Hull and Humber - Roads

[legolamb]

It's so unlike ERYC to undermine Hull's regeneration effort too!! (considering the idea for this route must have been with the Castle st plan in mind)

Councils at loggerheads over ring-road congestion proposals

Published Date: 19 January 2010
By Simon Bristow
PLANS to ease Hull's long-running traffic problems by diverting vehicles out of the city look set to stall after East Riding Council blocked proposals for part of a new ring road.

Hull Council had hoped to reduce congestion and address road safety issues by moving part of its existing ring road into the East Riding, via the A15, the A164, the A1033 and the A1079 – the main Hull to York road – which is one of the most dangerousADVERTISEMENT

in the country.

But after considering a request by Hull Council's cabinet to take over part of the proposed new route, officials in the East Riding said they opposed the move as the A164 and A1079 corridors already suffer "severe" congestion.

The East Riding is pursuing its own measures to tackle traffic flow and volume, and has had plans for a major congestion-busting road improvement scheme along the A164 corridor endorsed by the Regional Transport Board, although it is yet to seek approval and funding from the Department for Transport.

This would see alterations to the five roundabouts and dual carriageways between Cottingham and Willerby.

The East Riding said in its response: "..even if the Council is successful in obtaining the necessary funding, the scheme will only partially address the severe congestion issues along the busiest corridor in the East Riding, carrying over 35,000 vehicles a day."

The authority pointed out that a campaign group had been set up to call for improvements on the A1079, and that concerns about the route had been raised in parliamentary debates in 2006 and 2008.

It added: "For these reasons the East Riding of Yorkshire Council would oppose any suggestion of re-routing traffic currently travelling into Hull via the M62-A63 trunk road, with a destination in north or north-east Hull, to use an alternative route through the East Riding via the A164 and A1079 corridors."

The existing Hull "ring road" is not a purpose-built route around the city but a series of separate roads designated as such by the local authority.

It begins at Brighton Street at the end of Hessle Road in West Hull and heads north towards Greenwood Avenue before turning east through Sutton Road and Ings Road, eventually disgorging traffic east of the city near Marfleet Avenue.

Last year, Hull Council's environment and transport overview and scrutiny commission described the route as "no longer fit for purpose" following complaints by nearby residents about its effect on properties and road safety.

In a snapshot 12-hour survey of the route between 7am and 7pm, not a single heavy goods vehicle travelled the full length of the route, and only a "very small" number of cars did so.

The survey also found that most vehicles used part of the route in cross-city journeys.

A report by Trish Dalby, head of streetscene services at Hull Council, said this showed the route served a "valuable function" in distributing traffic.

Concluding her report, which will be considered by Hull's cabinet next Monday, Ms Dalby said the authority had no option but to retain the current route.

Her report said: "The majority of the suggested re-route of the city's ring road is on the East Riding of Yorkshire's highway network and without their support it would be difficult to persuade the Highways Agency to change directional signs from the A63 and A15.

"East Riding would also refuse to place 'ring road' directional signs on their network. The only option therefore is to confirm the existing ring road route within the city."

[livin' hull]

it doesnt really matter what ERYC want re not sending traffic up a15/a164 to north hull from a63 - most sat navs would probably send you that way... but seriously the a164 is in dire need of improvement - with some dualling, only snag is once you hit Beverley the traffic stops anyway! we'll see what happens if/when the southern bypass is built.

what hope of a city region do we have though if councils cant work together on 'simple' issues like this...

[Dazzar86]

I went to Beverley Leaisure Centre the other day and it loks like what is the Flemingate project directly opposite. If that is it, Beverley is just going to become one giant traffic jam. The road to it is already difficult to manouvre (sp?) through due to parked traffic and narrow roads. I can see Flemingate failing badly in the long run, simply due to people getting fed up of waiting in traffic jams. Though it does surprised me the amount of people that would rather get stuck in a traffic jam to get to a small amount of shops in Beverley or Bridlington now, rather than Hull, so perhaps not?

[kington and mersey]

The a164 needs drastic action. Its just not fit for purpose. it needs to be dualled between Willerby and Beverley, and ideally bridges bulit to remove the turns for Swanland and Walkington.

