Agenda item

Tom Finnegan-Smith, Acting Transportation Unit Manager, to report.

-                      to seek Cabinet Member approval to undertake the detailed design and implementation of highway improvements at Mushroom roundabout (the junction of the A630 Fitzwilliam Road/Doncaster Road and A6123 Herringthorpe Valley Road/Aldwarke Lane).

Please note that copies of the Appendices to this report are available in the Members’ Room in the Eric Manns Building, 45 Moorgate Street, Rotherham.

Copies are also available electronically via the Intranet/Internet.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Acting Transportation Unit Manager and the Senior Engineer, seeking approval to undertake the detailed design and implementation of highway improvements at Mushroom roundabout (the junction of the A630 Fitzwilliam Road/Doncaster Road and A6123 Herringthorpe Valley Road/Aldwarke Lane).

Reference was made to the Rotherham Bus Key Routes Working Group and to the consultation exercise commissioned in June 2009 to establish public opinion on issues that affected the key route between Rotherham Town Centre and the borough boundary with Doncaster along the A630 (the Rotherham to Thrybergh Smart Route).

Reference was also made to the report prepared by WSP, appended to the submitted report, and to the five options identified from the traffic modelling exercise.

Analysis of these options had highlighted that the proposal to introduce traffic lights to control traffic on Mushroom roundabout, and also facilitate the provision of pedestrian and cyclist crossings on all arms of the roundabout, together with the infilling of the subway on the Fitzwilliam Road approach to the roundabout and extending the existing bus only lane, was considered to provide the most benefit for general traffic, buses, pedestrians and cyclists.

It was reported that the proposed improvements at Mushroom roundabout were estimated to cost £1.4million.  The scheme had programme entry for the LTP strategic fund programme with £750,000 identified as available this year and £250,000 provisionally available next financial year. Furthermore, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive had also identified £500,000 to spend on this corridor this financial year and they had indicated they would contribute up to the full amount required for this project.

However, it was pointed out that the funding was identified in the South Yorkshire Local Transport Plan Strategic Fund Programme for this year and next but this money still had to be fully approved from the members of the Finance and Integrated Transport Working Group.  Council support for the scheme and a commitment to start would give the group confidence that the project could be delivered. Although £250,000 had been provisionally allocated to this scheme in 2011/12 the final LTP settlement would not be known until later this year.  Reference was made to the Coalition Government’s Budget announcements and their impact on this scheme and others within the Local Transport Plan.

Those present also discussed issues in relation to:-

-                      Impact on Aldwarke Lane

-                      Mowbray Gardens

-                      Operation of the Bus lane proposal

-                      Infilling of the subway

-                      Whinney Hill and Oldgate Lane

-                      Benefits of further signalisation

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report prepared by WSP and its recommendations be received.

(2)  That, subject to confirmation of funding:-

(i)  detailed design of a traffic light controlled junction with associated highway works be undertaken.

(ii)  community information giving exercise be carried out in partnership with South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive.

(iii) the proposal be implemented subject to no issues being raised at the information giving stage.

(3)   That further update reports on both the Strategic Schemes and Local Schemes be submitted to the Cabinet Member.