A340 Aldermaston Road Improvements, Basingstoke
Hampshire County Council, working closely with our partners Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, is developing proposals to provide traffic signals on the Aldermaston Roundabout together with road widening of the A340 between the roundabout and Priestley Road.
Introduction
The purpose of this website is to provide you with the latest information on the proposed scheme. Construction is programmed to start in autumn 2007 and this is your opportunity to view the proposals before works begin.
The scheme proposals have been going through the democratic decision making process following the public consultation period at the end of 2006. The proposals have been revised following feedback from the public and local County Members and the final proposals can be seen by clicking here PDF (1.5MB) or here ZIP (1.1MB). The final decision to approve the scheme funding will be made by the County’s Executive Member for Policy & Resources early in April.
Detailed Proposals
The proposals aim to provide a safer environment for road users, manage traffic flow and congestion and improve journey time reliability and hospital access through traffic signal control and carriageway widening measures at a major interchange on the strategic highway network. To reduce queuing times for buses on the A340 a southbound bus only lane will be considered for implementation in the future when it may be helpful in supporting higher bus frequencies and new bus routes in the area. The southbound bus only lane shown on the scheme layout plan will not be constructed during this phase of improvement works and will function as a general traffic lane for all vehicles at scheme opening. The scheme will also implement improvements to the existing pedestrian footways on Popley Way, Oakridge Road and Aldermaston Road South. A more detailed description of the proposed works is given below.
A340 Aldermaston Road Proposals
The scheme covers the A340 from Priestley Road southbound to the Aldermaston Roundabout where there is generally a single traffic lane in each direction. Carriageway widening is proposed on both sides of the road to create two northbound traffic lanes and two southbound bound traffic lanes separated by a central reserve. The Priestley Road junction will also be altered to incorporate a new access to the Merton Rise development site adjacent to the A340.
The road is due to be fully reconstructed over this section of the scheme. By lowering the level of the road it is possible to remove the need for an expensive retaining wall. To see Typical Sections A-A click here PDF (226kb) and B-B click here PDF (226kb).
Aldermaston Roundabout Proposals
Signalisation of the existing roundabout is proposed to improve road safety and junction efficiency in managing traffic growth. Widening the roundabout carriageway to create additional lanes will work together with the traffic signals to optimise the roundabout circulatory flow. Carriageway widening is also proposed on the Popley Way, Aldermaston Road South and A339 Eastbound Off-Slip approaches to the roundabout. These widening measures will assist the proposed approach-road traffic signals to operate efficiently.
Major maintenance and upgrading works are also proposed to the existing roundabout carriageway and highway drainage. The existing carriageway will be re-surfaced and re-constructed in places using a combination of new and recycled materials where appropriate. The existing highway drainage will be upgraded with a new system designed to the latest sustainable drainage guidelines (SUDS).
A339 Off-Slip Proposals
Carriageway widening to create a dedicated left turn lane on the A339 eastbound exit slip road is proposed in order to accommodate the high flow of traffic leaving the A339 travelling to Tadley on the A340. The carriageway widening has been designed to the offside of the slip road to avoid an existing strip of highway land that is heavily planted with mature trees and other plants. A cutting slope into the existing highway embankment and site clearance works to remove some existing trees and planting will be required.
Proposals for Pedestrians & Cyclists
Consultation on the pedestrian and cyclist requirements as part of the democratic decision making process has resulted in changes to the original scope of works. Footways are proposed on Popley Way, Abbey Road, Oakridge Road, Osborne Close and Aldermaston Road South to improve pedestrian access to bus stops and local amenities. The footways will be 2.0m wide and lit by additional street lighting where required.
What Happens Next
The final democratic approval decision is expected to be made by the County’s Executive Member for Policy & Resources early in April. The tendering process is planned to commence Summer 2007 for an expected construction start of Autumn 2007.
The A340 Aldermaston Road Improvements should be completed Spring 2009.
Contact Us
For further information about the A340 Aldermaston Road Improvements scheme, please contact either:
Frank Baxter (Client Manager)
Tel: 01962 846581
Fax: 01962 847055
Syd Sadro (Project Manager)
Tel: 01962 846099
Fax: 01962 847055
Or write to
Environment Department
Hampshire County Council
The Castle
Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 8UD
Alternatively please send comments by clicking here