Runways 20156 – 7 July

Paul Harwood

Introducing Highways England

On 1 April the Highways Agency became a government company responsible for England’s Strategic Road Network (SRN). Our obligations include:

• Ensuring the effective operation of the network• Ensuring the improvement, enhancement and

long-term development of the network;• Protecting and improving the safety of the network; • Encouraging economic growth

Introducing Highways England

We manage and maintain 4,300 miles of motorways and major A roads

Our highways account for only 2% by length of all England’s roads, yet we carry a third of all national traffic

Our motorways and A roads carry two-thirds of all freight traffic

Our network of motorways and A roads is worth over £110 billion

England’s Strategic Road Network in London and the South East

Key MotorwayTrunk Road Gatwick and Heathrow Airports

Introducing Highways England

The capacity of many of our roads is increasingly inadequate.

By 2040, traffic on the SRN will be between 27% and 57% higher than it was in 2013.

Road traffic forecasts indicate that, by 2040, around 25% of the entire SRN and 32% of the motorway network will experience severe congestion at peak times and suffer poor conditions at other times of the day.

DfT Road Investment Strategy

The Road Investment Strategy sets out future plans for England’s Strategic Road Network, including:

• 29 major schemes in London and the south east - £2.2 billion to be invested up to 2020

• Upgrades to 10 of the 31 M25 junctions

Major schemes near Heathrow and Gatwick

M4 Smart Motorway between junction 3 (Uxbridge) and junction 12 (west of Reading)

M23 Smart Motorway between Junction 8 (M25 interchange ) and junction 10 (Crawley)

M25 Smart Motorway and widening between junction 10 (A3) and junction 16 (M40)

Smart Motorways

M4 J3-12

M25 J10-16

M23 J8-10

M25 South-West Quadrant

SW quadrant contains 9 of the 10 busiest sections of England’s Strategic Road Network

Severe congestion is a regular occurrence The investment programme will help

improve conditions on this stretch, but further widening of the road beyond this point would be a considerable feat of engineering

SW Quadrant Strategic Study

Led by the DfT The end result needs to be a lasting

solution, which can keep people moving for a generation to come

SW Quadrant Strategic Study

Far-reaching study that can consider all of the options for transport in this area, taking account of any relevant findings from the Airports Commission

Will need to consider how to make best use of different transport modes and the local road network

Will also need to consider whether it is possible to strengthen or provide alternative routes for traffic to relieve pressure on the M25 itself

Our role in Airport Expansion

The Highways Agency– Engaged with all three shortlisted promoters– Provided advice to promoters– Provided advice to the Airports Commission

But as a part of the DfT did not participate in Airports Commission consultations

The Proposed Heathrow North West Runway

M25 Tunnels

About 600m of M25 in tunnel Both Heathrow promoters modified their

proposals to improve the safety and resilience of the tunnels:– 4 separate structures– Minimise need to change lanes

Positioned so as to minimise problems during construction.

Bell Common Tunnel (view from M25 Westbound direction)

Air Quality Road traffic a major contributor to pollution Currently air quality fails to meet EU limits at

a number of locations on our network around Heathrow

However improving engine technology is progressively reducing pollution

Airports Commission analysis suggests that air quality (Nox) on our network will be within EU limits in 2030 with the NW runway.

Pollution of Vehicles

Source: Defra National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory

Euro Standards for Passenger Cars

Source: SMMT

Nitrogen Oxides (Kilotonne)

Heathrow Traffic In Context Airport demand with North West runway

as a percentage of total demand:– M4 (Junctions 2-3) 30%– M4 (M25 – Junction 5) 13%– M25 (M4 – M40) 11%– M25 (A3 – Chertsey) 7%– M3 (M25 – Junction 3) 5%

Conclusions

In respect of the Strategic Road Network: No showstoppers at Heathrow (or Gatwick) Airport demand is a limited percentage of

overall demand Main issue is existing congestion and

overall traffic growth Schemes and studies to address this are

programmed.

Thank You