Traffic flow

Summary

A request was made regarding the decision-making process, attendees, and environmental impacts of making the Promenades one-way and altering traffic at St Ninian's and Governor's Bridge. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the decision was approved by the Council of Ministers on 30 April 2020 following multiple meetings, confirmed the attendees, and explained that traffic monitoring and pollution impacts were considered but influenced by COVID-19 restrictions.

Key Facts

• There was no single meeting for the one-way decision; multiple meetings occurred in March and April 2020.
• Approval for the one-way promenade was given by the Council of Ministers on 30 April 2020.
• Attendees included Burroughs Stewart Associates, DOI, Colas, Auldyn, and Bell Burton.
• Traffic flows were monitored at St Ninian's and Governor's Bridge, leading to timing changes and filter lane extensions.
• No formal monitoring was carried out at Peveril Square due to lower-than-normal traffic caused by diversions.

Data Disclosed

• 30 April 2020
• 31 March 2021
• March and April
• 1394261
• 2020-07-30
• 2020-08-13

Original Request

1. What date was the meeting held when the decision was made to make the Promenades one way? Were the new arrangements for St Ninians and Governor's Bridge deided at the same meeting? 2. Who was present at such meetings? 3. Did anyone consider monitoring traffic flows at Peveril Square, St Ninians and Governors Bridge after the promenades became one way to establish any possible traffic congestion? 4. Did anyone consider the increased air pollution caused by the backlog of traffic and the extra distances traffic has to travel? 5. Did anyone consider the inevitable impact the Glencrutchery Road changes will have on Nobles Park and Upper Dukes Road and Willaston estate?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Mr Geoff Allen

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team/DWG/MF Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 1394261 13 August 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 30 July 2020 and which states (sic):

"1. (a) What date was the meeting held when the decision was made to make the Promenades one way? (b) Were the new arrangements for St Ninians and Governor's Bridge deided at the same meeting? 2. Who was present at such meetings? 3. Did anyone consider monitoring traffic flows at Peveril Square, St Ninians and Governors Bridge after the promenades became one way to establish any possible traffic congestion? 4. Did anyone consider the increased air pollution caused by the backlog of traffic and the extra distances traffic has to travel? 5. Did anyone consider the inevitable impact the Glencrutchery Road changes will have on Nobles Park and Upper Dukes Road and Willaston estate?"

1. (a) There was no single meeting at which it was decided to make the promenade one way. Multiple meetings took place throughout March and April to consider how the scheme could be delivered in the shortened timescale to ensure no promenade disruption in the 2021 tourist season. The contractor was asked to consider what constraints could be removed from the Scope to allow them to meet the 31 March 2021 target date, and the ability to have one way traffic and open larger work areas was accepted by the project team. Approval for the one-way on the promenade was given by the Council of Ministers on 30 April 2020.

(b) The new arrangements for St Ninian’s and Glencrutchery were discussed at several meetings with officers of Highway Services and Public Transport and agreed upon to mitigate the effect of additional traffic on this route Our response to your request is as follows: I have detailed below the information that is being released to you. 2. Burroughs Stewart Associates, DOI, Colas, Auldyn, Bell Burton.

3. Traffic flows have been monitored following the installation of the new traffic management arrangements at St Ninian’s and Governors Bridge. In response to the traffic flows timings have been changed on the St Ninian’s lights and the filter lane length was extended after its initial installation. Peveril Square traffic is much lower than normal due to the diversion onto the promenade via Victoria Street so there has been no formal monitoring carried out. Traffic does back up at peak periods at Governors Dip on the approach from Onchan, but this is also evidenced historically during peak flows with traffic from the Mountain Road having priority at the roundabout. 4. Pollution was considered in the overall traffic management, but the traffic flows remain broadly similar, just the routes have changed in the short term so it was considered that the impact would not be significant. Furthermore there still remain fewer vehicles on the road due to Covid-19 and the school holidays. In order to minimise congestion and pollution the Department has offered concessionary travel on public transport from Onchan, Baldrine and Laxey to encourage the travelling public to use bus travel as a preferred means of travel into Douglas. 5. The impact on all routes was considered. The link roads are generally acceptable for the traffic volumes and in modelling various traffic flow scenarios can take greater capacity. It has been difficult to assess flows against previous years due to the works coinciding with the Covid-19 restrictions and loss of tourist numbers which also influence the flow on these routes. The choice to make these changes during the Covid-19 restriction and school holiday periods was taken to minimise the impact on the adjacent highway network.

Please quote the reference number 1394261 in any future communications.

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Yours sincerely

FOI Response Team