There also needs to be a distinction between local traffic and more long distance traffic- all north-south traffic on the west side of hull is funnelled onto the A163. for instance it seems idiotic if one goes from cottingham to willerby by doing a big detour via the A164 when the are close as the crow flies. Where there ever plans to join up Willerby Parkway to Cottingham Parkway as this would have taken a great deal of traffic off the A164 anc created an alternative route from Cottingham through to Hessle,

As for the current outer ring road with a bit of foresight it could have been a much more effective road- around faifax avenue and part of Greenwood Avenue it looks as though the original plan was for it be dualled at some point,

One final question. I remember once reading about an eastern bypass going from the a165 north of bilton down to Hedon Road close to BP at saltend. was this ever a serious proposal?

[up the tigers]

I've not seen anything about an eastern Bypass but i have considered its viability. It would relieve so much pressure off Holderness Road as all the traffic coming from Bilton, Hornsea, Bridlington could use it and then on to Hedon Road instead of being funnelled into a single lane section after Southcoates Lane. If built it could have also freed up some land for residential development to the east of Bilton Grange.

[Digital09]

Originally Posted by kington and mersey

The a164 needs drastic action. Its just not fit for purpose. it needs to be dualled between Willerby and Beverley, and ideally bridges bulit to remove the turns for Swanland and Walkington.

There also needs to be a distinction between local traffic and more long distance traffic- all north-south traffic on the west side of hull is funnelled onto the A163. for instance it seems idiotic if one goes from cottingham to willerby by doing a big detour via the A164 when the are close as the crow flies. Where there ever plans to join up Willerby Parkway to Cottingham Parkway as this would have taken a great deal of traffic off the A164 anc created an alternative route from Cottingham through to Hessle,

As for the current outer ring road with a bit of foresight it could have been a much more effective road- around faifax avenue and part of Greenwood Avenue it looks as though the original plan was for it be dualled at some point,

One final question. I remember once reading about an eastern bypass going from the a165 north of bilton down to Hedon Road close to BP at saltend. was this ever a serious proposal?

that was the orginal plan (hence why both roads are called the Parkway) but it got stopped due to land disputes I think. I agree it would remove a huge amount of traffic.

[acwalby]

Story taken from Hull Daily Mail

Woman hit by double-decker

A 51-year-old woman was hit by a bus on a pedestrian crossing known as an accident blackspot.

The woman was struck by a double-decker Stagecoach bus on Saturday, at 6pm, as she crossed Collier Street.

It occurred on the pedestrian crossing between Paragon Interchange and St Stephen's shopping centre, where the buses enter the station.

It follows the recent campaign by Humberside Police to cut down on jaywalking in that area.

Officers handed out leaflets on how to cross a road safely after 754 people were spotted darting across the Ferensway crossing at St Stephen's, while the red man was still on display.

Paramedics treated the woman at the scene and she was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary with back and neck injuries.

Despite initial concerns that she may have serious injuries to her head, neck and back, police officers yesterday described her injuries as "minor".

The accident has raised fresh fears over the number of accidents around the Ferensway shopping area.

On the same crossing, a 13-year-old girl suffered head injuries after she was hit by a bus in November 2008.

In April 2008, 14-year-old Jack Fisher was killed after he was hit by a bus on nearby Brook Street.

The same month, Christine Leadley, 66, of Porter Street, city centre, was injured after being hit by a bus on Brook Street.

And, in August last year, a 79-year-old man was seriously injured after he was hit by a bus in the same spot.

Martin Wilson, 55, of Hessle, said pedestrians "needed to keep their wits about them" when crossing Collier Street.

He said: "You can't take any chances at this one because the traffic is coming from all directions and it is right on a bend."

Sarah Whincup, 25, of Willerby Road, west Hull, said: "I see people walking in front of the traffic here every day.

"The green man does not stay on for very long, but I think it is just a matter of taking care when you cross."

A spokeswoman for Stagecoach said: "Our immediate thoughts are for the welfare of the person involved.

