A1 Junctions Phase 2

An RPS-led consortium (RPS-Sweco) is carrying out a TD37/93 Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) Stage 3 Assessment to identify the environmental, engineering, economic, safety and traffic advantages, disadvantages and constraints of the preferred option for the A1 Junctions Phase 2 Project.

The project is a safety-driven scheme to upgrade a 25.2km stretch of existing Category 5 dual carriageway which has undesirable characteristics such as a significant number of at-grade crossings and access points onto the carriageway, sections of poor horizontal alignment, vertical alignment, visibility and narrow central reserve.

Solution

From the outset, RPS-Sweco sought to engage with all parties along the route to ensure that they are fully aware of the scheme proposals and to offer them an opportunity to engage in the development process.

RPS organised and convened two Community Consultation Events during the Stage 3 Assessment process to afford appropriate opportunity for all affected members of the public to provide feedback on current design proposals. In advance of the Consultation Events, approx. 20,000 information leaflets were dropped to all properties along the affected route. Letters were issued to statutory bodies, landowners affected by the proposals and members of the public who had previously made representation. Each Consultation Event was held at three separate venues on different days to accommodate people along the length of the route. These events proved very useful in highlighting particular concerns raised and allowed RPS-Sweco to consider these and mitigate where necessary through the design process.

RPS-Sweco also engaged on an ongoing basis throughout the Stage 3 process with all affected landowners and anybody wishing to discuss development proposals.