Road and the Canal, as well as missed opportunity to accelerate the future developments in the area. Impact against Strategic Objectives Please describe how this option delivers against the strategic objectives set out in Section 1.3. Make reference to the outputs of the Early Assessment and Sifting Tool process Connect to the SRN to Aid Optimisation of the Network as a Whole No detailed assessments have been carried out, however due to traffic volumes remaining the same (no redistribution of traffic would occur) and land restrictions, it is likely that the Red Lion Rounndabout and Gorse Street junctions would continue to operate over capacity. This option will provide additional infrastructure to facilitate connection to SRN. Minimal delay is forecasted between the Red Lion Roundabout and the A678 Furthergate. This option will provide additional infrastructure to facilitate connection to SRN. Minimal delay is forecasted between the Red Lion Roundabout and the A678 Furthergate during the morning peak hour in the future year scenarios. A higher junction delay is however forecasted during the evening park hour in the future year scenarios. This option will provide additional infrastructure to facilitate connection to SRN. Junction assessments undertaken within the Options Appraisal Report (Appendix H), however demonstrate that Option 3 would generate unacceptable levels of congestion with high delays. This option will provide additional infrastructure to facilitate connection to SRN. Junction performance would not differ significantly from that modelled for Option 2. This option will provide additional infrastructure to facilitate connection to SRN. This option should ensure minimal delay between the Red Lion Roundabout and the A678 Furthergate. Improve the Reliability of Journey Times No detailed assessments have been carried out, however due to unacceptable levels of congestion, it is This option mitigates the existing issues with journey time reliability. Potential journey time reliability issues during the evening peak hour. Due to unacceptable levels of congestion, the reliability of journey times is poor. Same as Option 2. This option mitigates the existing issues with journey time reliability.
future developments; significant risk of already congested network becoming more congested. option runs the risk of economic growth not matching expectations, leading to unforeseen changes in traffic growth. morning peak hour. spreading, which would result in wider delays along SRN. It would also impact on the environment, potentially increasing emissions. number of residential properties. In addition, similar to Option 2, this option incorporates a measure of mitigation required, but only to address capacity issues during the morning peak hour. Rationale for Rejection Please explain why this specific option has been rejected in favour of the proposed scheme. During initial discussions with the key stakeholders from BwDBC this option has been eliminated due to: missing the opportunity to open land for potential development and accelerate new developments in the area; unsuitability of this option to the character of the A678 Burnley Road being a residential street (as traffic volumes would remain at current levels), land restrictions, potential objections from Signalisation of the New Link Road/A678 Burnley Street junction would allow for ‘rat running’, when some motorists could continue travelling along the A678 Burnley Road as currently. It has therefore been rejected. This option does not provide the required capacity during the evening peak hour. It has therefore been rejected. This option could potentially have a significant detrimental effect on the economy and environment of Darwen and the surrounding region. It has therefore been rejected. This option does not provide the required capacity during the evening peak hour. The potential costs involved are high due to required land to be purchase, currently occupied by residential dwellings. It has therefore been rejected. This is the proposed scheme.