Report 2 - Review of Trunk Roads in Wales 2002

DETAILED REPORT

SUBJECT: REVIEW OF TRUNK ROADS IN WALES 2002

REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORT

EXECUTIVE BOARD - 12^th DECEMBER 2002

1.0 Introduction

1.1 The Welsh Assembly Government has recently published a consultation document entitled "Review of Trunk Roads 2002". Carmarthenshire County Council along with other organisations and people that use, live and rely on the road network have been invited to carefully consider the document and to respond with their views by December 2002. The outcome of the review is due to be announced next Spring.

1.1 The review covers the whole of Wales and consists of 26 proposals. These are presented in 5 categories or groups according to type and impact they may have on the road network.

These groups are:-

1. Small adjustment

2. Significant adjustments

3. Significant de-trunking options

4. Significant Trunking options

5. The incorporation of some or all of the Strategic Highway Network into the trunk road network.

1.1 Of the 26 proposals, proposal numbers 10, 11, 18, 19 and 26 affect Carmarthenshire and fall under groups 2, 4 and 5. The detailed proposals are set out in the following paragraphs.

2.0 The Proposals

2.1 The Welsh Assembly Government has carried out a preliminary consultation with local highway authorities, their trunk road agents and the Police. The proposals set out below reflect their suggestions. The Welsh Assembly Government have stated that some of the proposals do not reflect their current views, but have been included to provide a comprehensive overview and to seek consultees views on their merit.

2.2 Group 1 - Small Adjustments

These are proposals whilst retaining the existing network reflect minor changes to (a) align the network to that in England, (b) deal with minor anomalies, and (c) bring up to date access to ports etc.

There are no proposals affecting Carmarthenshire under this category.

2.3 Group 2 - Significant Adjustments

These proposals deal with de-trunking routes which cannot be made up to trunk road standard, to preserve rurality of the communities and trunk routes used heavily by heavy goods vehicles.

There are two proposals affecting Carmarthenshire under this category as set out below:

Proposals	Road No.	Average annual daily flow (AADF)	Description	Issues
10	A487	3762	De-trunk between Fishguard and Cardigan	Long vehicles are already re-routed via A478. This section cannot be improved to current trunk road standard. Removes more traffic from communities on route.
	A478	2504	Trunk between Cardigan and Penblewin roundabout	As above already signed as TR route, can also be further improved.
11	A476	10136	Trunk road from A40 at Cross Hands to A483 at Ffairfach (Llandeilo)	Remove trunk road from Ammanford town centre.
	A483	7268	De-trunk from M4/A48 at Pont Abraham to A476 at Ffairfach.	Provide alternative route for TR traffic.

2.4 Group 3 - Signficant De-Trunking Options

Options in this group deal with de-trunking of routes where either a suitable alternative route exists or the continuation of the route in England is programmed to be de-trunked.

There are no proposals affecting Carmarthenshire under this category.

2.5 Group 4 - Significant Trunking Options

These proposals deal with trunking those routes that provide links to ports, airports and tourist destinations as well as connecting industrial locations.

There are two proposals affecting Carmarthenshire under this category as set out below.

Proposals

Road No.

Average annual daily flow (AADF)

Description

Issues

A485 & A486

3312

Trunk between Carmarthen and A487 at Synod Inn

Missing `link' in Trunk road

Network?

Substantial further improvements required to make a good through route i.e. Llandysul bypass, Alltwalis & Pencader link.

A4138

15022

Trunk from Llanelli to M4

Provides Trunk Road link to major centre of population.

2.6 Group 5 - The incorporation of some or all of the Strategic Highway Network

This is the last and most radical of all the proposals and involves trunking of the inter urban parts of the strategic highway network. Such a proposal if adopted would involve significant adjustments of responsibilities and funding between the National Assembly and Local Authorities. For Carmarthenshire the proposals would involve trunking the A476, A482, A484, A485 and the A4138.

3.0 Consideration of the Proposals

3.1 Proposal 10 - Trunking the A478 between Cardigan and Penblewin Roundabout along with de-trunking the A487 between Fishguard and Cardigan.

3.2 Due to the restricted nature of the A487 through Fishguard, long vehicles are already re-routed via the A478. The A487 through Fishguard cannot be improved to current trunk road standards. The proposal to trunk the A478 between Cardigan and Penblewin Roundabout does have merit, but there is a need for further road improvement schemes along the route. From next April, with local boundary changes only a short length of the A478 will remain within Carmarthenshire in the Efailwen Area.

Recommendation

Proposal 10 is supported, but with the need for improvement schemes along the route.

3.3 Proposal 11 - Trunking of the A476 from Cross Hands to Ffairfach (Llandeilo) and de-trunking the A483 from Pont Abraham to Ffairfach.

