THE revised layout to the A329M was never going to work and doomed to failure, according to a former transport planner.
Chris Saunders, a member of the Fix The A329M Facebook group recently posted an assessment of the road based on data published by the Department for Transport (DfT). According to his research, the A329M was already over capacity before the works began, and the reduction in carriageways means that the road is squeezing in more vehicles than it could possibly take.
In his post he noted: “The capacity of motorways is determined by the DfT document TA 46/97 Traffic Flow Assessment on Rural Roads. This document states that a dual two-lane motorway with hard shoulder has a capacity of 41,000 vehicles per day (20,500 per carriageway). A single carrigeway road, which in effect the road has become, can accommodate 13,000 vehicles per day (6,500 per carriageway).
“However a look on the DfT traffic count website shows that the A329M on the Winnersh side of J10 carried 67,195 vehicles in 2012 and 55,545 in 2014, (combined figures for both carriageways), while on the Bracknell side of the J10 the flows were 83,716 in 2012 and 78,412 in 2014 (again combined for both carriageways).
“These existing figures show that the existing A329M was already operating over capacity and, while it is accepted traffic leaves the A329M to go on to the M4, the remaining single lane section will carry significantly more traffic than the a single carriageway can accommodate.”
However, Highways England disputes Mr Saunders’ findings, saying that the new layout increases capacity and reduces congestion at the M4 junction, even though it has increased congestion on the A329M.
Stuart Miller, spokesperson for the agency, told The Wokingham Paper: “The new junction was designed in partnership with and with the agreement of Wokingham Borough Council who are responsible for the A329M. The junction was designed in accordance with current standards.
“Over the junction as a whole we have increased capacity and reduced congestion and accidents but we do acknowledge there is more congestion on the A329M link specifically. We are looking into this in conjunction with Wokingham Borough Council, and will consider further modifications to the layout if they look to offer tangible benefits without compromising safety.”
A PETITION set up to force Wokingham Borough Council to debate the changes to the A329M has failed. A total of 1,500 signatures were needed to ensure the revised road layout would be discussed at a council meeting but only 610 signed up.