"We will be assisting police with their inquiries as well as conducting our own investigation into the incident."

What the hell is wrong with people?

Is it true that some people in Hull do not know how to cross a road safely?

When the little man is red DON'T CROSS. When the little man is green CROSS.

I have absolutely no sympathy for anyone who walks in front of a bus and gets seriously injured or killed. It is their own fault and no-one elses.

Perhaps they think their puny human body can defeat an oncoming bus? I just don't know...

The crossing is completely safe if used properly. Any and all roads are dangerous when misused.

People who complain and say the crossing is dangerous are idiots. What do they want? Maybe they want the council to employ 200 crossing guards, 100 on each side, waiting to the hold the hands of people wanting to cross the road safely because they are too stupid to do it on their own.

This country drives me mad sometimes!

Rant over

[Dazzar86]

Work starts to repair Priory Road potholes
Thursday, February 04, 2010, 06:30
1 reader has commented on this story.
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Motorists on what has been dubbed East Yorkshire's most worn-out road can breathe a sigh of relief today.

For work is underway on repairs to Priory Road between Hull and Cottingham - a week after the Mail counted no fewer than 319 potholes on a 400-yard stretch.

Highways maintenance crews from East Riding Council expect to resurface the section by the end of the week.

A spokesman said: "We started patching some of the potholes on Tuesday and will be laying a completely new road surface in larger areas.

"The work is part of a wider programme of repairs and replacement surfacing we are carrying out following the extreme weather conditions."

Temporary traffic lights have been installed during the work limiting traffic to a single carriageway.

Marian Barron, of Malvern Drive, west Hull, regularly drives on Priory Road.

She said: "I'm glad they are doing something about the potholes. They were horrendous."

Three days after the Mail's story last week, city council crews were spotted filling in potholes at the Hull end of Priory Road.



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How long before it cracks open again?

[Dazzar86]

Castle Street revamp could be shelved
Thursday, February 04, 2010, 06:30
4 readers have commented on this story.
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Fears are growing that long-awaited plans to upgrade Hull's busiest road could be shelved.

City leaders have been lobbying for the proposed £188m scheme by the Highways Agency for Castle Street to be given funding by the Government.

But there are increasing concerns that it could fall victim to future public spending cuts.

Local authorities are being told to expect cuts of up to 40 per cent in spending on major capital highways projects by the Department for Transport over the next five years.

Despite repeatedly being identified as a regional priority, the Castle Street scheme is now being re-assessed along with two other projects.

They include a rival road scheme on the South Bank and a tramways project in Leeds.

Mike Ibbotson, the city council's transport manager, said the competing proposals were now effectively part of a regional "beauty contest".

He also admitted council officials had recently started looking at alternative options should funding for Castle Street fail to materialise.

He said: "The long-term scheme for Castle Street is now in a beauty contest with other schemes in the region before being taken to the next stage by the Government.

"We need to be thinking what happens if Castle Street is delayed again and what happens in the nightmare scenario of it not going forward at all.

"Any plan B will be a compromise, but even a cheap and cheerful stop-gap will prove difficult to deliver."

Speaking at a city council environment and transport scrutiny commission, Mr Ibbotson said it was now unlikely that any announcement on funding support would be made before the General Election.

"We have got firm ideas for options that are available but we are reluctant about going public at the moment because we want Castle Street to happen.

"If we did go public with a plan B, it would be the kiss of death of Castle Street."

Councillor John Fareham said: "I do not think Castle Street is going to happen."

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Oh great!

this is beyond ridiculous! I knew the 'pot of gold' for roads was all put into one big pot for the whole of the Yorkshire & the Humber region and then shared out. How the feck is a tram system in Leeds or an improved road to nowhere more important than one of the most congested roads in the whole region?

No doubt the funding will go to the Wessies, simply because that'll be where the people are who decide the outcome - go on, tidy your own garden.

complete disgrace!

[legolamb]

The Castle St. proposal was first proposed to the government in 1988.. 22 years ago, and it is still the first scheme to get snubbed every time there are cutbacks.

The cost of a tunnel a couple of hundred metres long is undermining the entire E20 trading corridor and with it the trade opportunities for the whole of the north of England.

