Agenda item

Considered – Report of Louise McCaul, Route Manager for Durham, Tees and North Yorkshire (Area 14) to update committee members on works completed and planned on and around National Highways (NH) network in Yorkshire and North East Region.

Some of the key points highlighted in the report and presentation are as summarised below:

·       National Highways are keen to improve how they deal with customer concerns about how the Strategic Road Network functions (issues such as congestion, safety, integration with communities and public transport)

·       On Major Projects, a RIS3 (Road Investment Strategy) pipeline is made up more than 30 potential future schemes (including the A64) which are assessed against a broad range of criteria. The pipeline schemes remain uncommitted; the final decision on what schemes will progress to delivery rests with government. The Secretary of State for Transport recently confirmed that pipeline schemes will now not be considered for delivery until after 2030, to help ensure schemes are well-planned and efficient.

·       A Value Engineering study on the A64 Hopgrove to Barton-le-Willows scheme is ongoing, scheduled to be completed this autumn. Work is underway to assure the updated cost estimates and the Value for money (VfM) statement for the scheme. While the above works have enabled cost savings on the scheme to be made, market conditions and inflation mean National Highways are not seeing an improvement in the scheme’s VfM, making it difficult to deliver.

·       On the A66 Northern Transpennine route, National Highways would like to upgrade the remaining single carriageway sections to provide a safe and reliable journey between Penrith and Scotch Corner. A Development Consent Order examination period has ended, with the Examining Authority set to make their recommendation to the Secretary of State by the end of August, and a final decision expected by the end of November.

·       Intelligence led maintenance is key to showing where higher maintenance requirement is needed. Following this, inspectors go out to pick up defects, which is then allocated a priority (safety critical or non safety critical) and there are standard times for repair. On the A64, a weekly route journey is undertaken to check for defects is undertaken, with major roads checked on a daily basis.

·       Diversion routes are planned out to try and avoid impacting on rural towns and villages. Meetings are held at least annually with North Yorkshire Council to refresh these.

·       Updates were given for the maintenance and improvement activity undertaken on the A1(M), M62 J33-34, A66 and A64.

·       Cyclical maintenance is undertaken by National Highways including annual tasks such as: gully cleaning, weed spraying, soft estate maintenance, sightlines, tree maintenance, sweeping, cleaning signs and ditch maintenance.

Following this, comments and questions raised by the committee included:

·       Whether the possibility of match funding for a scheme would increase the Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR)?

·       On the A66-Scotch Corner junction, will the impact of the cumulative effect of the major developments planned for that area be considered by National Highways when they are consulted as part of the planning process. Also, the backup of traffic from the A66 onto the A1(M) was raised as a serious safety concern.

·       On the A64, there was frustration expressed that the ongoing delays to the RIS3 pipeline potential scheme to upgrade the Hopgrove roundabout and dual the section from Hopgrove to Barton-le-Willows. The widening of the existing road was suggested as a potential solution. Improving the Benefit-Cost Ratio of the scheme against others across the country was seen as a major blockage to progress at the moment.

·       Plans for a Vale of York services on the A1(M) were discussed

·       The relationship between National Highways and the Transport for the North organisation was asked about.

·       How decarbonisation forms part of the day to day business cases put together by National Highways?

·       The litter picking responsibilities for the trunk road network in North Yorkshire and how the new council discharges its duties, usually by working in partnership with planned maintenance by National Highways.

Resolved –

i)      That the report be noted.

ii)     That a representative from National Highways related to major strategic projects be invited to a future meeting.

Councillor Steve Watson left the meeting following consideration of this item, with Councillor George Jabbour acting as substitute for the remainder of the business on the agenda.