highways - SPECIFIC ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

The development will incorporate a comprehensive network of estate roads, avenues, streets, cul-de-sacs and shared spaces meeting the needs of users not only in terms of travel but also as places to live. 

The majority of streets will be 20mph zones and designed to even more stringent 15mph design speeds whereby priority will not be given to vehicles but shared with pedestrians and cyclists. 

Where possible, traffic and parking will be removed from streets and the spaces fronting homes will be vibrant spaces. In addition to the estate roads and streets, new access and link roads will be provided for more strategic connections town wide and on to the bypass. These roads will have a mix of 20 and 30mph speed limits, depending on their location. Pedestrian and cycle crossings of these roads will be formalised in most instances and priority given to those users.

 It is proposed that the road link from the Mount to the Bypass will act as a further route for traffic from the wider town, thereby relieving some of the demand and congestion that can occur closer to the town centre.

Take a look at the road improvements we're proposing for Frome by clicking on the relevant images.  

  Existing road safety and congestion issues are known to exist at The Butts where outbound traffic is required to give way to that heading inbound. This situation not only causes delay and congestion outbound but for traffic to mount footways with clear road safety implications. As part of the development proposals, it is proposed to address this situation in two ways. 

1.    In the first instance the provision of a new route from the Keyford area to the bypass presents a better choice for motorists and one whereby they would not be subject to the current levels of delay.

2.    Formalising the current shuttle working arrangement with road marking and signs would see it operate more efficiently and safely with better driver understanding and behaviour. 

The traffic model demonstrates that these proposals will see an improvement in traffic conditions on The Butts. The final part of the traffic model is to demonstrate how local roads and traffic patterns will alter with the addition of the development, its residents and workers, and the associated new roads and infrastructure. It is not only the purpose of the model to demonstrate these changes, but what further off site interventions may be required to help keep traffic flowing within acceptable levels and to protect the environment and amenity of residents.

The western part of the development will be accessed off the B3090 Marston Road in the vicinity of the Masons Arms PH. The junction would be built as a medium sized roundabout, the same size as that on Masons Way / Sandys Hill Lane adjacent to Sainsburys. Access to Marston Lane (the Masons Arms) and Paddles Lane would be separate from the roundabout. 

The start of the 30mph limit on the B3090 would be extended further out of town and the section of Marston Road to the Marston roundabout would become a 40mph road. Potentially, Marston Lane could act as a key active travel route including to Oakfield Middle School. 

This is taken into consideration in the junction design by extending the 30mph speed limit and introducing a shared pedstrian and cycle crossing of the main road and linking to the proposed cycle and footways within the development. 

Paddles Lane would revert to local farm access only and serve as a Greenway with a cycleway connection made to it from the proposed crossing. A new footway could be created on the eastern side of Marston Road, but this would require the Marston Gate development to make a section of their land available to complete. Otherwise, the footway on the western side of the road serves for access.

So as to prioritise taking traffic out of the town, access via Little Keyford Lane will include a shuttle working pinch point that prioritises outbound traffic. 

The road will be moved away from the TPO trees protecting their root protection areas. Adjacent foot and cycleways are incorporated into the design up to joining with the existing layout. 

A road connection will be made from the new road to the old Little Keyford Lane, Keyford Farm House and Sandys Hill Lane. Access will only serve the small number of existing properties and coupled with other proposals to close Sandys Hill Lane to traffic, Keyford Lane through the development would revert to a Greenway.

Discussions are in hand with other developers to extend the foot and cycleways on Little Keyford Lane within their schemes, including linking their schemes to it.

The main access to the development will be formed off the A361 Frome bypass in a similar fashion to the Commerce Park development. 

The speed limit for this section of the bypass, as per Commerce Park, would be reduced to 40mph and with the development access roads being 30mph. 

The southern arm of the roundabout would serve part of the commercial development and the northern arm the main link road. 

A signal controlled crossing for equestrian, cyclists and pedestrians would be created to the east of the roundabout, linking the existing bridleway between Frome and Tytherington.

So as to overcome the steep gradient from the bridleways to the bypass, a short section would be diverted.

A bat culvert and crossing will be created under the main link road and the pedestrian crossing located away from it so as not to introduce higher levels of light at that location.

Vehicular access to the Blatchbridge commercial area would be confined to the B3092, a short distance from its roundabout with the bypass. 

So as to encourage through traffic to use the new link road through the development, the layout of the B3092 would be altered with priority given to traffic to/from the commercial area. 

The current 7.5t weight limit, not in place for any highway structural reasons, would be relocated to commence north of the access. 

Pedestrian and cycle access would predominantly be taken from a new bridge over the River Frome linking to the proposed central hub of the development.