A1 Roundabout improvements

I did post this on the 20th January 2014, but as I have been asked if I had an answer, I am publishing this again. - 

Previous post on this subject:

http://biggleswadeonline.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/a1-roundabout-improvements.html

On the 28th December 2013 I asked Central Bedfordshire Council:

As part of this new scheme you are showing a dedicated left hand only lane on the A1 North which shows A6001(W) and an additional arm has been added to the “longabout”.As far as I am aware there is no A6001(W), where is all the traffic in the left hand only lane going to go??"

CBC denied any responsibility for the scheme despite their contact details being included  for comments.

Having pursued this I have today received an interesting statement from the Senior Project Manager for the  contractor, EC Harris (UK) Limited:

I am the Project Manager for this project on behalf of Central Bedfordshire Council and apologise for the delay in responding (I have only today seen sight of your email). This stub road is a farm access only and will have signing and a gate to prevent unauthorised access. It also provides a facility for any future expansion to the west should this be required. A full explanation is given below.

The proposed highway improvements to the A1 roundabout junction with the A6001 London Road, south if Biggleswade, provide significant capacity improvement to the existing junction in order to minimise impacts from traffic flow increases generated from development within Biggleswade, currently benefitting from having planning consent.

Increased traffic movements at the junction will occur over future years to reflect build out of consented development within Biggleswade and from general traffic flow increases along the A1 corridor. The improved roundabout junction is being provided to reflect this demand and has been fully considered by both the Highways Agency and Central Bedfordshire Council (in their capacity as local highway authority) as the most appropriate and indeed preferred form of junction and junction improvement at this location.

Inclusion within the proposed scheme of a new “west” arm to the junction has been provided for future proofing purposes such that if future development to the west of the A1 was deemed appropriate, it could be delivered without recourse to further reconstruction works of the new roundabout presently being procured.

Provision of this west access stub is accompanied by the provision of gates across the stub on completion, permitting access to residents at Beaufort Farm only at this time.

The roadmarking scheme detailed on the construction drawings shows the final scheme which includes future development gaining access from the roundabout via the west stub.

An interim roadmarkings scheme will be implemented until such time that the west access is required for development traffic, this scheme providing two straight ahead lanes and a right turn lane for northbound A1 traffic approaching the roundabout. Access to the west stub will be from the northbound nearside lane as on any roundabout.

The existing southbound left turn lane from the A6001 onto the southbound A1 carriageway is being significantly improved as part of the highway improvement works and is in full accordance with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridgeworks in terms of complying with geometric layout criteria.

Additional to the highway works at the roundabout, the A6001 London Road is to incur a reduction in the speed limit between Pegasus Drive and the A1 roundabout from 70mph to 40mph both during the construction period and thereafter. This will significantly reduce the approach speeds of traffic on the A6001 London Road heading south towards the A1 roundabout and via the improved left turn lane onto the A1 southbound.

The Highways Agency is programming to commence highway improvements on the strategic road network  this year which will improve capacity within the region along the A1. The Highways Agency is ultimately responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the trunk road network and is charged with implementing regional capital spend budgets for this purpose.

The Biggleswade Roundabout Improvement scheme is being jointly funded by developers and the Council to reflect identified highway capacity improvements necessary to accommodate recently (and future) consented development traffic. It is not the obligation on the Council or developers to fund the ongoing improvement of the trunk road network to accommodate general traffic growth across the network, this being the responsibility of the Highways Agency.

I hope that the above responds adequately to the point you raise.