Roadwork limits for busiest borough streets
Bid to control disruption to main routes
TRUNK roads across the borough could be designated ‘traffic sensitive streets’ in a bid to better control disruptive roadworks.
Among the roads set for listing are Normandy Way and Ashby Road in Hinckley, Leicester Road, Earl Shilton, Rugby Road, Burbage and Leicester Lane, Desford.
Leicester Road in Hinckley is also among those being considered with roadwork ‘blackout’ times during the peak periods of Monday to Friday 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm.
This street is due to be closed off for five months from April, prompting a diversion of more than two miles, due to Severn Trent installing new flood alleviation sewers.
As the highways authority Leicestershire County Council produced the list, which recently went out for consultation.
Officers will be reviewing feedback before final decisions are taken.
Some routes will benefit from the rush hour restriction while others will be under a whole day restriction of 7am to 6.30pm.
The ‘traffic sensitive’ label, however, doesn’t stop roadworks from actually taking place.
A council spokesman said: “Roadworks can cause disruptions to traffic. To help keep traffic flowing on the most used and most important parts of our network, the law allows us to designate certain roads as ‘traffic sensitive streets’. This enables us to control any works on that part of the highway with the objective of minimising disruption to road users.
“A ‘traffic sensitive’ designation does not necessarily prevent roadworks from taking place but would give greater powers to control when these happen and for how long. The restrictions can apply to the carriageway only or to a footway or pedestrian area only, and can be specific to certain days, or times of day.”
The criteria for considering which roads can be designated as ‘traffic sensitive’ are set out in national regulations.
Criteria includes roads with traffic flow greater than 500 vehicles per hour, per lane, traffic flow contains more than 25% heavy commercial vehicles, the street carries more than eight buses an hour, it’s a busy pedestrian thoroughfare or the street is on a tourist route or within an area where international, national, or significant major local events take place.
County officials periodically review the streets to ensure the busiest ones are brought under the regulation and consultation takes place with utility companies, district councils and other interested parties.