A47/A12 Corridor Feasibility Study Stage 3: the Case for Investment
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A47/A12 Corridor Feasibility Study Stage 3: The Case for Investment A Report by AECOM for the Highways Agency February 2015 2 | A47/A12 Corridor Feasibility Study - Stage 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AECOM has been commissioned by the On the basis of the available evidence A47/A141 Guyhirn Junction improvements Highways Agency to undertaken a study about the limited use of the road for end- (estimated cost range £11m to £16m) – into the problems along the corridor and to-end journeys and current capacity along this is anticipated to improve capacity consider the potential for interventions sections of the road, the study concluded supporting economic growth to address these problems, including an that the approach of identifying and tackling A47 North Tuddenham to Easton dualling assessment of the affordability, value for hotspots along the corridor would more likely (estimated cost range £110m to £155m) money and deliverability of better options. to deliver better value for money. Analysis – this is anticipated to reduce the risk of of the emerging schemes within this report This report presents the case for making collisions, increase resilience, improve was completed by November 2014 to inform investment into the emerging schemes capacity supporting economic growth. the Department for Transport investment prioritised in the second stage of the study. planning. An initial case for investment A47/A11 Thickthorn Interchange A high level assessment was undertaken has been prepared for the following improvement (estimated cost range £67m of the case for dualling all remaining single interventions along the A47/A12 corridor: to £103m ) – potential to generate benefits, carriageway sections of the A47. This Thickthorn Interchange is considered to be A47 A1/Wansford to Sutton dualling suggested that dualling along the entire of strategic importance to Norwich, the A11 (estimated cost range £61m to £86m) – A47 corridor could result in a 32 minute corridor and the future growth aspirations this is anticipated to reduce the risk of journey time saving for end-to-end journeys for the area. collisions, increase resilience, improve at an approximate cost of £1.4 billion. capacity supporting economic growth A47/A12 Corridor Feasibility Study - Stage 3 | 3 A47 Blofield to North Burlingham dualling For Acle Straight proposals were There has also been interest from (estimated cost range £54m to £80m) – developed to undertake minor safety local MPs and the relevant highway this is anticipated to reduce the risk of improvements in the short term and authorities – Norfolk County Council and collisions, increase resilience, improve further work on improvements in the Suffolk County Council to re-designate capacity supporting economic growth medium and long term, working with the A12 trunk road to be an extension Natural England to assess environmental of the A47 trunk road in recognition of A47/A12 Vauxhall Roundabout and impacts and potential mitigation. the strategic nature of the route. Great Yarmouth Station improvements (Estimated cost range £19.4m to £29.2m) This report also includes information about – this is anticipated to improve capacity the range of stakeholder opinion about supporting economic growth improvements. Generally there is support for making improvements to address A12 Package of roundabout improvements problems along the route, albeit different in Great Yarmouth, including Gapton stakeholders hold diverse views as to the Hall Roundabout, Harfreys Roundabout, nature and scale of intervention required. Bridge Road and James Paget Hospital Junctions(estimated cost range £11m to £15m) – this is anticipated to improve capacity supporting economic growth 4 | A47/A12 Corridor Feasibility Study - Stage 3 1 INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE INTRODUCTION This was one of six studies announced STUDY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES at the 2013 Spending Review to The aim of the A47/A12 Corridor Feasibility AECOM is working on behalf of the tackle long-standing road hotspots Study was to identify and assess future Highways Agency (HA) for the DfT to in different parts of the country. options for investment in solutions along identify the problems and propose The Spending Review committed Government the A47/A12 corridor that are deliverable, solutions along the A47/A12 corridor. This affordable and offer value for money. is the third and final report of the suite to an historic shift in the UK’s approach of three reports. This report presents to roads, underpinned by the biggest The specific objectives of the study were to: the case for making an investment for programme of investment since the 1970s. By 2021 the Government plans to treble To identify and assess the case for the the emerging schemes prioritised at the deliverability and timing of specific second stage of the study. The report investment in major new road enhancements from today’s levels, marking the start of a infrastructure investments that address sets out the performance of the 12 existing problems on the A47/ A12 corridor; emerging options against the strategic radical new programme of renewal of the strategic road network. This is alongside and economic case and identifies the To understand the balance of benefits next stage for progressing the options. an investment of £10 billion for repairs to and impacts from potential individual ensure sustainability of the HA network. investment proposals and any additional Significantly, this investment is being benefits or impacts from the perspective of the whole corridor; and CONTEXT underpinned by reforms to the way the HA manages the road network to lock-in The Department for Transport (DfT) To evidence where possible, the wider investment and secure collaboration with commissioned the A47/A12 study to look economic benefits of transport investment the construction industry to deliver this step at ways of improving the A47 trunk road in the corridor. change in investment. The Government will between the A1 and Great Yarmouth invest over £28 billion in enhancements and and the A12 trunk road between the maintenance of national and local roads. Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. A47/A12 Corridor Feasibility Study - Stage 3 | 5 The study was undertaken from spring parts of the motorway or trunk road to autumn 2014 by AECOM, and took network in the vicinity of the corridor, a proportionate approach to option as these were considered as part of the assessment in line with the Department preparation of HA’s Route Strategies. for Transport’s (DfT) guidance on transport The study was undertaken in three stages analysis (WebTAG). A stakeholder and was guided by the DfT’s Transport reference group was formed to ensure Analysis Guidance (WebTAG) 2014. effective external involvement in the study. This reference group acted as a This report constitutes the third of three sounding board and allowed the views reports. Table 1.1 provides a summary for of local stakeholders to be captured and each stage of the process and the related considered during the study process. WebTAG steps that the report follows. Table 1.1 Study stage process STUDY SCOPE AND APPROACH The scope and approach of the study was Stage Task outlined in the Scope Document which Step 1 – Understanding the current situation was developed by the Department for Step 2 – Understanding the future situation Transport with input from Stakeholders1. 1 Step 3 – Establishing the need for intervention As its purpose was to inform investment planning for the strategic road network, Step 4a – Identifying the objectives the study focused on road-based Step 4b – Define the geographic area of impact to be addressed by the intervention solutions but was informed by analysis Step 5 – Generating options of travel demand in general and the availability of different transport modes. 2 Step 6 – Initial sifting of options Step 7 – Development and assessment of potential options The study did not consider specific Step 8 – Produce an option assessment report issues or proposals in relation to other 3 Step 9 – Clarify modelling and appraisal methodology for further appraisal (Stage 2 of WebTAG) 1 Scoping Document: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/ uploads/attachment_data/file/345566/a47-feasibility-study-scope.pdf 6 | A47/A12 Corridor Feasibility Study - Stage 3 REPORT PURPOSE AND CONTENT The following structure for this and the problems identified along the route The aim of this report is to document the report has been applied: and the specific intervention objectives case for investment into the A47and A12 Chapter 2: Context – provides a reminder Chapter 5: Economic Appraisal of Options trunk roads, building upon the analysis of the scope of study and description of the – this chapter sets out the initial economic, documented in the first two reports. corridor environmental and social impacts of each This report will also identify a range of of the emerging options for each challenge Chapter 3: Methodology – outlines the infrastructure proposals likely to achieve location the intervention objectives and which methods and findings recorded in the could potentially achieve a good case first two study reports and provides a Chapter 6: Next Stages – this chapter for investment. This report will also description of the methods use during the details the next stages of the study identify the next stages for developing third stage of the study and how it will be managed through any proposals that may be included the Highways Agency Project Control Chapter 4: The Strategic Case for in the Roads Investment