? Trans-Pennine Routes Feasibility Study Stage 3 Report February 2015 1059538/03/F This report has been prepared for the Highways Agency and the Department for Transport by Mouchel Ltd. Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary ......................................................................................... 5 1.1 Context and Background ................................................................................... 5 1.2 Summary of Stages 1 and 2 .............................................................................. 6 1.3 Summary of Stage 3 .......................................................................................... 9 2 Introduction and Purpose ............................................................................. 12 2.1 Preamble ......................................................................................................... 12 3 Assessment of Benefits and Business Cases ............................................ 14 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 14 3.2 Refinement of Options ..................................................................................... 14 3.3 Approach and Methodology ............................................................................. 15 3.4 Methodology – Benefits Identification .............................................................. 15 3.5 Initial Financial Model Methodology ................................................................. 16 3.6 Environmental Assessment Methodology ........................................................ 19 3.7 Assumptions for Economic Cost Benefit Analysis ........................................... 20 3.8 Stakeholder Engagement ................................................................................ 23 4 Package 1 – Central Package plus Bypass of Mottram, Hollingworth and Tintwistle.................................................................................................................. 24 4.1 Package Overview ........................................................................................... 24 4.2 Strategic Case ................................................................................................. 25 4.3 Economic Case ................................................................................................ 31 4.4 Financial Case ................................................................................................. 36 4.5 Commercial Case ............................................................................................ 37 4.6 Management Case .......................................................................................... 37 4.7 Summary ......................................................................................................... 38 5 Package 2 – Central Package plus Mottram Moor Link Road.................... 40 5.1 Package Overview ........................................................................................... 40 5.2 Strategic Case ................................................................................................. 41 5.3 Economic Case ................................................................................................ 41 3 5.4 Financial Case ................................................................................................. 46 5.5 Management Case .......................................................................................... 46 5.6 Summary ......................................................................................................... 47 6 Package 3 – Central Package plus A57 Mottram One Way ........................ 48 6.1 Package Overview ........................................................................................... 48 6.2 Strategic Case ................................................................................................. 49 6.3 Economic Case ................................................................................................ 49 6.4 Financial Case ................................................................................................. 53 6.5 Management Case .......................................................................................... 54 6.6 Summary ......................................................................................................... 55 7 A61 Dualling ................................................................................................... 56 7.1 Scheme Overview ............................................................................................ 56 7.2 Strategic Case ................................................................................................. 56 7.3 Economic Case ................................................................................................ 57 7.4 Financial Case ................................................................................................. 58 7.5 Management Case .......................................................................................... 58 7.6 Summary ......................................................................................................... 59 8 Central Package ............................................................................................. 60 8.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 60 8.2 Western End Measures ................................................................................... 60 8.3 Climbing Lanes and Salter’s Brook .................................................................. 63 8.4 Safety Improvements ....................................................................................... 66 8.5 Technology ...................................................................................................... 67 8.6 Summary ......................................................................................................... 70 9 Findings .......................................................................................................... 72 9.1 Summary ......................................................................................................... 72 9.2 Further Work .................................................................................................... 73 10 Glossary ......................................................................................................... 75 4 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Context and Background 1.1.1 The Department for Transport has commissioned a number of feasibility studies to investigate solutions to some of the most significant and longstanding congestion hotspots in the country. The aim of this feasibility study has been to identify the opportunities and understand the case for future investment on trans-Pennine routes that will improve connectivity between Manchester and Sheffield, and that are deliverable, affordable and offer value for money. 1.1.2 The study considered the current trans-Pennine road routes which include the A57, A628, A616 and A61 in terms of the strategic road network, as well as the A57, A6, A623, A624, A625, A6187 and A6103 on the local authority road network. The study also included the Hope Valley railway line. 1.1.3 The modal scope of the study has been predominantly road-based and considered potential investment proposals on both the strategic and local authority road networks. The study also aimed to understand the contributions that current rail investments plans may bring to trans-Pennine connectivity and be aware of and understand further potential proposals that may emerge from other related investment planning processes. 1.1.4 The study also reflects the Higgins report, “Rebalancing Britain”, published in October 2014, which included a recommendation for HS3, a high speed link connecting the North’s great cities alongside a recommendation for the formation of a joint body, Transport for the North. Further work, commissioned under the banner “One North”, published in August 2014, also outlined proposals for better connections between northern cities. 1.1.5 The feasibility study has not considered specific issues or proposals in relation to other parts of the strategic road network in the vicinity, as the case for further future investment has or will be considered as part of the Highways Agency’s South Pennines Route Strategy, or within other specific feasibility studies. 1.1.6 The feasibility study has proceeded through three stages. This report provides the outputs from Stage 3 and follows Step 10 of the WebTAG Transport Appraisal Process. 1.1.7 Stage 3 undertook work to assess the affordability, value for money and deliverability of prioritised proposals (WebTAG Step 10). It considered the benefits and the potential business cases for each of the prioritised packages (proposals) identified in stage 2 as well as the cumulative or additional benefits and impacts from investment in the network as a whole. 5 1.2 Summary of Stages 1 and 2 1.2.1 The evidence gathered and analysed as part of Stage 1 of this study provided the basis for identifying the issues and challenges which require addressing in order to improve the overall performance of the route. The identified issues and challenges were used to form a list of key objectives which this study would attempt to achieve, and it is this which formed the basis for the development of options. 1.2.2 Options, identified