by providing a westbound lane though the centre of the roundabout, separating local and through traffic. There will also be new pedestrian and cycle facilities.
Supports Sefton Council’s main economic regeneration sites, including Atlantic Park and the plans to expand the Port of Liverpool. Supports several local development sites, anticipated to generate 4,400 jobs and 1,000 homes by 2020.
Cost £6m. Starts 2013. Ends 2014.

A55/ A483 junction improvement, Chester (map ref. 34)
Reduce congestion by widening the A55 eastbound exit slip road and parts of the circulatory carriageway as well as installing traffic signals to the A483 southbound approach.
Supports Chester Business Park – a key regional economic driver as well as acting as a key junction linking North West England and North Wales. Supports the creation of 11,650 jobs and 1,770 homes by 2020.
Cost £8m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

M56 junction 11 Daresbury improvement (map ref. 35)
Reduce congestion by installing traffic signals and widening the overbridges and the westbound M56 exit slip road.
Supports large scale employment and residential developments proposed immediately next to the junction as well as the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus. Supports the creation of 15,000 jobs and 2,860 homes by 2020.
Cost £4.5m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

M6 junction 17 Sandbach improvement, Cheshire (map ref. 36)
Reduce congestion by converting the existing slip road junctions to a roundabout for the northbound side and a signalised junction for the southbound side.
Supports traffic from local roads to access larger cites via the M6, as well as for traffic from the M6 to access employment sites in surrounding towns. Supports the creation of 14,875 jobs and 1,750 homes by 2020.
Cost £3.4m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

Midlands

M6 junction 9 improvement, Walsall (map ref. 40)
Reduce congestion by upgrading the existing traffic signals, including new controllers, sensors and lights.
Supports access to nearby retail park and residential areas as well as Darlaston Enterprise Zone and potential housing developments that could create around 1,900 jobs and 3,500 houses by 2020.
Cost £0.4m. Starts 2013. Ends 2013.

A49/A438 Newmarket Street improvement, Hereford (map ref. 41)
Reduce congestion by widening the A49 approach to the roundabout.
Supports the Edgar Street Grid regeneration scheme and the Rotherwise Enterprise Zone. Supports the creation of 7,575 jobs and 3,300 homes by 2020.
Cost £0.4m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

A5/A5148 Wall Island improvement, Wall (map ref. 42)
Reduce congestion by widening some of the approach and exit roads to the roundabout and installing traffic signals.
Supports Lichfield’s future LDF housing growth of around 1,300 houses and contributes to restarting stalled employment sites in Lichfield, which could create around 3,185 jobs by 2020.
Cost £0.9. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

A49/A465 Belmont Road junction, Hereford (map ref. 43)
Reduce congestion by realigning the junction and adding signals to account for local traffic movements to and from the supermarket and the A465.
Supports the Edgar Street Grid regeneration scheme and the Rotherwise Enterprise Zone. Supports the creation of 7,575 jobs and 3,300 homes by 2020.
Cost £0.3m. Starts 2013. Ends 2013.

M42 junction 10 improvement, Tamworth (map ref. 44)
Reduce congestion by widening several approach and exit roads and installing traffic signals, along with pedestrian crossing points.
Supports the creation of 2,250 jobs and 1,685 homes by 2020. It also supports movements to major gateways, such as Birmingham International Airport.
Cost £2.8m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

A50/A500 Sideway Island improvement, Stoke-on-Trent (map ref. 45)
Reduce congestion and improve safety by improving the signing and road markings, installing new traffic signals and undertaking some minor widening.
Supports the creation of 1,105 jobs and 420 homes by 2020. Also supports long-distance trips between the M1 and M6.
Cost £0.8m. Starts 2014. Ends 2104.

A49/A4103 Starting Gate junction, Hereford (map ref. 46)
Reduce congestion by widening the A4103 approach road and realigning the road to provide two lanes on the A49 southbound and A4103 westbound approaches.
Supports the Edgar Street Grid regeneration scheme and the Rotherwise Enterprise Zone. Supports the creation of 7,575 jobs and 3,300 homes by 2020.
Cost £0.2m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

A5 Edgebold roundabout improvement, Shrewsbury (map ref. 47)
Reduce congestion by widening the approaches to the junction and revising the signage and road markings.
Supports the creation of 2,045 jobs and 1,810 homes by 2020.
Cost £0.4m. Start 2014. End 2014.

M42 junction 6 improvement, Solihull (map ref. 48)
Reduce congestion, particularly when major events take place at the National Exhibition Centre, by widening the roundabout and its approach and exit roads.
Supports the Birmingham Business Park, Birmingham International Airport and the proposed NEC leisure complex. Supports local economic growth though the Birmingham City Enterprise Zone, M42 Economic Gateway High Technology Corridor and the North Solihull Regeneration Plan. Supports the creation of 4,260 jobs and 795 homes by 2020.
Cost £7.4m. Start 2014. End 2014.

