Agenda item

The Chairman invited Steve Wilson (Wiltshire Council - Local Roads Manager – Southern Division) to give an update on forthcoming works planned by the Highways Agency to the Countess Roundabout (A303 / A345 junction).

Steve reported that the works had been proposed by the Highways Agency to improve the safety and capacity of the junction.  However, Wiltshire Council highways officers and the Police had been involved in the early planning stages, in particular regarding the need to minimise disruption to the local community and local road network.

The original plan had been for a 21-week programme of works, with strategic, long distance traffic being diverted from the A303 onto the local road network.  However, following discussion this had been revised to use a contraflow arrangement, to keep the A303 traffic off the local roads.  This would also result in a shorter period of works, with around 12 weeks estimated on the outline timescale on page 44 of the agenda.  Advance signage would also be used at either end of the A303 to divert strategic traffic onto alternative routes such as the M4/M5 corridor, and to the north and south of Amesbury to encourage A345 traffic to seek other routes such as the A338/A360.

The Chairman thanked Steve for the presentation and invited questions and comments from the floor:

• In general, it was considered that the works would enhance both the strategic and the local road network.

• It was confirmed that Wiltshire Council were seeking to co-ordinate highways works in the area to avoid other roadworks continuing in the area at the same time as these works.  It was noted that the roadworks in Amesbury Town Centre were due to be completed by the end of the following week.

• Members emphasised the need for the Highways Agency to undertake a clear and comprehensive communications plan, with local people being made aware of the diversion routes, and plenty of advance signage to minimise impact on local roads.

• In response to questions regarding the penalty for overrunning the agreed timescale, Steve referred to the representative of Balfour Beatty Mott Macdonald (BBMM), the Highways Agency’s contractors for the scheme.  It was noted that any overrun in terms of time or budget would result in a reduction in the profits of the company from that project. 

• In relation to street lighting, it was reported that this would be upgraded to comply with guidelines.

• In response to a question regarding temporary weight restrictions on the diversion routes to reduce the impact of large lorries using the local road network, Steve undertook to clarify whether this had been included in the Traffic Regulation Order.

• A local resident who lived adjacent to the roundabout expressed concern regarding the proposed lane widening.  He sought clarification that the additional lane width would be taken from the central reservation.  The representatives of BBMM undertook to speak to the resident outside of the meeting, and to explain the detail of this element of the works.

• There was discussion regarding the proposed installation of traffic lights, with some people suggesting that this should only operate during peak times, to allow local traffic to cross freely at other times.  It was also suggested that traffic would often back up from King Barrow ridge, and so traffic lights would be ineffectual if traffic was stationary on the roundabout.  Further to a suggestion of box junctions, Inspector Martyn Sweett commented that enforcement of these would be restricted by available resources.

• In relation to the operation of the traffic signals, a representative of BBMM explained that this would be controlled by the traffic on approach to the junction, measured by loops placed on the approach roads. 

It was agreed that the Area Board should received regular progress updates on this project, and that a representative of the Highways Agency or BBMM should be invited to attend the next meeting of the Area Board to present the plans in more detail.  In addition, further information was required on the following specific points.

• Confirmation of whether the temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for the diversion routes includes any temporary weight restriction. (Following the meeting it was confirmed that temporary weight restrictions were not considered viable and/or suitable and had not been included in the TRO).
• Clarification on how the traffic lights/box junctions would prevent traffic from backing up and blocking the roundabout.  (Following the meeting BBMM confirmed that the scheme included queue detection equipment on the A303 westbound carriageway, approximately 300m west of Countess Roundabout.  This was designed to detect when queues reached this point from the “dual carriageway merge to one lane”, and adjust the signals operations accordingly to mitigate the risk of A303 traffic blocking the roundabout).
• The final timescale, including the estimated minimum/maximise duration of the works.  (Following the meeting, BBMM confirmed in a letter to stakeholders, that work was due to start on Monday 17 January, and would take place seven days per week during daylight hours, with 24-hour working wherever practical.  The scheme was expected to continue for approximately 17 weeks.  The 17-week period included site establishment, the main body of works over a 12-week period, an allowance for the Easter holiday traffic management embargo, and commissioning of the traffic signals).