South East region

South East region

Targeted programme of improvements

It was announced in July 1997 that the go-ahead had been given to the A2/M2 Cobham to Junction 4 widening, and that all reasonable endeavours would be made to ensure that it is completed within the period of construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. The following further schemes have now been included in the targeted programme of improvements:

M25 Junctions 12 15 Widening Provision of additional capacity where the current level of traffic is already causing severe congestion at times and threatening jobs and prosperity over a wide area. The widening will be within the existing motorway boundary and will be a key part of a wider, long-term strategy for managing traffic on the M25.

A2/A282 Dartford Improvement

A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 1

A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 2

These three interlinked schemes form part of an integrated transport strategy providing enhanced access to a major regional regeneration area Kent Thames-side and other regeneration areas in North and East Kent. They involve provision of free flow links between the A2and A282 and widening of the A2 alleviating congestion and safety problems and helping to support jobs and prosperity.

A21 Lamberhurst Bypass Will allow through traffic to avoid the existing tortuous road approaching and through Lamberhurst making the village a much safer and healthier place to live.

A27 Polegate Bypass Will remove a high proportion of the traffic from Polegate enhancing the safety and environment of this small town and, along with local road improvements, will enhance accessibility to Eastbourne and the surrounding area, assisting regeneration.

A34 Chieveley/M4 J13 Improvement Will remove last bottleneck on core route between the Midlands and Southampton supporting jobs and prosperity and also eliminate traffic queuing back on to the M4 thus improving safety.

A41 Aston Clinton Bypass Will remove 70% of traffic from Aston-Clinton making the village a safer and healthier place to live.

A43 M40 B4031 Improvement Will improve safety at the M40 Ardley junction and on the strategic link between M40 and M1 motorways.

A249 Iwade Queenborough Improvement This new high level fixed bridge crossing of the Swale will greatly improve accessibility to regeneration areas on the Isle of Sheppey including the Port of Sheerness.

Proposed studies

Subject to consultation with the regional planning conference it is proposed to undertake the studies detailed below. The outcome of these studies will inform consideration of transport infrastructure requirements in preparing Regional Planning Guidance, including the need for improvements to the trunk road network.

London Orbital Study covering M25 and adjacent radial routes to develop management strategy for M25.

London to Reading Study covering M4 corridor from M25 to junction 12 to consider strategic, inter-urban and local land-use and transport problems.

Southampton to Folkestone Study addressing congestion, safety and environmental problems on the south coast route between Southampton and Folkestone.

M27 South Hampshire Study to consider options to reduce congestion on the M27 in South Hampshire.

A27 Worthing area Study to consider the problems of congestion between Worthing and Lancing on the A27.

M23/A23 Study building on existing Gatwick Airport area transport forum work, to include a study of safety issues around Handcross/Warninglid.

Access to Hastings Study to consider options to improve access to Hastings and solutions to regeneration/land-use planning pressures.

A3 Hindhead Study to investigate whether the environmental and economic benefits of the proposed bored tunnel solution can be delivered, funded in part by user charging.

In addition, the following study is underway:

M40/A404 Handy Cross Study to consider congestion at Handy Cross junction and possible multi-modal solutions

Smaller scale measures

The following safety scheme will be carried out:

M3/A34 Junction Improvement

In addition, the Highways Agency, as part of its ongoing management responsibility, will continue to examine the case for Local Network Management Schemes and use of toolkit measures to improve the operation of the region's trunk road network.

Transport system

The South East Region includes Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey. Transport infrastructure in the region is a strength. Nearly a quarter of the motorway network in England, including a substantial part of the M25, a key hub in the national road network, is in the South East. Major road and rail links in the region primarily serve radial movements to and from London, providing good access to most major centres of population, though some peripheral coastal areas are less well served. East-west connections in the region are generally less good. The region's ports accounted for 77% of international passenger movements and 14% of freight handled at all UK ports in 1995. London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports serve the region and impact significantly on its economy, jobs, development patterns and traffic.

The environment/transport interface is especially prominent in the South East where population density is one of the highest in the country outside London, development pressure is strong, car ownership and usage is high compared to the rest of Britain and where 40% of the land is designated as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and/or Green Belt.

Pressure points on eastern region's trunk roads

Following publication of What role for trunk roads in England? two seminars were held with representatives of local authorities, business, transport providers and environmental interest groups to consider problems on the region's trunk roads and priorities for action. An integrated transport seminar was also held and over 8,000 written representations were received, including some 3,000 after the close of the consultation period concerning the proposed widening of the M25 between the M3 and M4 junctions.

The main areas for action identified as a result of the regional consultation were:

• Development of an integrated transport strategy for improved access to and within Kent Thames-side and other regeneration areas in North and East Kent, including improvement of the A2, and the link to the Isle of Sheppey;
• Development of a long-term strategy for the M25;
• Removing trunk road traffic from communities to improve the environment and safety for residents;
• Tackling bottlenecks on key strategic regional routes, including the A3 at Hindhead, links to the south coast, and the M4/A34 andM40/A404 junctions;
• A study of the south coast corridor from Southampton to Folkestone, to include the M27, A27, A259, rail and other public transport aimed at improving access to and between the regeneration areas and other areas of economic activity along the south coast. Early action to tackle problems at Polegate, Hastings and Worthing.
• Development of integrated transport strategies for Heathrow and Gatwick to minimise the road traffic impacts of the airports' business.

Other decisions

The following schemes are to be the subject of further studies and/or consideration by the regional planning conference:

• M4 J4B-8/9 Widening
• A2 Lydden Dover Improvement
• A3 Hindhead Improvement
• A21 Tonbridge Pembury Dualling
• A27 Wilmington BypasslA27 Selmeston Bypass
• A27 Arundel Bypass
• A259 Pevensey Bexhill Improvement
• A259 Bexhill & Hastings Western Bypass
• A259 Hastings Eastern Bypass

The following schemes are being withdrawn from the national trunk road programme:

• M23 J8-9 Widening
• M25 J15-16 Widening
• M25 J16-19 Widening
• A27 Southerham Beddingham Improvement

Proposals for detrunking

Routes wholly or partly within the South East Region proposed for transfer to local highway authority management are:

• A339 M3 Junction 6 to A34 south of Newbury
• A36 northward from M27
• A41 M25 to M40
• A40 M40 westward to Ross-on-Wye
• A361 Southam Road Banbury
• A420 A34 to A419 between Oxford and Swindon
• A423 M40 north of Banbury to Coventry
• A423 A34 south of Oxford to Heyford Hill roundabout

It is also proposed to discuss with Kent County Council the detrunking of the A259 from Brenzett to Folkestone and the trunking of theA2070 between Brenzett and M20 Junction 10 at Ashford as the alternative core route.