Investigating problems on the strategic road network
Following an announcement to upgrade the strategic road network, 6 studies were conducted to explore long-standing problems on specific parts of the network.
Documents
Details
These documents set out the scope of work for 6 feasibility studies that were announced following the Spending Review in 2013.
The studies look into long-standing problems on specific parts of the strategic road network, and the scope documents set out the geographic scope to be studied, explain the different stages of work involved and outline management arrangements for the studies.
Background to the feasibility studies
Following the 2013 Spending Review, the government announced plans for the biggest ever upgrade of the strategic road network.
As part of the programme, we announced that we would identify and fund solutions to improve some of the most notorious and long-standing road hot spots in the country, initially through feasibility studies to look at problems and identify potential schemes. The locations identified on the strategic road network were as follows:
- the A303, A30 and A358 corridor
- the A1 north of Newcastle
- the A1 Newcastle-Gateshead western bypass
- the A27 corridor (including Arundel and Worthing)
- trans-Pennine routes
In addition, the Secretary of State for Transport announced on 20 August 2013 that we would undertake a further feasibility study on the A47 corridor between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth.
Draft scope documents were shared with stakeholders at a series of engagement meetings in late January and early February 2014, and the views expressed were taken into consideration as the scope of the studies were finalised.
The studies will be progressed alongside the Highways Agency’s route strategy process which is considering the current and future performance of the entire network, to inform future investment decisions. More detail regarding the route strategy process can be found on the Highways Agency’s website.
The department expects to report back at the ‘Autumn statement 2014’ with solutions to the problems on the feasibility study routes, and the outcomes of the feasibility studies and the route strategies will then be used to inform the department’s first roads investment strategy.