Roads Maintenance

A77 and A78 Trunk Roads

A77 Park End to Bennane

The Scottish Government, have commissioned Amey Infrastructure Services (AIS), to carry out design works for A77 PARK END TO BENNANE

On 22 November 2004, details of the scheme were received for comment.

A number of improvements are proposed,

From Ballantrae to Balig Farm access, approximately 750metres, the road will be widened to standard width and metre strips added.

From Balig Farm access to the B734, Colmonell Road, junction, the road will be widened to provide two dedicated lanes for northbound traffic, similar to the new layout at Turnberry.

An improvement to the B734, Colmonell Road, junction.

From the B734, Colmonell Road, junction, to the junction at the start of the Bennane Climbing lane, the road will be widened to provide two dedicated lanes for southbound traffic.

South Ayrshire Council comments are:

General

The draft Route Action Plan Firm Strategy Report for the A77 : Ayr to Stranraer prepared by South Ayrshire Council and Dumfries and Galloway for the Scottish Government in October 1997, recommended that the road be widened to standard width and metre strips added.

Provision of an overtaking scheme was not considered necessary due to the proximity of dedicated overtaking opportunities in both directions at Bennane.

The impetus for this scheme is the identification, by the ferry companies supported by NCP and SAC, that there is a requirement for northbound overtaking opportunities at this location, as detailed in the A75/A77 Port Approach Study.

An assessment of the scheme indicates that the proposed scheme is significantly different to that outlined in the Port Approach Study, and that there may be effectively a reduction in northbound overtaking opportunities.

At present, there is opportunistic overtaking over a length of around 3 km. These are realistic opportunities given the low traffic volumes and the associated platooning.

For the scheme shown, dedicated overtaking will be possible, over a length of 600m or thereby, and opportunistic overtaking will be possible over a length of around 400m.

Opportunistic overtaking over the remainder of a length of around 3 km will be prohibited.

An alternative scheme would comprise:-

A northbound 2+1 from Ballantrae to the B734 junction, -this would provide approximately 1.5km of dedicated overtaking opportunity. Associated service roads would be required.

The remainder- from the B734 junction to the start of the Bennane Climbing lane 2+1 – would be available, as at present, for opportunistic overtaking by both northbound and southbound traffic. Widening to standard width and the provision of hard strips would be beneficial.

Should additional southbound dedicated overtaking be desired, then road widening at the lay-by at the top of Bennane Hill, as recommended in the SAC strategy, would be more cost effective.

However, in general, the works are considered to be of benefit.

Local Plan

The South Ayrshire Local Plan sets out the policies, proposals and recommendations of South Ayrshire Council, as the local planning authority, for the development and other use of land, the protection of environmental resources and for the management of transport and traffic within the administrative area of South Ayrshire Council.

Its vision is to provide a co-ordinated land use strategy which contributes to:

• a strong and diverse local economy;
• meeting the needs and aspirations of South Ayrshire for housing, jobs, education and leisure; and
• maintaining and enhancing through a sustainable approach, the high environmental quality of the area.

The Local Plan is available on South Ayrshire Council's website. This scheme should ensure that all works take account of this document. Also available is the Interactive mapping which details, for example, greenbelt areas, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and conservation areas.

Biodiversity

Please consider the Ayrshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan which aims include conserving South Ayrshire's local biodiversity and safeguarding the natural environment. Specific comments can be made on the details of landscaping / biodiversity proposals when they are available.

Lighting

As this is a remote rural area, it is considered that this proposal must not include any road lighting for the reasons listed below.

1. With the correct road markings and advance signing, there would be very little benefit gained from lighting the junctions in this scheme.
2. The additional electrical load associated with any lighting would contribute to the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere.
3. Any lighting would produce "sky-glow" and "light pollution" in an inherently dark area.

Cleansing

Issues that would affect SAC’s cleaning service include
any alteration including the creation or removal of lay-bys – SAC would require to remove any euro-bins and enclosure prior to the removal of the lay-by
additional kerbing
loose stone in edge drainage etc.

There are also concerns regarding possible difficulties sweeping a 2+1 road layout.

It is understood that there may be a metre strip between solid white lines in the middle of the carriageway. As this strip would not normally be trafficked, a build up of detritus may be expected. A satisfactory procedure to sweep this area has not been identified. There is no experience of the maintenance regime required for this road layout.

Environmental Health

Environmental Health request that cognisance be given to the impact any works may have on local residents ie nuisance from noise, dust or vibration.

Roads Issues

The proposed works appear to include improvements at the junctions with the B734 public road, and the U113 public road.

Specific comment on the junction improvements will be made on receipt of road layout, geometry, drainage layout and construction details.

There have previously been drainage difficulties associated with the road in the vicinity of the B734 junction. Local, intense rainfall can be experienced in this area.

This has led to runoff from the fields/hills to the east of the A77 flooding across. There have been crashes associated with this.

The proposed works appear to include improvements at the junction with the private road at Balig Farm. Owners of these roads and accesses should be informed of the SE opinion regarding the position of the boundary between the trunk road and the private road, and the associated maintenance implications.