Mines Road Junction Planning Statement

Chapter 3 - Options

3 General

In developing the options, the following areas were considered: Environmental The design should minimise the impact to the local environment.

Technical The proposals should meet the recommended standards set out in the DMRB, based on a design speed of 60 kph (the design speed appropriate for a 48 kph ( 30 mph ) speed limit).

Financial The proposals should be economically viable and fall within the constraints of the Department's revenue programme.

3.1 Options Considered

Four options were considered to address the concerns with the current junction arrangement; these being main road traffic calming and visibility improvements, revise the current T-junction arrangement, introduce a miniroundabout and finally install traffic signals.

The demolition of the property known as Bridge House was integral to all the options, an initial study concluded that the only alternative means of improving visibility without demolishing the property involved moving the junction north of its current position onto privately owned land.

3.2 Recommendation (Appendix B; Drawing Ref: Figures 2 and 3)

The Department of Infrastructure's recommended solution is to demolish Bridge House and improve the existing T-junction arrangement. This solution addresses several areas of concern with the current junction arrangement. The proposed layout will remove the requirement for large goods vehicles and buses to encroach onto opposing traffic lanes when negotiating the junction. Junction visibility will increase significantly in both directions as a result of demolishing Bridge House, realigning and reducing the height of adjacent boundary features and repositioning the stop line west of its current position. The application of diagonal hatched road markings will increase the prominence of the junction and give a more confined impression of the road layout ahead causing vehicles to slow down when approaching the junction. The footway extension between Mines Road and the residential properties to the south east of the junction will provide a safer means of access for the householders.

Due to the proximity of adjacent residential properties and topography of the land, the steep approach gradients cannot be significantly amended to meet recommended standards. However the proposal does introduce minor gradient improvements which will improve the current situation.

3.3 Development of Recommendation

To develop the recommended option, the third party landowner as well as the Statutory Undertakers and Building Control were contacted:

Dingle Nook (Mr Parkinson)

Preliminary discussions have been held with the landowner and he has no objections to the Department submitting a planning application based upon the proposals as shown.

Statutory Undertakers (Manx Electricity Authority and Manx Telecom)

To accommodate this proposal, electric poles and associated overhead cables have already been removed and ducted underground by the relevant authorities.

Building Control (Demolition of Bridge House)

The Departments agent BB Consulting Engineers Limited have applied for and obtained a notice to demolish Bridge House under Section 26 of the Building Control Act 1991. The reference number is 10/00031/BCD.

3.4 Summary

A brief summary of the above proposal is as follows:

The Need for Improvement

i. The substandard junction visibility on the Mines Road approach. ii. Large vehicles encroach onto opposing traffic lanes when negotiating the junction. iii. The approach speed of vehicles exceeds the current 30 mph speed limit.

Recommendation

To overcome these problems and subsequently improve the performance, perception and safety of the junction, the Department of Infrastructure recommend implementing the alterations shown on the enclosed plan. This proposal satisfies more fully the requirements of the Department in terms of both vehicular and pedestrian safety, capacity and perception.