Now it looks as if the investment will be directed towards local luxuries elsewhere in Yorkshire. It makes no sense.

I suppose a tram scheme would be perceived as more glamorous and would be easier to point to as an example of transport investment, but it's not as if cheap vote-winning stunts like this which favour style over substance are actually used by honest to goodness government funding officials and MP's. So no need to worry on that score. Absolutely, definitely no concerns at all.

[livin' hull]

hmm A63 possibly shelved - no great surprise there, at least gain some crumb of sympathy that its the current govt proposal to cut spending by 40%, expect the cons to cut by bigger amount ending hope of all 3 schemes becoming a reality - so no tram for leeds or south bank link road

[up the tigers]

If its shelved it will be a huge blow for the continued regeneration of the city as so many developements depend on it and have linkages across Castle Street. Thats only the implications for the city centre. Traffic gridlock will become more common and the the growth of the port will be scuppered by Castle Streets innadequacy to provide a decent linkage to the rest of the region. No wonder Immingham is experiencing the growth that it is.

cancellation doesnt bear thinking about, but i suppose for the past 4 years there have been question marks hanging over every aspect of the scheme.

[livin' hull]

juding from the Look North new bulletin this morning, the politics show wll be covering this in their local politics bit on Sunday (although if its like todays piece it'll concentrate on how badly Immingham will suffer if their upgrade doesnt go ahead, 5000+ jobs apparently rest on it)

[Dazzar86]

Yes, but how many in the long-run in Hull will lose out? not only in jobs, but companies in money too.

[up the tigers]

I agree, what with the bridge tolls and the seemingly constant congestion around Castle Street it cant be a great advert for any company looking at the city. We are ideally sited to be easily accessible to a large part of the country yet the city's road network is seriously hindering growth.

On a plus point there looks to be some roadworks going on down Holderness Road. Hopefully its the start of a scheme to widen it from Mount Pleasant to Southcoates Lane. An extra lane or just a bus lane is desperately needed.

[legolamb]

More bad news

Immingham port road upgrade plan approved


Councillors said the upgrade was needed urgently to support investment
A scheme to widen the main road to the port of Immingham has been awarded £110m of funding, paving the way for thousands of new jobs to be created.
Work to turn the A160 into a dual carriageway is now expected to start within two years.
Councillors had called for the plans to be approved, saying up to 15,000 jobs at schemes planned for the area were at risk if a decision was not made soon.
A scheme to improve the main traffic link through Hull has been put on hold.
The decisions have been made by the government's Yorkshire and Humber Regional Transport Board.
The approval of the Immingham scheme has been welcomed by councillors and businesses.
Value for money
Port-based development company Able UK is one of the businesses with plans for the area.
Mark Kirk, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: "Their proposal is to create 5,000 jobs in the near future and potentially that is going up to 10-15,000 jobs.
"The one thing that it did need was to clear that one small blockage which was the A160."
In Hull, a stretch of road along the A63 from Porter Street to Myton Bridge was to be widened to ease congestion in the city centre.
Work on the £5m scheme was expected to start in 2012 but it has been postponed by the regional transport board.
The board said the project in its current form did not offer enough value for money and would have a low impact on the region as a whole.
Chris Glen, from the Federation of Small Businesses, said a lot of planned regeneration in Hull was dependent on the A63 scheme going ahead.
He added: "It's important for Hull and the whole region.

"

[LackofColour]

and to add to that if work doesn't begin within the next 2 years on the A63 then current approval may be removed.

[Pippin0490]

urge to kill rising...

[Dazzar86]

I messaged John Prescott on Facebook urging him to make sure the A63 get's the funding -I bet the fat lard did bugger all!

So, a £110million scheme is seen as more value for money than a £5million scheme?

How will it have low impact on Hull? Hull will lose out on millions because of this, and no doubt, many will lose their jobs.

[legolamb]

This isn't the decision on the cut n cover proposal though, is it?. It is simply for the widening of the road. Presumably one of the short-term measures.

Anybody know how essential the road widening would be to the final decision?