News

"Through-About" Junction at Bunford Park, Yeovil

15th October 2009

Byways & Highways Ltd successfully negotiate signalised "through-about" junction on behalf of Abbey Manor Capital Partners in support of a major employment site at Bunford Park, Yeovil.
Byways & Highways Ltd was commissioned in 2007 by Abbey Manor Capital Partners to assess the traffic impacts of a large 24ha employment site on the western side of Yeovil, opposite the South Somerset District Council offices.  It was deemed necessary to introduce a signalised junction at the site entrance off Western Relief road and to enlarge the Bunford Hollow roundabout, but the Westland's roundabout junction at the end of the Cartgate link on the approach to Yeovil proved more problematic in finding a solution that would be safe, capacity efficient and deliverable without the need to purchase third party land.

The current Westland's roundabout junction is nearing capacity at peak times and to implement Somerset County Council's preferred solution of enlarging the roundabout would involve land outside of the client's control.  A signalised cross-roads junction was initially proposed by Byways & Highways Ltd but this form of junction was rejected by County Council on the grounds that it was too capacity sensitive.
                                                    
Byways & Highways Ltd worked with JCT Consulting to produce an innovative signalised "through-about" junction to replace the existing roundabout which provides a priority route through the junction for motorists travelling from the Cartgate link to Western Relief Road.  The modelling in support of the proposed junction arrangement indicates that by 2015, the proposed junction would operate with spare capacity.  In addition, the signalised nature of the junction will allow for pedestrians and cyclists to safely navigate the junction via controlled crossing facilities, which represents a significant benefit compared to the current situation, in that pedestrians and cyclists have to utilise uncontrolled crossing facilities at the roundabout's splitter islands.  Evidence from DfT seems to suggest that in many cases, signalised roundabouts are safer forms of junction than standard roundabouts for vehicular traffic too.

The junction improvements were presented to the Area South Planning Committee of South Somerset District Council on 5th August 2009 with the backing of the Highway Authority.  Members resolved to support the officer recommendation to approve the outline Planning Application including means of access.

For further information, please contact:  m.bellamy@bywaysandhighways.co.uk