M54 to M6/M6 (Toll) Link Road Scheme Assessment Report M54-M6/M6 Toll Link Road Highways England Scheme Assessment Report Table of Content 1 Introduction....................................................................................................................... 4 Purpose of the Report ......................................................................................................... 4 Scheme History .................................................................................................................. 4 Scheme Objectives ............................................................................................................. 6 2 Existing Conditions .......................................................................................................... 8 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 8 Existing Highway Network ................................................................................................... 8 Traffic Conditions ................................................................................................................ 9 Traffic Volumes ................................................................................................................. 10 Accidents .......................................................................................................................... 10 Geological and Geotechnical Conditions ........................................................................... 11 Road Drainage and the Water Environment ...................................................................... 11 Groundwater Quality / Hydrogeology ................................................................................. 11 Topography ...................................................................................................................... 12 Contaminated Land .......................................................................................................... 12 Air Quality ......................................................................................................................... 12 Noise & Vibration .............................................................................................................. 12 Cultural Heritage ............................................................................................................... 12 Landscape ........................................................................................................................ 13 Nature Conservation ......................................................................................................... 13 Facilities for Non-Motorised Users..................................................................................... 14 3 Summary of Do-minimum consequences ..................................................................... 15 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 15 Summary of key points ..................................................................................................... 15 Traffic Model ..................................................................................................................... 15 Air Quality and Noise under Do-Minimum Scenario ........................................................... 15 4 Summary of Route Options ............................................................................................ 16 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 16 Amendments to Option B(W) design since the previous options stage ............................... 16 The standard of the link..................................................................................................... 18 5 Summary of Tables of Traffic, Economics, Costs ......................................................... 19 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 19 Economic Assessment Results ......................................................................................... 19 Traffic, Economics, Costs Scoring ..................................................................................... 21 6 Summary of Engineering Assessment .......................................................................... 22 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 22 Buildability Assessment .................................................................................................... 22 Construction Programme .................................................................................................. 23 Engineering Assessment Summary and Scoring ............................................................... 23 7 Summary of Operational Safety, technology and maintenance Assessment .............. 24 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 24 Summary of Modified Option B (W) Operation ................................................................... 24 Summary of Modified Option C (E) Operation.................................................................... 25 Summary of Modified Option C (W) Operation................................................................... 26 Summary of Modified Option B (W) (excluding M6 Toll Link) Operation ............................. 26 HE514465-ACM-HGN-M54_SW_PR_Z-RP-CH-0009 2 Revision P04 September 2018 Status A3 M54-M6/M6 Toll Link Road Highways England Scheme Assessment Report Departures from Standard, Operational and Safety Considerations ................................... 27 Operational Safety Assessment Summary and Scoring ..................................................... 32 8 Summary of Technology and Maintenance Assessment .............................................. 33 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 33 Technology Requirement .................................................................................................. 33 Maintenance ..................................................................................................................... 33 Technology and Maintenance Assessment Summary and Scoring .................................... 34 9 Summary of Environmental Assessment and Environmental Design ......................... 35 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 35 Air Quality ......................................................................................................................... 35 Noise and Vibration .......................................................................................................... 35 Cultural Heritage ............................................................................................................... 36 Landscape and visual ....................................................................................................... 36 Nature and Conservation .................................................................................................. 36 Geology and Soils ............................................................................................................. 37 Materials ........................................................................................................................... 37 People and Communities .................................................................................................. 37 Road Drainage and the Water Environment ...................................................................... 38 Assessment of Cumulative Effects .................................................................................... 38 Summary of NNNPS compliance Issues ........................................................................... 39 Environmental Assessment Summary and Scoring ........................................................... 40 10 Summary of Public Consultation ................................................................................... 41 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 41 The Consultation Process ................................................................................................. 41 Initial Results .................................................................................................................... 41 Stakeholder Submissions .................................................................................................. 41 Public Consultation Summary and Scoring ........................................................................ 42 11 Socio-economic impact Assessment ............................................................................ 43 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 43 Socio-Economic Impact Assessment ................................................................................ 43 Socio-economic impact Assessment Summary and