First of what will become a nationwide set of route strategies for the English strategic road network have been produced by the Highways Agency covering the A1 west of Newcastle, the A12 in Essex and the M62 linking Manchester to Leeds.

The strategies, published on Monday, have been developed in collaboration with local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships and highlight future potential pinch points, development areas which may impact on traffic flow, signage and safety issues as well as potential investment priorities.

“This evidence based approach to assessing challenges and opportunities on a network wide basis will enable the Highways Agency and the Department for Transport to prioritise operational, maintenance and if appropriate, road improvement schemes, helping to inform investment plans for the next full spending review in 2015,” the Highways Agency said.

The route strategies were proposed in the Cook Review of the work of the HA. Strategies are being produced for all routes by spring 2014 and will allow a network wide assessment of problems and challenges. They will also allow an overview of the steps that may need to be taken to address the problems and can be used to identify and prioritise potential solutions.

“The strategies will not produce a list of major projects,” an HA spokesman said but will highlight challenges that will need to be addressed.”

Issues highlighted on the A12 for instance include investigation into safety signage at Mountnessing in Essex, the introduction of Traffic Officer patrols near Chelmsford and potential developer funded junction improvements. Other issues include a major upgrade of the A120 towards Stansted Airport between Braintree and Marks Tay and a review of capacity improvements at the Copdock Interchange where the A12 meets the A14.

“Our motorways and trunk roads play a vital role in the economic prosperity of this country,” said Roads Minister Stephen Hammond. "That is why we are implementing a smarter, more robust approach to identifying, prioritising and planning where vital investment is needed on our roads.” 

“I am confident the evidence that we will gather will enable us to develop longer term investment plans that better balance national and local priorities, allowing us to invest in improvements where they will have the greatest impact.”

More information on the first three strategies can be found at http://bit.ly/11RVGY7

(Photo: Google Maps)

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