M5 junction 4 phase 2 widening, Bromsgrove (map ref. 49)
Reduce congestion by widening and realigning the roundabout and improving signage and road markings.
Supports the creation of 10,250 jobs and 3,380 homes by 2020.
Cost £11.3m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

A5 Churncote Island improvements, Shrewsbury (map ref. 50)
Reduce congestion by widening the A458 westbound and A5 northbound approach roads as well as improving signage and road markings.
Supports the creation of 2,045 jobs and 1,810 homes by 2020.
Cost £1.5m. Starts 2013. Ends 2014.

A49 Preston Boat improvements, Shrewsbury (map ref. 51)
Reduce congestion by replacing the existing roundabout with a signal-controlled junction.
Supports the creation of 2,045 jobs and 1,810 homes by 2020.Cost £3.3m. Starts 2013. Ends 2014

A5 Emstrey Island improvements, Shrewsbury (map ref. 52)
Reduce congestion by realigning both the A5 approaches and creating dedicated turning lanes and two dedicated lanes through the roundabout for traffic on the A5.
Supports the creation of 2,045 jobs and 1,810 homes by 2020.
Cost £3.8m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

M42 junction 9 improvement (map ref. 53)
Reduce congestion by widening the southbound entry slip road and upgrading the traffic signals.
Supports local economic growth in the Birmingham City Enterprise Zone, the M42 Economic Gateway High Technology Corridor and the North Solihull Regeneration Area. It will also unlock connectivity to a considerable amount of employment land in Coleshill and North Warwickshire with around 1730 additional jobs and 205 additional houses in the area around this junction by 2020.
Cost £0.5m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

M5 junction 2 improvement, Sandwell (map ref. 54)
Reduce congestion by widening the north and southbound exit slip roads, add a lane to the eastern section of the roundabout and improve the signage and road markings.
Supports the creation of 785 jobs and 6,700 homes by 2020.
Cost £1.7m. Starts 2012. Ends 2013.

M1 junction 24 A50 approach improvement, Derby (map ref. 55)
Reduce congestion by constructing a new carriageway to take traffic travelling south from the A50 to the M1.
Supports the creation of 1,300 jobs and 2,750 homes by 2020. Supports significant development proposals in the area, including sites with planning approval. The junction has also been identified as the site of a potential strategic rail freight interchange.
Cost £5.7m. Starts 2014. Ends 2015.

M40 junction 10 improvement (map ref. 56)
Reduce congestion and improve safety by replacing the current southbound entry slip road from Padbury roundabout with a new slip road from the Cherwell roundabout, which will have a modified design. The A43 southbound will be widened and realigned to pass through the centre of the roundabout and new traffic signals will be installed.
Supports the significant link between the M40/A34 and M1/A45/A14 routes. There are significant development proposals in the local area, including the North West Bicester eco-town, Silverstone and Brackley. Supports the creation of 4,300 jobs and 2,000 homes by 2020.
Cost £1.3m. Starts 2014. Ends 2104.

A45 Wilby Way improvements, Wellingborough (map ref. 57)
Reduce congestion by widening part of the roundabout and approach roads and installing traffic signals.
Supports a number of significant employment and housing sites in the vicinity of the junction with the potential to create 5,600 jobs and 3,000 homes by 2020.
Cost £3.2m. Starts 2013. Ends 2013.

A38 Markeaton improvements (map ref. 58)
Reduce congestion by widening the roundabout and some of the approach roads along with installing traffic signals.
Supports future development in Derby City Centre and housing growth in the wider area. Improvement of the A38 Derby junctions is a key priority for D2N2 (the local enterprise partnership for the area). Supports the creation of 12,300 jobs and 3,300 homes by 2020.
Cost £2.6m. Starts 2013. Ends 2013.

A43/A5 Tove junction improvement (map ref. 59)
Reduce congestion by widening the A43 through the junction and installing traffic signals.
Supports proposed identified growth sites at Towcester and Silverstone Circuit. Supports the creation of 3,500 jobs and 1,000 homes by 2020.
Cost £3.1m. Starts 2014. Ends 2104.