3.4 This proposal provides an alternative route for trunk road traffic travelling between Pont Abraham and Ffairfach (Llandeilo). In terms of distance there is very little difference between the two routes. Pont Abraham to Ffairfach Square is approximately 13 miles via the A48/A476 through Cross Hands or the A483 via Ammanford. The A48 and A476 avoids the communities of Tycroes, Penybanc, Ammanford and Llandybie, but will effect the communities of Cross Hands, Gorslas, Carmel and Ffairfach.

3.5 The A476 is currently not up to trunk road standard and a significant amount of work will be required before this route is suitable to accommodate trunk road traffic. Trunking the A476 may enable the National Assembly to find a simpler and lower cost Eastern By-pass for Llandeilo, thus improving the chances of the scheme being brought forward in the trunk road programme.

3.6 The following schemes are considered to be essential before trunking of the A476 is acceptable.

(i)	Construction of the northern element of the Gwendraeth Valley Link Road i.e. the link from the A48 overbridge to the A476 north of Gorslas. This link will divert trunk road traffic from Llandeilo Road, Cross Hands Road and Gorslas Square all of which are already heavily congested at peak times.
(ii)	A suitable by-pass for the village of Carmel. The A476 through the village of Carmel cannot be easily improved as there is private development on both sides of the road. The road alignment through the village is very sub-standard.
(iii)	A series of road improvements to re-align the A476 between Carmel and Ffairfach.

It may be possible that these schemes could be undertaken by Carmarthenshire County Council with the aid of Principal Road Grant from the Welsh Assembly Government.

3.7 There is a strong case for retaining a trunk road link to Ammanford, which is the third largest town in Carmarthenshire and situated at the heart of the Amman Valley. This area has suffered from the run down of traditional industries and the County Council is striving to regenerate this former mining community. Improving road access to the town and the Amman Valley is a key element in the Council's proposals to re-vitalise the local economy.

3.8 The County Council has developed its Ammanford Distributor Road proposals with a view to relieving traffic congestion within the town and aiding economic regeneration.

3.9 There are currently three elements to the Ammanford Distributor Road namely:

(i) The Park Street to Pontamman Link

(ii) The Coopers Corner to Park Street Link

(iii) A possible northern link to Llandybie or by-passing Llandybie.

3.10 The Park Street to Pontamman Link will relieve traffic congestion at the square in Ammanford and will open up access to the Betws Industrial Park. The scheme has the benefit of full planning consent and Transport Grant has been secured from the Authority for scheme preparation costs. The scheme is due to commence next financial year if funding is available and if the necessary statutory procedures have been completed.

3.11 The Coopers Corner to Park Street link will relieve traffic in the communities of Tycroes, Penybanc and Wind Street and with the Park Street to Pontamman Link, provide direct road access to the Amman Valley, avoiding the centre of Ammanford. Public consultation exercises have demonstrated that there is strong support for this link.

3.12 The construction of a northern link to Llandybie or even by-passing Llandybie would further serve to relieve traffic congestion in the town and communities along the A483.

3.13 With upgrading of the A476 from Cross Hands to Ffairfach, the case for the northern link is not so great. However, there is still a strong case for proceeding with the Coopers Corner to Pontamman Link for the reasons given above.

3.14 With the completion of the Coopers Corner to Pontamman Link there would be good road access from Pont Abraham to Ammanford and the Amman Valley. The A483 trunk road could then run from Pont Abraham to Coopers Corner and along the new road to meet with the Inner Relief Road at the roundabout near the Tesco Superstore. The link between this roundabout and Pontamman could be classified as the A474.

Recommendations:

(i)	Trunking of the A476 from Cross Hands to Ffairfach is supported provided that the Welsh Assembly Government recognise the need for the schemes listed in paragraph 3.6 of this report.
(ii)	That the Welsh Assembly Government be encouraged to retain a trunk road link to Ammanford

3.15 Proposal 18 - Trunking the A485 and A486 between Carmarthen and the A487 at Synod Inn.

3.16 This proposal is strongly supported. Upgrading of the A485 and A486 between Carmarthen and the A487 at Synod Inn is a key element in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion County Council's Local Transport Plans. With the aid of Transport Grant from the National Assembly, Carmarthenshire has been able to upgrade the A485 between Carmarthen and Alltwalis. Carmarthenshire is working closely with Ceredigion County Council in the development of the A486 Llandyssul Bypass, whilst with the aid of Transport Grant, Ceredigion County Council is developing a number of route improvement schemes on the A486 between Llandyssul and the A487 trunk road at Synod Inn. The Welsh Assembly Government has indicated that funding to commence construction of these schemes will be available from 2005/2006.

