The Council’s Cabinet has approved a £19 million Transportation and Highways Capital programme for 2024/25.
The £19.249m capital programme for the maintenance and improvement of the city’s roads, pavements and transport infrastructure is funded through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), external funding and Citizen Housing Right to Buy receipts.
The programme includes scores of projects, ranging from pavement crossings through to major public transport, road and cycleway schemes.
Schemes outlined in the officers’ report include:
The further extension of the Average Speed Camera network. Speeding continues to be a major source of concern across the city and it is intended to prioritise the rollout of ASE schemes on major traffic routes across the city, with up to four sites being proposed in 2024/25.
The implementation of School Streets Programme at Templars School and four other schools across this city. This is scheduled to go live in 2024/25. It is also planned to review and refresh the city’s 20mph speed limit policy.
Scheme development has continued on the Keresley Link Road scheme, and it is anticipated that proposals will be brought forward for consultation during 2024/25. Some sections of the scheme are already being constructed as part of the Keresley Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) residential developments that have secured planning approval.
Scheme development work is also continuing on the options for improving M6 Junction 3, and this study will be completed during 2024.
The Binley Cycleway is substantially completed, with usage representing a fourfold increase on parts of the route. The remaining section of the route, along Clifford Bridge Road, is programmed for construction in 2024/25 following extended consultation.
The additional section of the Binley Cycleway, along Allard Way to the New Century Park development, is under construction with completion in Spring 2024.
Construction of the cycleway linking to the University of Warwick campus at Lynchgate has also commenced, with completion due in Spring 2024, and feeder routes to this new route are being developed for delivery during 2024/25 funded through S106 developer contribution.
Scheme development work is progressing on further cycle routes in the University of Warwick area, a route linking Eastern Green with the city centre along Holyhead Road, and routes linking Keresley with the city centre, Coundon and Allesley. The Council is also working with National Highways and Warwickshire County Council on potential extensions of the Binley Cycle Route across the A46 Eastern Bypass to Binley Woods and Coombe Abbey.
The Local Air Quality Action Plan (LAQAP) schemes at Spon End and Ring Road Junction 7 have been completed. The latest air quality monitoring assessment shows that the eastern end of Holyhead Road remains above the legal limit in terms of nitrogen dioxide levels, with a substantial reduction, and scheme development is underway for the traffic management measures required to reduce traffic levels on that section of Holyhead Road.
The monitoring figures also indicate that Foleshill Road is now compliant with NO2 thresholds, with the introduction of the fully electric buses on that corridor undoubtedly a factor in reducing the NO2 levels. Further consultation on the proposals for Holyhead Road will take place later in 2024.
The roll-out of fully electric buses on the Coventry network continues to progress well, with 140 all electric buses now operating. National Express and Stagecoach are progressing the next stage of procurement and are on course for achieving 100% electric bus fleet by the end of 2025. The new buses are likely to be a factor in the strong performance of buses in Coventry, with bus patronage in the city being at 107% of pre-covid levels, which represents the strongest recovery across the West Midlands.
The On-street residential charge point programme continues with Phase 8 currently underway and potential for a further phase to be delivered in Spring 2024. These will take the number of EV charging units in the city to 1407, with 2163 EV charging spaces. Coventry remains the city with the greatest number of publicly accessible charge points outside London.
The Coventry Very Light Rail programme is progressing well, with the prototype vehicle undergoing full testing and the innovative trackform also undergoing testing at three sites. It is planned to deliver 800m of the first CVLR route between the railway station and the former IKEA store later in 2024; this section will initially be used as a demonstrator.
Part of the demonstrator proposal includes the implementation of the ‘City Centre Traffic Management Plan’ and the completion of the ‘western link road’ at Central 6. This will extend the new link road from Westminster Rd into Central 6 and will help alleviate traffic congestion on Warwick Road and around the station. These measures will facilitate the construction and operation of the CVLR demonstrator.
The Foleshill Transport Package is progressing through the scheme development phase, with planned construction of the A444 Blue Ribbon Roundabout improvement in 2024. This will improve traffic flow through this key junction, as well as providing better and safer pedestrian and cycle crossings for people travelling between Foleshill and Longford. Further consultation on options to create a cycle route to Foleshill will take place during 2024.
Delivery of the Coventry South package has commenced with the construction of the Abbey Road / London Road junction improvement, which will facilitate a new residential development as well as providing improved pedestrian and cycle crossings. That scheme will be completed in Summer 2024, whilst scheme development continues on the segregated cycle route along London Road, which will be consulted upon during 2024. Proposals to improve the pedestrian and cycle crossings at the Asda Roundabout are also being brought forward and will be consulted on during 2024/25.
Scheme development work is progressing for the Tile Hill Station Interchange in partnership with Transport for the West Midlands.
The Council is continuing to work with Warwickshire County Council and National Highways on the delivery of junction improvements on the A46. WCC is responsible for delivering the Stoneleigh Junction scheme, and delays have occurred due to difficulties in sourcing appropriate materials for the approach embankments to the new bridge. Nevertheless, the improved junction should be fully open during 2024. National Highways have, meanwhile, completed consultation on the proposed new Walsgrave Junction, with the next stage being the submission of a Development Consent Order application during 2024/25. This scheme will improve traffic flow on the A46, will help relieve traffic congestion on the local Coventry network, and will facilitate improved access to the University Hospital campus.
The Earlsdon Liveable Neighbourhood project has been subject to extensive community engagement and co-design during 2023/24, with the resulting scheme receiving Cabinet Member approval in January 2024 and the scheme moving into the delivery phase during Spring 2024.
The new Eastern Green junction on the A45, being funded by the developer and by Homes England, is due to open in Spring 2024, providing the primary access to the Eastern Green Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE). Scheme development work is also progressing on the active travel links between the SUE and the city centre, along Holyhead Road, as well as the proposed bus links into the site to provide direct public transport connectivity.
The Council continues to work with the Environment Agency (EA) to deliver flood alleviation schemes in Allesley, in the vicinity of Butts Lane and Washbrook Road and Eastern Green, and in the vicinity of Broad Lane / Banner Lane. Council funding was made available in drainage programme budgets from 2018/19 to 2020/21. The funding is being used to provide improvements including Natural Flood Management and Property Level Resilience. More work is due for delivery during the current financial year.
In response to the January 2024 flooding, additional funding is being made available through Highways Maintenance Capital funding to better protect communities that experienced internal flooding and those communities that are at future risk citywide going forward. This funding will be used to help secure additional local levy and grant in aid (GIA) funding to further bolster our programme and ensure the One Coventry objectives to tackle the impact of climate change are being met.
You can read the full report here.