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EAST MIDDLESBROUGH TRANSPORT CORRIDOR

CHARLES ROONEY, EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT

ED CHICKEN, ACTING DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT

15th September 2009

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

  1. The purpose of this report is to inform Members of the results of the Consultant’s Transport assessment and modelling regarding the strategic need for the East Middlesbrough Transport Corridor.

BACKGROUND AND EXTERNAL CONSULTATION

  1. In October 2008 ARUP were commissioned by the Tees Valley Joint Strategy Unit on behalf of Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Councils to undertake some further investigations into future options for the East Middlesbrough Transport Corridor (EMTC). This was because both Councils wished to seek prompt resolution to the question of whether there was an absolute strategic need for this project.
  1. The EMTC would begin at the A171 Swans Corner roundabout in Nunthorpe, travels Northwest crossing a nearby field cutting through Rothesay Grove and Hambledon Hill and then travels northward, skirting the edge of the National Trust land at Ormesby Hall and then follows the Esk Valley railway line and Ormesby beck until it reaches the A1085 Longlands Road.
  1. The EMTC has been reserved for construction of a highway scheme since the early 1960’s, originally being known as the Marton Motorway and subsequently the East Middlesbrough Bypass. Several studies have been undertaken during this period to identify practical options and solutions which would enable the construction of this strategic route linking East Cleveland and South Middlesbrough into Middlesbrough town centre.
  1. These studies have examined many options, including whether the route should be constructed for buses only, whether it should be linked with East/West routes such as The Parkway, Ladgate Lane, Stainton Way and the James Cook University Hospital. Options have also been examined to see whether the construction could be phased to the North and South of the Parkway. There have also been issues in both Councils regarding the protection of this route in their Local Development Framework and, whilst the route is still preserved in Middlesbrough, most recently Redcar and Cleveland Council have resolved to rescind all proposals to construct a new road in the East Middlesbrough Transport Corridor.
  1. This study has therefore been seen as an opportunity to finally determine the absolute strategic need for this project which would, amongst other things, complete the strategic road network in this area.

OPTION APPRAISAL/RISK ASSESSMENT

7.The key objective for any solution is to reduce congestion and environmental impact on the highway corridors adjacent to the scheme and improve accessibility for all modes of transport between Redcar and Cleveland, South Middlesbrough and Middlesbrough town centre. This would support the regeneration of the Tees Valley and Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland in particular, in terms of their planned housing development and economic growth. It was therefore agreed that the study should appraise the general viability and requirements for the project in transport terms, and determine whether rail, road or a combination of both would best support the regeneration aspirations. Any scheme cost estimates and the determination of buildability and land acquisition etc. would be deferred until a viable option was identified and both Councils could get behind that option.

8.This is an important point of principle as any further negotiation with local land owners, such as the National Trust, can only be successfully undertaken on the basis of a specific proposal backed by both Councils. At this stage in the life of any proposed road scheme, it would not be unusual to encounter reluctance on the part of land owners and should certainly not be regarded as a reason not to progress further with a project.

9.It was agreed to use the Tees Valley Transport model to appraise the strategic impacts of the proposed scheme, together with the additional benefits that could be introduced by Metro and the Tees Valley Bus Bid, both separately and in combination to maximise the benefits from any arrangement. The options modelling report for the EMTC is available in full in the Members Library. Initial testing of the options showed that :-

  • All corridors in the study area would be congested Northbound in the morning peak
  • On it’s own, the Metro proposal would not relieve congestion on any of the highway corridors
  • The road option would provide congestion relief to highway corridors, particularly Marton Road and Cargo Fleet Lane
  • The road option reduces forecast travel times for buses due to the congestion relief provided
  • Demand for a road option exists regardless of any link into James Cook University Hospital
  • Looking at an option to remove the link between Stainton Way and Swans Corner, reduces demand on the road by around 15%, but it also causes considerable congestion in Nunthorpe.
  • There is not sufficient demand to warrant a dual carriageway scheme and that a single carriageway is sufficient.

10.The preferred integrated package of measures across a number of differing modes therefore consists of the following major elements:

  • A full single carriageway road, linking Swans Corner with Longlands Road, including intermediate junctions at Stainton Way and James Cook University Hospital
  • Metro line B, including park and ride at Nunthorpe Parkway and a new station at James Cook University Hospital.
  • Bus lanes on Marton Road, Ormesby Road and Cargo Fleet Lane to lock in public transport improvements along the main existing access routes into Middlesbrough

It is important to note that the bus lanes will only be deliverable if the new link road is provided, as the consequential reduction in traffic on the established routes will allow for the necessary measures to be taken.

