HIGHWAYS chiefs have revealed funding for a new walking and cycling bridge to cross the Avon between Abbey Bridge and Hampton Ferry has been secured after the long-awaiting Evesham Town Transport Strategy was finally unveiled.
Worcestershire County Council, in partnership with Wychavon District Council, is developing the Evesham Town Transport Strategy so as to address the town’s transport problems with a package of schemes which consider all modes of transport.
The next step the creation of a computer-based traffic model of Evesham’s road network. The model is founded on the results from the traffic survey to ensure that it properly reflects how Evesham’s roads function.
The results from the town-wide traffic surveys have been published at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/evesham and will be followed on Wednesday by the results of the first stage of testing of some of the options being considered to tackle the congestion.
A traffic model of Evesham, a computer-based simulation of the town’s road network based on the results of the traffic surveys to ensure it properly reflects ‘real-world’ conditions, has been developed and this will be used to assess the options which ‘pass’ the first stage of testing.
The initial aim of this work is to develop a number of schemes which can be delivered in the short term to help ease traffic flows in Evesham within the constraints of the town’s existing road network and the traffic demand placed on it.
County chiefs are also backing the development of a funding bid that, if successful, would see the junctions around Evesham on the A46 improved by 2021 and an investigation into the A46 to assess how it performs as part of the nation’s road network.
Dr Ken Pollock, cabinet member for Economy and Infrastructure, said: “We take very seriously the effect congestion has on everyone who lives or works in Evesham and that is why we are working through a methodical plan.
“We are assessing a number of options for making improvements within the town before we then look at more wide-ranging and longer-term measures.
“And we are doing all of this in close partnership with Wychavon District Council, not least because we want to make sure that the wider options fit, or better still support, the town’s aspirations for the future.
“We understand people’s frustrations but it is clear that there aren’t any easy or quick answers. In common with much of the UK, travel demand has kept on growing in Evesham but the constrained nature of the town’s road network makes the impact of this rising demand particularly keenly felt.”
Coun Bradley Thomas, Wychavon District Council’s Portfolio holder for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, said: “This is such an important project for Evesham and we are delighted to be working in partnership to help shape it.”
