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A9 Dualling Programme A9 DUALLING PROGRAMME CORRIDOR OPTIONS ASSESSMENT WORKSHOP (CVRL Ref: 6030) REPORT Version: 11 February 2013 CONTACTS Jo Blewett Transport Scotland Major Transport Infrastructure Projects Email: [email protected] Robert Cairnduff Jacobs Email: [email protected] Glyn Harrison Capital Value & Risk Limited E-mail: [email protected] CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Workshop Objectives ................................................................................................... 1 2 WORKSHOP FINDINGS ....................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Session 1 – High Level Corridor Selection & Sifting .................................................. 2 2.2 Corridor Assessment Tables ........................................................................................ 2 2.3 Conclusions From High Level Assessment .............................................................. 10 2.3.1 Route Corridor Option C Drumochter Tunnel ......................................... 10 2.3.2 Route Corridor Option E Kincraig To Tomatin Tunnel ............................. 13 2.4 Section A – Inveralmond To Tay Crossing (North Of Dunkeld) ........................... 16 2.4.1 Section A - Assessment Tables ................................................................... 18 2.4.2 Section A – Conclusions .............................................................................. 28 2.5 Section B – Tay Crossing To Bruar ............................................................................. 30 2.5.1 Section B Assessment Tables ...................................................................... 31 2.5.2 Section B – Conclusions. ............................................................................. 41 2.6 Section C – Bruar To Dalwhinnie .............................................................................. 42 2.6.1 Section C - Assessment Table. ................................................................... 42 2.6.2 Section C- Conclusion ................................................................................ 45 2.7 Section D – Dalwhinnie To Newtonmore ................................................................ 46 2.7.1 Section D – Assessment Tables. ................................................................. 46 2.7.2 Section D – Conclusions. ............................................................................. 53 2.8 Section E – Newtonmore To Kinveachy (South Of Carrbridge) ......................... 54 2.8.1 Section E – Assessment Tables. .................................................................. 54 2.8.2 Section E – Conclusions. ............................................................................. 65 2.9 Section F – Kinveachy To Inverness. ........................................................................ 67 2.9.1 Section F – Assessment Tables. .................................................................. 67 2.9.2 Section F – Conclusions ............................................................................... 80 2.10 Workshop Summary ................................................................................................... 82 3 WORKSHOP LOGISTICS ................................................................................................... 83 3.1 Agenda ........................................................................................................................ 83 CONTENTS 3.2 Participants .................................................................................................................. 85 3.3 Capital Value & Risk Team ....................................................................................... 85 APPENDIX A – A9 CORRIDOR OPTIONS & ROUTE SECTIONS ............................................... 86 1 INTRODUCTION 1 INTRODUCTION An A9 Dualling – Corridor Options Assessment workshop was held on 28 January 2013 with representatives of Transport Scotland and their Preliminary Engineering Consultants (PES) consultants Jacobs. Transport Scotland required an independent facilitator to manage the workshop. Capital Value & Risk Limited (CVRL) was commissioned to facilitate the workshop. The workshop was preceded by a pre-workshop preparation meeting between TS, Jacobs, and CVRL held on 11 January 2013. Glyn Harrison facilitated the workshop which was held at the offices of Transport Scotland, Buchanan House. 1.1 WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES The purpose of the workshop was to review the outcome of the initial sifting exercise on the Indicative Corridor Options developed to date by Jacobs, with a view to removing those options that are clearly not feasible and/or desirable to progress. It was important to recognise that the workshop was not seeking to identify the best option. A two stage assessment was adopted, the first stage of which was against the scheme objectives. If an option met these then it was assessed at a high level against DMRB Stage 1 type criteria. This approach took the form of a negative assessment, where key issues were identified under the heading of Environment, Engineering, Economics and Deliverability as to why a corridor should not be taken forward to further Stage 1 scrutiny. This is the report from the workshop and comprises all assessment documentation reviewed and amended at the workshop, along with a summary of the decisions which were made, attendee/agenda details and supporting corridor plans are also included. Transport Scotland: A9 Dualling Corridor Options Assessment Workshop – Report (6030) © CVRL 11 February 2013 Page 1 2 WORKSHOP FINDINGS 2 WORKSHOP FINDINGS 2.1 SESSION 1 – HIGH LEVEL CORRIDOR SELECTION & SIFTING The workshop commenced with a short introductory presentation from Jacobs to explain the background to the workshop, its purpose, the sifting/assessment documents and corridor plans. Appendix A comprises plans of the A9 corridor options considered as part of the sifting/assessment process. Session 1 comprised a review of the high level corridor selection and sifting process of corridor options against A9 objectives. 2.2 CORRIDOR ASSESSMENT TABLES The following tables are the assessment sheets with amendments/additions made at the workshop included in Red text. Table 2.2.1. Perth to Inverness Corridors (refer to B1557620/SK/012 Rev1) SCHEME OBJECTIVE 1: Improve Operational 2: Improve Safety – 3: Facilitate Active 4: Improve Integration Performance – Reduce Accident Severity Travel in the Corridor with Public Transport Reduce Journey Times and and Driver Stress Facilities OPTION Improve Journey Reliability YES YES NO NO • Shorter, more direct route • Dual carriageway cross section • Restricted access to/from • Majority of existing public • Part of route in tunnel • Ease of overtaking existing A9 and associated transport facilities to be • 70mph speed limit • Grade separated junctions attractions bypassed • More consistent and greatly reduced • Improved alignment • Travellers provided with • Some public transport will journey time for end-to- • Improved signage dedicated junctions along continue to use existing A9 A end/strategic traffic. • Improvement for high altitude proposed route including corridor sections affected by weather lengthy side roads • However, direct Perth to Assumes section through • Offers opportunity to Inverness bus route improved Cairngorms would be in tunnel. This could impact on whisky improve active travel from industry use of tunnel which may Perth-Inverness using be prohibited – TS to review, Contact HA regarding Hindhead existing A9. Tunnel. Transport Scotland: A9 Dualling Corridor Options Assessment Workshop – Report (6030) © CVRL 11 February 2013 Page 2 2 WORKSHOP FINDINGS Table 2.2.1. Perth to Inverness Corridors (refer to B1557620/SK/012 Rev1) SCHEME OBJECTIVE 1: Improve Operational 2: Improve Safety – 3: Facilitate Active 4: Improve Integration Performance – Reduce Accident Severity Travel in the Corridor with Public Transport Reduce Journey Times and and Driver Stress Facilities OPTION Improve Journey Reliability YES YES NO NO • Shorter, more direct route • Dual carriageway cross section • Restricted access to/from • 50% of existing public transport • Part of route in tunnel • Ease of overtaking existing A9 and associated facilities to be bypassed • 70mph speed limit • Grade separated junctions attractions • Public transport will continue to • More consistent and greatly reduced • Improved alignment • Travellers provided with use existing A9 B journey time for end-to- • Improved signage dedicated junctions along • However, direct commute/ bus end/strategic traffic. • Improvement for high altitude proposed route including routes from Ballinluig to sections affected by weather lengthy side roads Carrbridge improved Assumes section through • Offers opportunity to Cairngorms would be in tunnel. This could impact on whisky improve active travel from industry use of tunnel which may Ballinluig to Aviemore be prohibited using existing A9. YES YES YES YES • Shorter offline route to/from • Dual carriageway cross section • Some restriction on access • Travel time and public transport Dalwhinnie, majority online • Ease of overtaking to/from section of existing service reliability • Offline route in tunnel • Grade separated junctions A9 between Glen Garry and • Significant majority of existing • Bypasses elevated section and snow • Improved
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