8 PERTH AND COUNCIL 10/594

Enterprise and Infrastructure Committee – 24 November 2010

ROAD/JUNCTION WIDENING AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME 2010/11, 2011/12 AND 2012/13

Report by Depute Director (Environment)

This report details the road improvement schemes which are proposed for construction in financial years 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13, funded from the Council’s Capital Budget for ‘Road / Junction Widening and Improvement Programme’.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee is asked to approve the proposed road and junction improvement schemes to be funded from the Council’s Capital Budget for ‘Road/Junction Widening and Improvement Programme’ in financial years 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13.

BACKGROUND

1. The revised Capital programme approved at the Special Council meeting of 14 February 2010, required the extent of schemes included, to be reviewed. The three year budget for the ‘Road/Junctions Widening and Improvement Programme’ is now:

• 2010/11 - £318,000 • 2011/12 - £479,000 • 2012/13 - £40,000

2. As part of the Capital Planning Process Outline Business Cases for the schemes at the following locations had earlier been prepared:

A93 Scones of Lethendy A93 Westfields of Rattray A911 Auchmuir Bridge C484 Low Carse – Castle Huntly to Kingoodie A827 to Little Ballinluig U147 Station road B827 Langside Road C484 Low Carse Road – Little Powgavie C455 South Comrie Road A827 Newhall to Fort Lodge A827 West of A827 Fort Brae U151 Errol Station Road U125/U128 C451 South Loch Tay Road – Acharn

113 PROPOSALS

3. Due to the re-phasing and prioritisation of the five year Capital Programme, and the current financial situation, there is no budget provision in later years for the design and construction of all of these schemes. As a result it is proposed to utilise the available funding to construct low cost schemes at the highest priority locations.

4. All of the locations have been assessed on the basis of accident history, traffic management and maintenance problems, with the highest priority locations listed below. The Outline Business Cases for five of the six schemes have been placed in the Members’ Lounge.

5. Details of what is proposed at each of the six locations are as follows. (location plans can be found at Appendix 1.):

Scheme Details Cost (£) 1. A93 Scones of Lethendy 80,000 Problem In 2002 a Route Action Plan (RAP) for the A93 was prepared. The series of bends at this location was identified as having a poor accident record, despite various small improvements being carried out in previous years.

Original Scheme The original scheme was to realign the section of road (including carriageway widening) at the bends north of Scones of Lethendy, at an estimated cost of £2.44 million.

Proposed Scheme The site continues to be monitored and the accident record has improved in recent years. In light of this, and the limited funding available, it is now proposed to carry out full carriageway resurfacing works including the application of anti-skid surfacing. Traffic signing and road marking improvements will also be undertaken. It is proposed to carry out the works in 2010/11.

2. A93 Westfields of Rattray 350,000 Problem As part of the A93 Route Action Plan, as mentioned above, road safety problems over this section of the A93 were identified. There are no footways which presents a hazard to pedestrians. Visibility is also restricted and the carriageway widths vary between 4.5 and 6.0 metres. A section of the road is also supported by wall which is in poor condition.

114 Original Scheme The original scheme was to realign the road, including a retaining wall repair, to provide improved verges and footways. The scheme would also provide improvements for routine and winter maintenance operations. The scheme was estimated to cost £1.66 million.

Proposed Scheme Although the road alignment is poor, the road is subject to 30mph and is considered adequate. The real issue is the lack of safe refuge for pedestrians. The road also provides a link to core paths at Craighall. As such it is now proposed to leave the road alignment unchanged but construct embankments and gabion walls to enable a footway to be constructed. Land will be required. It is proposed to carry out the works in 2012/13.

3. A911 Auchmuir Bridge 50,000 Problem The A911 is a busy commuter route and carries a significant number of heavy good vehicles. At Auchmuir Bridge there is a sharp bend with a steep downhill gradient, and the carriageway width is substandard for an articulated lorry and car to pass each other. Numerous damage only accidents have been reported.

Original Scheme The original scheme was to widen the bend over a distance of 190m at an estimated cost of £75,000 to improve the road safety.

Proposed Scheme The original scheme has now been reviewed and it is now proposed to undertake localised road widening over a shorter length. Improved traffic signing and road markings will also be implemented. A reduced speed limit is also proposed through the Speed Limit Review. It is proposed to carry out the works in 2011/12.

4. A827 Fort Brae / South Loch Tay Road Junction 20,000 Problem The A827 is a frequently used tourist route and utilised by a significant number of heavy goods vehicles. The existing road is substandard with walls on both sides. A Route Action Plan prepared in 1999 identified that a section of the A827 be widened.

115 Original Scheme The original scheme was to widen a section of the A827, thereby improving the alignment, from the South Loch Tay Road junction to a point west of Balnaskeag, at an estimated cost of £495,000.

