A trial project aimed at tackling long-standing problems of
maintaining roads which run over fenland soils has been backed.
The Fen Roads Trial, proposed by Cambridgeshire County Council,
has so far been supported by both the Combined Authority's
Transport and Infrastructure Committee, and the Investment
Committee.
The £1.5 million trial proposes to test innovative solutions to
help keep the roads in good condition for longer. The Combined
Authority Board will be recommended to approve the trial at its
meeting on November 13.
In the Transport and Infrastructure Committee meeting on Monday
(Nov 4) they heard a separate report on work to investigate the
cost of maintaining and upgrading roads which run on fen soils.
This Economic Impact Assessment work would sit alongside the Fen
Roads Trial as part of works to improve how those routes are
managed.
According to a committee report on the trial, more than 40% of
Cambridgeshire's roads lie on peat-based soils, which expand and
contract significantly as they become saturated and then dry out.
Warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers are becoming
more frequent with climate change, resulting in higher levels of
road damage.
Cracking on routes is posing a particular danger to road users
and some well-used routes now require traffic management, speed
limits and safety signing to help make them safe.
The proposal is to trial solutions on the same stretch of road
and compare their performance. Potential trial sites are:
• B1104 Prickwillow Road Isleham, East Cambridgeshire.
• B660 Holme Road, Ramsey St Mary's, Huntingdonshire.
• B1040 Herne Road, Ramsey St Mary's, Huntingdonshire.
Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council are
the region's highways authorities, responsible for maintaining
roads, but traditional methods are not always tackling the root
issues at the foundation layers below the surface.
Many trial methods are proposed, including:
- Excavate and fill using a lightweight recycled fill product.
- Deep soil stabilisation for underlying soil (peat in this
case) up to five metres below the existing road level.
-
Ex-situ recycling,
creating a flexible road. This approach treats the
road itself like a quarry, breaking down the existing surface
and using every bit of it to build a brand new one.
Mayor Dr said: “The unique challenges of maintaining
our important fen roads are increasing with climate change. By
exploring innovative, long-term solutions now, this trial aims to
improve the standard of those roads, cut repair costs, and
increase safety for our communities.”
Peterborough City Council would join the project board and be
part of collaborative working. If successful, any methods could
be applied in other areas with similar challenges, like in
Norfolk and Lincolnshire. The trial can also be used to support
bids to Government for funding for fen roads.
Work to begin the Economic Impact Assessment will start within
this financial year.
Notes to editors
1) Read the report to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee
on the Economic Impact Assessment agenda item 8 https://democracy.cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=138&MId=125
2) Read the report on the Fen Roads Trial for the Investment
Committee, agenda item 4. https://democracy.cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=146&MId=208&Ver=4
