Overview
Foreword
Lincolnshire County Council Traffic Sensitive Street (TSS) review has been conducted in line with the requirements of the New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA) 1991 (Section 64), NRSWA 1991 code of practice (Section 5.4) and the Geo-place Traffic Sensitive Streets Guidance Notes 2.0 (2023).
Introduction
All Local Highway Authorities are required to undertake a periodic review of traffic sensitive streets within their area to ensure it is relevant for current day usage. Local Highway Authorities are required to review current traffic sensitive streets in line with the 2023 changes, as per the Code of practice for the co-ordination of street and road works (March 2023).
Lincolnshire County Council (the Council) carried out a previous traffic sensitive street review in January 2022. The Council's ability to provide reliable journey times on the highway network is an important factor for road users and has a wider impact on the economy of Lincolnshire as a whole.
A variety of factors continue to impact traffic flows, congestion, and demand on the highway network. These include:
- general traffic growth and increased network demand
- developments of housing estates, business or retail parks, student accommodation
- road infrastructure improvements
- the fast-moving demand for home shopping deliveries
The Council has considered the rapid traffic growth, changes to the road network and the need for greater clarity and consistency in application. The Council has also considered the impacts of COVID-19 and traffic flow returning to its normal levels. The proposed changes are outlined within this document.
The ability to achieve road user satisfaction whilst getting works completed is an important outcome for both the Council and statutory undertakers (for example utility companies and others).
Under NRSWA 1991 (Section 59 and 60) The Council has a duty to coordinate works on the highway network and those working within it have a duty to co-operate in this process. The Traffic Management Act 2004 and Lincolnshire Permit Scheme (LiPS) objectives for the Council include increasing the efficient running of the highway network by minimising the disruption and inconvenience caused by activities on the highway.
The Council has a successful and constructive relationship with statutory undertakers in Lincolnshire. This proposal considers the removal of tourism route and winter gritting route as designation of traffic sensitivity.
Whilst the designation of a street as traffic sensitive does not prevent works, it helps to ensure the improved regulation of works in the busiest areas of the network. This ensures both the Council and statutory undertakers have sight of the appropriate designations to highlight where a street has high traffic flow and therefore can consider implementing mitigation measures which may include:
- working outside of traffic sensitive times
- using innovative technology, such as Intelligent or Auto-Green temporary traffic signals, to alleviate queues where temporary signals are needed
- changing working method to enable work to take place without need to incur on the carriageway, for example, directional drilling
- manually controlling traffic signals to alleviate queues
- use of advanced signing prior to works starting works to notify road users of delays