M54 to M6/M6 Toll Link Road - Options consultation September 2017

M54 to M6/M6 Toll Link Road
         Options consultation
          September 2017

Road Investment Strategy
Roads period April 2015 to March 2020

Context - Road Investment Strategy
   £15.2 billion investment in our major roads
   Over 1,300 additional lane miles
   Resurfacing 80% of the Strategic Road Network
                                                     £1.8 billion
Midlands Investment                                 invested this
31 major road schemes including:
   M54 to M6/M6 Toll Link road                     Road Period
   M6 Junction 10 improvements
   M42 Junction 6 improvements

RIS Announcement
M54 to M6/M6 Toll link road – adding a north-
facing access between the M54 and the M6 and
M6 Toll around junctions 10A and 11.
                                                        2

Context for the scheme
                        Known issues in the area

                   •   No direct motorway link from the M54
                       to the M6 north or M6 Toll
                   •   Traffic from the M54 to the M6/M6 Toll
                       uses A460 and A449 / A5
                   •   This traffic on A449, A5 and A460
                       contributes to local traffic congestion
                   •   Journey times are almost doubled
                       during peak hours
                   •   Air quality issues in the villages and
                       along the route
                   •   High volumes of traffic and HGVs
                       contribute to poor facilities for
                       pedestrians, equestrians and
                       cyclists

                                           3

High Level Scheme Objectives
1. Relieve traffic congestion on the A460, A449 and A5

2. Provide more reliable journey times

3. Improve safety and reduce driver stress

4. Keep the right traffic on the right roads
   • Reduce volumes of through-traffic in villages, particularly heavy
      goods vehicles

   • Improve access to and across the A460

5. Support economic growth by improved routes for east-west and
   north-south traffic.

                                                        4

Previous Consultation 2014 / 2015
Took place from December 2014 to January 2015 on 3 options:

   Option A – a new road between M54 junction 1 and M6 junction 11
    with alternative options taking the road to the west or east in the
    vicinity of Hilton Hall.

   Option B west and east – a new road between M54 junction 1 and
    the M6 and M6 Toll at junction T8. This route had an alternative
    alignment to the west or east in the vicinity of Hilton Hall.

   Option C – north facing links added at M6 junction 10a, M54
    widened between junction 1 and the M6 and M6 junction 10a – 11
    converted to a 4 lane, all lane running smart motorway.

                                                            5

Key Consultation Findings
   There is generally good support for the scheme with 87% of
    respondents supporting the need for improved road links between the
    M54, M6, and M6 Toll

Public preferences :
 Option C - 63% support
 Option B - 22% support (of these 75% favoured Option B west)
 Option A - 13% support
 No Preference - 2%

Stakeholders (e.g. local authorities and business groups) preferences:
Option B - 49% support
Option C - 36%
Option A - 15%

                                                            6

Development of improved options
Feedback from our initial consultation told us that further
assessment work was needed to meet the needs of our
customers and find the best solution.

Further assessment work
 Our assessment work has focused on:
 • mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impacts of Option B
 • improving the traffic and economic performance of Option C

 We have now developed 3 modified options.

                                                         7

Option B West

Option B West would bypass the
villages of Featherstone and
Shareshill to the east of the existing
A460. The road would pass to the
west of Hilton Hall, crossing the M6
north of junction 11. Junction 11
would remain unchanged with local
access to the M6 and M6 Toll
remaining the same.

                 8

Option C West
This option would widen the
existing M54 from junction 1
towards the M6. The road
will continue northwards
towards the existing M6. The
route will then pass under
Hilton Lane and run north
towards the M6 at junction
11, then pass under the re-
aligned A460, crossing the
M6 north of junction 11.
Junction 11 would remain
unchanged with local access
to the M6 and M6 Toll
remaining the same.

             9

Option C East
This option would widen the
existing M54 from junction 1
towards the M6. The road will
continue northwards towards the
M6, affecting areas of the ancient
woodland at Burn’s Wood, Spring
Coppice and Keeper’s Wood. The
route will then pass under Hilton
Lane and run north towards the M6
at junction 11. The route will pass
under the re-aligned A460,
crossing the M6 north of junction
11. Junction 11 would remain
unchanged with local access to the
M6 and M6 Toll remaining the
same.

               10

Environmental
Considerations
• Green Belt and open
  countryside
• Listed Buildings
• Ancient Woodland
• Sites of local and national
  ecological interest

              11

Public Consultation
15 September 2017 to 13 October 2017

                           Public Events
Location                  Date                               Time
Shareshill Village Hall   Friday 15 September 2017           1pm to 8pm
Featherstone and Hilton   Saturday 16 September 2017         10am to 4pm
Community Centre
Essington Community Centre Monday 18 September 2017          1pm to 8pm
Webchat                   Wednesday 27 September 2017        11am to 2pm

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We would like your feedback on:
   The 3 modified options
   Any other views / comments / concerns

Deadline for all responses is 13 October 2017 (11.59pm)

Anyone can provide comments    by:
                       15 October      2017 (11.59pm)
 Completing our online questionnaire
 Downloading a copy of the questionnaire from our website
 Picking up a brochure and completing the questionnaire attached

You can respond by:
 Emailing us at: M54toM6/M6tolllinkroad@highwaysengland.co.uk
 Visiting our website: www.highways.gov.uk/M54toM6/M6Toll
 Posting responses to: M54 to M6/M6 Toll Link Road, Highways England, The
   Cube, 199 Wharfside Street, Birmingham, B1 1RN

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What happens after consultation?
      Response analysis            We will analyse and consider all consultation responses,
          Late 2017                alongside ongoing technical work

                                   If there is a compelling case for the scheme and a suitable
Preferred route announcement
                                   option is selected, a preferred route will be announced
           Late 2017

                                   Following further on work on preferred route, we would
  Statutory public consultation
                                   consult on our proposals in line with DCO requirements
          Autumn 2018

                                   Following analysis of the statutory consultation responses, we
    Submit DCO application         will submit an application for Development Consent
        Summer 2019

         DCO decision              Estimated date for Secretary of State decision on the scheme
          Winter 2020

 Estimated start of construction   Start of construction
          Spring 2021

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Questions?