East

A14 junction 31 to 32 improvement, Cambridgeshire (map ref. 60)
Reduce congestion by widening the A14 between junctions 31 and 32, and installing three sign gantries across the width of the carriageway.
Supports Northstowe Phase 1 development, which will create 582 jobs and 1,480 new homes. Supports the gateways of Felixstowe and Harwich ports. It also supports the outputs from the A14 Challenge study, providing early improvements consistent with the new A14 major improvement scheme announced by the Transport Secretary on 18 July 2012. Supports the creation of 580 jobs and 3,500 homes by 2020.
Cost £7.7m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

A1(M) junction 6 northbound all lane running, Welwyn (map ref. 61)
Reduce congestion by converting the existing hard shoulder to a running lane, including installing a sign gantry spanning both gantries along with variable message signs, CCTV, sensor loops and speed enforcement cameras.
Supports local economic growth in Hatfield Business Park, Gunnels Wood Road, GSK, Stevenage Town Centre Regeneration and Knebworth Innovation Park and the gateway of London Luton Airport. Supports the creation of 9,485 jobs and 3,840 homes by 2020.
Cost £6.2m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

A1 Black Cat part-time signals, Chawston (map ref. 62)
Reduce congestion by widening the roundabout and the A1 approach roads.
Supports several local development sites, anticipated to generate 4,450 jobs and 11,655 homes by 2020. The gateways of London Luton Airport, Felixstowe and Harwich will also be supported.
Cost £6.4m. Starts 2014. Ends 2014.

A47 Honingham roundabout expressway (map ref. 63)
Reduce congestion by constructing an eastbound express lane, allowing traffic to bypass the roundabout.
Supports several local development sites, anticipated to generate 1,355 jobs and 1,200 homes by 2020.
Cost £1.3m. Starts 2013. Ends 2014.

A1/A47 Wansford junction, Peterborough (map ref. 64)
Reduce congestion by providing additional signage and improved road markings.
Supports several local development sites, anticipated to generate 6,820 jobs and 13,765 homes by 2020.
Cost £0.06m. Starts 2013. Ends 2013.

A120 Galleys Corner roundabout improvement, Essex (map ref. 65)
Reduce congestion and improve safety by widening the roundabout to encourage A120 traffic to use both lanes.
Supports several local development sites, anticipated to generate 1,430 jobs and 750 homes by 2020.. It will also support the gateway of Stansted Airport with a significant proportion of its traffic using the A120.
Cost £0.3m. Starts 2013. Ends 2013.

END

Notes to Editors
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England’s motorways and other strategic roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

2.The pinch point programme, announced in the Chancellor’s 2011 autumn statement, is part of the UK Government’s growth initiative with funding of £217.5m to address specific pinch points on the strategic road network. The first tranche of eight schemes, worth £18.5 million was announced in July 2012. A third tranche will be announced next year.

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51 million vehicles a year use the Dartford Crossing. Down from 54.5 million peak

The Dartford-Thurrock crossing must be one of the busiest points on the road network. Drivers stuck in the routine traffic jams on the approaches will testify to that on an anecdotal basis, but their experience is also backed up by the figures.

Last year a staggering 50.8 million vehicles used the tunnel northbound or bridge southbound.

However that is still less than at the peak seen in 2003-4 when the number stood at 54.5 million. The volume hovered around 54 million for a few years before sliding towards the current level, presumably because of the recession.

However it is interesting that while the decrease in traffic on the crossing was of the order of 6-7%, total traffic volume only fell by about half that amount over the same time period.

The reason for this discrepancy is not immediately clear. It is not as if there is an easy diversion route to the crossings which would explain the greater fall. And if any area has withstood the economic downturn it will have been the Southeast.

According to the Highways Agency the reliability of journeys made on the strategic road network is “measured by the percentage of ‘journeys’ that are ‘on time’. A ‘journey’ represents travel between adjacent junctions on the network. An ‘on time journey’ is defined as one which is completed within a set reference time, based on historic data for that particular section of road.”

By that measure, for the year to date about 58% of journeys were ‘reliable’ – which means 42% were not.

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Councils make half a billion pounds surplus from #parking each year. See how your council ranks.

There has long been a suspicion amongst motorists that local authorities are raking it in from parking charges and the truth is that many of them are. Even where huge ‘profits’ are absent the picture is almost uniformly one of surplus and not deficit, with only 57 (15%) of 371 local authorities in England reporting negative numbers.

The data is contained in annual returns councils make to the Department for Communities and Local Government, but given the mass of data government departments publish it is not always easily accessible. Openness does not equal transparency.

The RAC Foundation has tried to illuminate the figures and below are tables for those councils which have the biggest surpluses both in London and nationally. The complete list of all councils can be DOWNLOADED HERE. Together the councils in England make a surplus of a fraction over £500 million.

More details on councils’ parking operations can be found in the RAC Foundation recent report, Spaced Out by David Leibling and John Bates. See pages 66-68 in particular.

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