§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the double roundabout junction between the Al3 and A130 trunk roads is safe and adequate for traffic flows; and, if not, whether they will replace it with a grade separated junction. [HL2293]
§ Lord Davies of OldhamThe junction at Sadlers Farm between the A 13 and the A130 (neither of which is a trunk road at that point) is in the form of a ring roundabout, being five mini roundabouts around a large central roundabout. The current design was built by Essex County Council in 1988 to solve the problems of congestion at that time and for the foreseeable future.
Following a review of the transport problems in the south Essex area, Essex County Council considers that the junction now requires upgrading to allow for the greater volume of traffic which is using the junction since it was installed.
It is up to Essex County Council to submit, through the local transport plan process, details of a new design which has been appraised in accordance with government guidelines and which will deal with the current and forecast levels of traffic at the junction. This assessment will then be used by the Department for Transport to consider whether there is a case for funding the scheme.