A31: Dorset
Transport

Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole, Liberal Democrat)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the A31 Canford Bottom Junction Improvement Scheme on improving general road safety and reducing traffic (a) in general and (b) during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon, Conservative)

The assessment of the effectiveness of the A31 Canford Bottom junction improvement scheme will be undertaken 12 months after the completion of the scheme under the Post Opening Project Evaluation. This is in line with current practice for all road safety and congestion improvements that the Highways Agency undertakes.

Post Opening Project Evaluation compares the costs, benefits and other impacts predicted at the appraisal (pre-construction) stage with the ‘outturn’ effects (after completion). The effects that were thought to be when we made the decision to build the scheme are compared with what was found to happen after the scheme opened. Details are available on the agency website at:

http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/18348.aspx

The Post Opening Project Evaluation will also analyse the design prediction that the scheme will provide improved journey times for 10 years after opening, before growth in traffic volumes results in an increase in congestion to levels before the improvement. This scheme primarily aimed to increase the capacity and throughput of traffic on the A31 and provide optimal traffic movements to improve journey times at the junction and improve road safety rather than reduce traffic.

During the period of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, no evidence or issues were received by the Highways Agency to raise significant concerns regarding road safety or congestion at the A31 Canford Bottom junction.