3.17 Along with the completion of these schemes there is also an urgent need to upgrade the highway link between Alltwalis and Llandysul. A number of possible route improvement options have already been identified from earlier studies. Completion of these schemes will provide an excellent West Wales, North-South link between Carmarthen and the A487 trunk road at Synod Inn providing good access to the North of Carmarthenshire, the Teifi Valley and Ceredigion.

Recommendation

Proposal 18 is strongly supported and the Welsh Assembly Government be encouraged to complete the planned route improvements between Carmarthen and Synod Inn at the earliest possible date.

3.18 Proposal 19 - Trunking the A4138 from Llanelli to the M4 at Hendy.

3.19 This proposal is strongly supported. The A4138 provides a direct link to Llanelli from the M4 at Hendy.

3.20 A study undertaken by consultants for the former Dyfed County Council looked at the capacity of the highway network serving Llanelli and recommended a number of short, medium and long term strategies. The consultant recommended that in the long term; i.e. up to 2015, consideration should be given to dualling the A4138, as the main strategic link to the M4 at Hendy. Dualling of the A4138 between Llanelli and the M4 has therefore been included in Carmarthenshire's Local Transport Plan. The need for this scheme has increased in recent years with the completion of the Millennium Coastal Park and other planned developments at Llanelli and along the coastal corridor including Pembrey Country Park and the Pembrey Peninsula.

Recommendation

Proposal 19 is strongly supported and the Welsh Assembly Government be encouraged to dual the A4138 in their trunk road programme in line with the proposals contained within Carmarthenshire's Local Transport Plan.

3.21 Proposal 26 - Incorporation of some or all of the Strategic Highway Network.

3.22 The Welsh Assembly Government acknowledges that this is a radical proposal involving a change in the way most of the principal roads in Wales are managed. Under this proposal the Strategic Highway Network of principal roads would be trunked and maintained by the Welsh Assembly Government, although issues such as planning and development control responsibilities for the non-core elements of the network could remain with Local Government.

3.23 In considering these proposals the Welsh Assembly Government have suggested that the following should be taken into consideration:

· Managing these road would require larger, more viable management units.

· Safety and maintenance standards would be more consistent throughout the routes and across boundaries.

· Finance for maintenance would be transferred from Local Authorities to the Assembly.

· The difference between Trunk and Principal roads is not immediately obvious to the Public. A simpler road hierarchy would be more transparent and easy to understand. More centralised customer enquiries and information could be provided on strategic routes.

· The network would be transparent and less confusing to the public as to its responsibilities.

3.24

There are a number of issues arising out of this proposal. From a highway maintenance/engineering point of view there is considerable merit in the Welsh Assembly Government funding this directly. This would hopefully ensure that sufficient financial resources are directed to the maintenance of these roads.

3.25

If the trunking road proposals referred to earlier are implemented, the roads affected by this proposal would be the A476 from Llanelli to Cross Hands, the A482 between Llanwrda and Lampeter, the A485 between Alltwalis and Lampeter and the whole of the A484. It would have to be made clear to the Welsh Assembly Government that there would need to be local input to the day to day management of these roads in order to recognise local needs.

3.26

However Members may wish to consider Proposal 26 in light of its possible political implications in terms of transferring responsibilities from the County Council to the Welsh Assembly Government. Issues which Members may wish to consider include:-

· Loss of Local Authority control over part of the Principal Road Network.

· It will become more difficult to develop local integrated transport solutions if the Authority has no control over the Strategic Highway Network.

· Management of the network will become more remote and possibly less responsive to local needs.

· The benefits of local knowledge and experience will be lost.

· It will be more difficult to integrate the Authorities transport, planning, economic development and other strategies without control over the Strategic Highway Network.

· It will be more difficult for the Authority to comply with the requirements of the Road Traffic Reduction Act if it does not have control over the network. Unlike Local Authorities, the Welsh Assembly Government is not bound by the requirements of the Road Traffic Reduction Act.

· Money will be transferred from Local Authorities to the Welsh Assembly Government taking away the opportunity to support other services.

3.27 Recommendations

Members views on the merits of Proposal 26 are sought to enable a response to be provided to the Welsh Assembly Government.

3.24	There are a number of issues arising out of this proposal. From a highway maintenance/engineering point of view there is considerable merit in the Welsh Assembly Government funding this directly. This would hopefully ensure that sufficient financial resources are directed to the maintenance of these roads.
3.25	If the trunking road proposals referred to earlier are implemented, the roads affected by this proposal would be the A476 from Llanelli to Cross Hands, the A482 between Llanwrda and Lampeter, the A485 between Alltwalis and Lampeter and the whole of the A484. It would have to be made clear to the Welsh Assembly Government that there would need to be local input to the day to day management of these roads in order to recognise local needs.
3.26	However Members may wish to consider Proposal 26 in light of its possible political implications in terms of transferring responsibilities from the County Council to the Welsh Assembly Government. Issues which Members may wish to consider include:-