11. Travel Performance

Key outputs from the traffic modelling show that the new road provides improved travel for a wide range of destinations and not exclusively for trips going to the town centre. Of the 1350 trips forecast to use the new link road the bulk would be for non-residents of the town, notably:

-700 come from Redcar and Cleveland

-300 come from North Yorkshire or beyond

The proposals would consequently remove trips from Marton Road, Acklam Road and Cargo Fleet Lane.

Examples of time savings which are forecast to accrue by bus trips to central Middlesbrough are as follows:

-6 minutes from Guisborough

-8 minutes from Stokesley

These improvements are due to congestion relief and the subsequent introduction of Bus Lanes.

Examples of time savings for car trips into central Middlesbrough include:

-8 minutes from Guisborough

-4 minutes from Stokesley

Typical travel times forecast along the Marton Road Corridor between Swans Corner and Longlands Road improve by 5 minutes. The proposals would also improve the residential environment for residents living along the existing road corridors as a consequence of reduced congestion.

Local Development Framework Implications

11.The EMTC is protected in both the Middlesbrough Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy and Regeneration Development Plan Documents (DPDs) as an important element in the Middlesbrough and wider Tees Valley transport networks. The sub regional importance of the corridor is also recognised within the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and this importance is further endorsed by the Inspector in his report into the examination of the Middlesbrough LDF Regeneration DPD. Improvements to the corridor, as identified in the study, will improve accessibility into the town thereby assisting with the wider regeneration of North Middlesbrough and supporting and enhancing the sub regional role of the Town Centre. Consequently, the improvements will be important in delivering the spatial strategy for the town and in meeting the Council’s aspirations. Equally they will assist in the regeneration of the rural areas of East Cleveland by improving accessibility and supporting economic growth and job creation.

12.The Inspector in his report into the examination of the Middlesbrough LDF Regeneration DPD stated that ‘…the original 5 barriers to development have now been significantly reduced and, such is the strategic importance of the EMTC, that it would be imprudent to require the deletion of the safeguarding of the route prior to the outcome of the feasibility study.’ Given that the study concludes that there is an absolute strategic need for a package of measures to reduce congestion and improve accessibility within the corridor, it is important to identify and protect the EMTC within the respective LDFs of Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland Councils.

13.Redcar and Cleveland has not proposed to protect the new road corridor in their LDF. Middlesbrough Council has objected to this as the lack of protection will mean other potential developments will make a new road more difficult to achieve. It is proposed that the Council maintains the objections, if necessary, at public enquiry.

FINANCIAL, LEGAL AND WARD IMPLICATIONS

14.The financial implications of the EMTC are yet to be assessed in detail, but would need to be subject to a bid to be accepted into the Regional Transport Programme and as such, Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough Council’s would be expected to make a 10% local contribution towards this project.

15.In terms of legal implications, clearly the respective Councils do not own all of the land on the protected Corridor and further discussions would be required with specific landowners along the route. There are also implications for the Highways Agency and Network Rail.

16.There are Ward implications across the whole of Middlesbrough as significant changes would be seen in many traffic patterns across the town.

RECOMMENDATIONS

17. It is recommended that The Executive:

a)Note the content of the joint study undertaken by ARUP;

b)Accept their recommendation that there is an absolute strategic need for the package of measures to reduce congestion on the existing highway corridors and improve accessibility for all modes into Middlesbrough;

c)Continue to identify and protect the EMTC as identified within the Middlesbrough LDF Regeneration DPD, and seeks a similar protection to be included within the Redcar and Cleveland LDF; and

d)Approve that Redcar and Cleveland Council be informed of these decisions and that they be requested to join with this Council in accepting the Consultant’s recommendations.

18. Reasons

The clear conclusion in the Consultants Study that there is an absolute strategic need for the whole package of measures will support both regional and city region regeneration and transport objectives.

BACKGROUND PAPERS

  • ARUP report on the East Middlesbrough Transport Corridor 2009

AUTHOR: Brian Glover

TEL NO: 01642 728100

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Address: PO Box 65, Vancouver House, Middlesbrough TS1 1QP

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