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The development site is neighboured by three major traffic routes: the A14 to the west, the A141 to the south, and Ermine Street to the east. Assessments, traffic surveys and traffic counts have been carried out at the junctions along these routes that may be affected by the development of NorthBridge.
The Highways Agency has recently carried out significant improvements to the Spittals Interchange and the Ermine Street/Spittals Way roundabout. This work aims to improve the flow of traffic and address safety issues. It has been assessed that the proposed improvements will mean that the development of NorthBridge will have a neutral impact on the current traffic at the Spittals Interchange.
In March 2006, as a result of delays to the proposed A14 improvements, the Highways Agency required Persimmon Homes to consider methods of reducing the traffic generated by the NorthBridge development such that overall traffic flows were not increased. This position, referred to as ‘Nil Detriment’ fundamentally changed the assessment of traffic and necessitated more detailed consideration as to how existing traffic levels could be reduced. The precise range of measures identified and proposed is explained elsewhere (click here for further information) however, through the introduction of these measures which will encourage people to use transport modes other than the car, a significant reduction in traffic can be achieved which will benefit the wider local road network. In addition, combined with the improvements to Ermine Street detailed below, a significant reduction in queuing times can be achieved.
The main entrance to NorthBridge is opposite the entrance to Ermine Street Business Park, and this junction will be controlled by traffic lights (click here to read more about access to NorthBridge). These signals will reduce the delays and queuing currently experienced when entering and exiting the business park, and will minimise the effects any new road users will have on the junction. With natural growth - and without installing any signals at this junction - it is predicted that by 2021 the average queue to enter Ermine Street Business Park during the peak morning hour will be 124 cars long, and to exit in the peak evening hour, queues will be 127 cars long. With the development of NorthBridge and following the installation of traffic lights, it is estimated that the average queue to enter Ermine Street Business Park in the morning would be only 6 cars long. Similarly, during the peak evening hour the average queue to exit the business park would be 15 cars long.
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