A585 Windy Harbour to Skippool improvement scheme Stage 2 – Scheme Assessment Report October 2017 A585 Windy Harbour to Skippool Stage 2 - Scheme Assessment Report CONTENTS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Format of report ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Options considered ........................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Non-statutory public consultation ................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Traffic and Economics ...................................................................................................................... 3 1.6 Environmental Assessment ............................................................................................................. 4 1.7 Chosen Option and Recommendations (In confidence) ............................................................... 4 2 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Purpose of the Scheme Assessment Report ................................................................................. 5 2.2 Project objectives .............................................................................................................................. 5 3 SUMMARY OF EXISTING CONDITIONS .............................................................. 6 3.1 Scheme history and background .................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Existing route description ................................................................................................................ 8 3.3 Traffic Surveys ................................................................................................................................ 11 3.4 Accident Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 13 3.5 Topography ...................................................................................................................................... 17 3.6 Land use, property and industry ................................................................................................... 17 3.7 Climate ............................................................................................................................................. 18 3.8 Drainage ........................................................................................................................................... 19 3.9 Geology ............................................................................................................................................ 20 3.10 Mining ............................................................................................................................................... 22 3.11 Physical constraints ....................................................................................................................... 22 3.12 Statutory undertakers’ equipment ................................................................................................. 22 4 ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS ................................................................................ 24 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 24 4.2 Noise ................................................................................................................................................. 24 4.3 Air quality ......................................................................................................................................... 25 4.4 Landscape and townscape ............................................................................................................ 25 4.5 Historic environment ...................................................................................................................... 26 4.6 Biodiversity ...................................................................................................................................... 28 4.7 Water environment .......................................................................................................................... 29 4.8 Flood risk ......................................................................................................................................... 30 A585 Windy Harbour to Skippool Stage 2 - Scheme Assessment Report 5 PLANNING FACTORS ......................................................................................... 31 5.1 Planning Constraints ...................................................................................................................... 31 5.2 Wyre Council Local Plan ................................................................................................................ 31 5.3 Fylde Council Local Plan ................................................................................................................ 33 5.4 Fylde Coast Highways and Transportation Masterplan .............................................................. 34 5.5 Lancashire County Council - Mineral Safeguarding .................................................................... 34 6 DO NOTHING CONSEQUENCES ........................................................................ 36 7 SUMMARY OF ALTERNATIVE SCHEME OPTIONS .......................................... 37 7.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 37 7.2 Options developed further ............................................................................................................. 38 7.3 Option 1A ......................................................................................................................................... 38 7.4 Option 1B ......................................................................................................................................... 40 7.5 Option 2 ............................................................................................................................................ 41 7.6 Network operational resilience ...................................................................................................... 42 7.7 Works to de-trunk the existing A585 road .................................................................................... 43 8 DESIGN INFORMATION ...................................................................................... 46 8.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 46 8.2 Road Layout and Standards Used ................................................................................................. 46 8.3 Design speed ................................................................................................................................... 46 8.4 Cross section ................................................................................................................................... 47 8.5 Junction options ............................................................................................................................. 47 8.6 Traffic signal junction design ........................................................................................................ 48 8.7 Roundabout junction design ......................................................................................................... 48 8.8 Drainage design .............................................................................................................................. 48 8.9 Earthworks ....................................................................................................................................... 50 8.10 Other highway design issues ........................................................................................................ 50 8.11 Structures design ............................................................................................................................ 51 8.12 Relaxations and Departures from Standards ............................................................................... 52 9 LAND ISSUES ...................................................................................................... 54 9.1 Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 54 9.2 Land referencing ............................................................................................................................. 54 9.3 Further required land referencing work ........................................................................................ 54 10 STRATEGIC TRAFFIC MODELLING ................................................................... 55 10.1 Overview .........................................................................................................................................