Proposed Scheme The accident record on this section of road has improved in recent years but the junction at South Loch Tay Road is unclear for drivers and regularly used by pedestrians. In light of this, and the reduced funding available, it is proposed to carry out improvements to the junction, including traffic signs and road markings. It is proposed to carry out the works in 2010/11.

5. C455 South Comrie Road 60,000 Problem: The C455 is a frequently used road between and Comrie as an alternative to the A85(T), and is used by a significant number of heavy goods vehicles (primarily related to timber extraction). The geometry of the road is unsuitable for this traffic and this leads to considerable over-run of the verges requiring frequent verge maintenance and carriageway patching to arrest edge deterioration. The route also runs alongside the River Earn/Lennoch Burn over a 600m length and in times of high water the road is inundated and being undermined. The verge is soft and unable to support any vegetation or tress and any vehicle that leaves the road will fall down the embankment.

Original Scheme The original scheme was to undertake works to edge strengthen, strip widen and erect a safety barrier, at an estimated cost of £176,000.

Proposed Scheme The original scheme was extensive, and due to the limited resources available, it is now proposed to design a scheme to treat the worst sections which are adjacent to the river and burn. Gabion baskets will be installed along with a section of safety barrier. It is proposed to carry out the works in 2011/12.

6. C419 Kinclaven Bridge 150,000 Problem This scheme was not included in the original list and therefore no Outline Business Case has been prepared.

116 Complaints about the length and width of the bridge, and lack of forward visibility, are regularly received. This route is also often using by heavy goods vehicles as an alternative route to the A93.

Proposed Scheme In the interests of road safety, it is proposed to install traffic signals at the bridge and locally widen the carriageway to provide sufficient queuing space. Land will be required. It is proposed to carry out the works in 2011/12.

6. The cost of these schemes amounts to £710,000 but it is highlighted that these costs are estimates which can only be confirmed once the schemes are designed. The remaining budget of £127,000 should allow for any increase in costs, or for any future scheme of a high priority to be implemented.

CONSULTATION

7. The Head of Legal Services, the Head of Democratic Services, the Head of Finance and Tayside Police have been consulted in the preparation of this report.

8. As part of the scheme design, consultation will be carried out with the relevant parties where appropriate.

RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

Capital

9. The list of works detailed in the table at paragraph 7 of this report will be fully funded from the Capital allocation of £837,000 for ‘Road/Junctions Widening and Improvement Programme’ in the three year period 2010/11 to 2012/13, subject to the resources being available.

Revenue

10. It is estimated that the Revenue commitments arising from the routine maintenance of the infrastructure detailed in this report is £6,000, and will be prioritised from the existing Roads Maintenance Budget. The annual maintenance cost of the traffic signals will be £1,500. These costs will require to be prioritised within the existing Revenue budgets.

COUNCIL CORPORATE PLAN OBJECTIVES 2009-2012

11. The Council’s Corporate Plan 2009-2012 lays out five Objectives which provide clear strategic direction, inform decisions at a corporate and service level and shape resources allocation. This report impacts on the following:-

(i) A Safe, Secure and Welcoming Environment (ii) A Prosperous, Sustainable and Inclusive Economy

117 EQUALITIES IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EqIA)

12. An equality impact assessment needs to be carried out for functions, policies, procedures or strategies in relation to race, gender and disability and other relevant protected characteristics. This supports the Council’s legal requirement to comply with the duty to assess and consult on relevant new and existing policies.

13. The function, policy, procedure or strategy presented in this report was considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) with the following outcome:

i) Assessed as relevant and the following positive outcomes expected following implementation:

a) The measures will provide improvements and safety measures for all road users, particularly drivers and their passengers.

b) The measures including a new footway at Westfields of Rattray will provide safe passage and increased travel opportunities for pedestrians including parents/carers with young children in pushchairs/buggies and also wheelchair users, visually impaired and elderly people.

STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

14. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a legal requirement under the Environmental Assessment () Act 2005 that applies to all qualifying plans, programmes and strategies, including policies (PPS).

15. The matters presented in this report were considered under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 and no further action is required as it does not qualify as a PPS as defined by the Act and is therefore exempt.

CONCLUSION

16. This report details the road and junction improvement schemes which are proposed for construction in the three year period 2010-11 to 2012-13, funded from the Council’s Capital Budget.

JIM VALENTINE DEPUTE DIRECTOR (ENVIRONMENT)

118 NOTE

No background papers as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (other than any containing confidential or exempt information) were relied on to any material extent in preparing the above Report.

Contact Officer: Jillian Robinson Ext No 77291 [email protected] Address of Service: Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth, PH1 5GD Date of Report 05 October 2010

If you or someone you know would like a copy of this document in another language or format, (on occasion only, a summary of the document will be provided in translation), this can be arranged by contacting Alma Murray, Equalities Assistant on 01738 476558 or [email protected]

Council Text Phone Number 01738 442573

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