Technical Notes 2022, Issue 138 - Canniesburn Toll Improvement Project

1. The purpose of this Technical Note is to provide Elected Members with an update on the progress of the Canniesburn Toll Improvement Project (‘the project’).
2. The Traffic and Transport Team has been working to develop design proposals to improve Canniesburn Toll, Bearsden. The project will see the delivery of a long term commitment that was included as a condition of a planning application, covering the Kilmardinny Masterplan in Bearsden, approved by a Scottish Government Reporter on appeal in 2010 (Appeal Ref: PPA/200/242 for application TP/ED/04/1279). Condition 2 required ‘A detailed specification and implementation programme, including phasing, for each of the following measures:’ and 2(e)(iii) referred to ‘the replacement of the Canniesburn Toll roundabout with traffic signal control’.
3. The Land Equalisation Agreement associated with this site committed the consortium of developers to provide funds to contribute to the delivery of the planning condition.
4. The Council has continued to progress plans for the project in recent years and the project was identified as Action 36 within the approved Local Transport Strategy 2020-2025 to improve Canniesburn Toll for all road users, by:

• Improving the flow of traffic to reduce journey times and improve the connectivity of the area with potential associated benefits for economic development, and;
• Improving the function of Canniesburn Toll for pedestrians and cyclists to make travelling by these modes safer in the immediate vicinity of this roundabout.

5. The number of vehicle trips on the roads network around Canniesburn Toll has continued to increase in recent years with traffic levels back to pre-pandemic levels. Vehicular flow on Canniesburn Toll can be moderate to heavy and is not currently pedestrian or cycling friendly.
6. Overall, this project will provide traffic signals to the junction as well as improved pedestrian facilities, provision of a limited number of parking spaces to service existing businesses, provide a betterment to a pre-existing drainage issue, upgrades to street lighting and changes to the footway and carriageway surface in the vicinity of the Toll.

Information Exchange

7. In May 2021, a dedicated project website was set up to present two concept designs for the roundabout and asked for general feedback on the options. The website initially invited Statutory Consultees, local businesses and community groups for feedback before opening up to the wider community for three weeks.
8. The information exchange presented two options for the junction; one with the cycle lane on the carriageway and one with a shared-use footway. Through the responses received, it became clear that the option for cycle provision on a shared-use footway was preferred due to it being perceived as safer and better for encouraging less confident cyclists.
9. In total, 545 responses were provided from a cross section of the local community. These responses alongside internal workshops and technical considerations have allowed for a preferred design to be developed.
10. The web page will be updated throughout the construction phases, and is where the community can find out the latest updates on the project.

Detailed Design

11. Transport consultants Stantec were appointed to prepare a detailed design for the roundabout which includes the installation of traffic signal infrastructure to control traffic movements and allow pedestrians to cross safely at all key approach arms whilst traffic is stopped. The design also accommodates the needs of cyclists to help them to navigate around a busy, fast moving interchange by providing advanced stop lines for those who wish to cycle on road and a shared-use footway around the perimeter of the roundabout for those who wish to stay off-road.
12. As part of the design, the footway section that wraps around the central island has been removed to discourage people from attempting to walk to and from the central island. Pedestrians will use crossing provision that will be available on every arm of the junction. Five parking spaces (including one for blue badge holders) have also been included at the shops on the north side. These provide an improvement on the current pavement parking that occurs. Cycle parking provision will also be included in this area.
13. There are known issues with localised flooding and a drainage scheme has been developed to mitigate against the impacts of flooding and to provide a means of controlling the flow of surface water.
14. A data collection exercise was undertaken and options were subject to traffic modelling to understand the impact on all road users, including traffic queueing & delay. The modelling took future traffic growth into account to ensure the design is future-proofed to deal with the level of traffic likely to be present on the road network.
15. The design will better manage queues and flows of traffic (through improved signal technology in the immediate area) and will also include:

• Signalisation of each immediate approach to the roundabout with pedestrian crossing provision;
• An inclusive design, in accordance with national and local policy and The Equality Act (2010), with improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists;
• Parking provision for businesses on the Toll with a blue badge bay and cycle parking provision;
• Upgrade of traffic signals at Canniesburn Road/Drymen Road junction to improve signal operation
• Surrounding bus stops will be retained and buses should benefit from more reliable journey times;
• Measures to improve known issues with drainage incorporating Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SuDS).
• Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) will be progressed for the shared-use redetermination of the footway, relocation of the 40mph speed limit on Switchback Road, raised table and parking restrictions at the area in front of the shops to the north of the roundabout.

16. Following the information exchange, internal workshops and technical considerations, a design option has been developed for the roundabout which will seek to deliver the improvements outlined above. The general arrangement of the finalised design is provided in Appendix 1.
17. In addition to the above project delivery, it has been agreed between the Land Planning and Development service and the Roads and Environment service that footway and carriageway re-surfacing beyond the study boundary will take place during the construction period of the improvement project to minimise disruption for local communities.

Funding and Costs

18. The majority of the Project funding is from the Land Equalisation Agreement between the Kilmardinny Land Owner Consortium and the Council.  The project will also be funded from other sources of Developer Contributions and internal Council capital budgets. 
19. As part of preparation for the tender process, Stantec has drawn up an estimated cost of delivering the project and associated resurfacing costs.

By using rates from the latest national guidance and best practice, and basing it on a 30 week construction programme, the current estimated cost for delivery is just over £1.8 million. This requires to be finalised as several utility companies are currently in the final stages of confirming the scope of any required diversions of their respective apparatus as a result of the project. The costs are also based on current rates of inflation which are expected to increase given the ongoing situation regarding the national economy, which will be taken into consideration as part of budget planning. The worsening general economic conditions and conditions within the construction sector are causing price increases and uncertainty around project costs generally.  The issues currently being experienced in the construction sector are likely to continue for a period of time and there is a risk this could impact final price for this project, which will be derived from the construction stage tender process.

Next steps

20. Tender documents are currently being prepared to allow the procurement process for the construction element of the project to begin. More detailed timescales will be communicated again to Members once a contractor has been appointed and project planning discussions are held with the contractor, following the procurement process.  In the meantime, work to progress the 4 TROs detailed in paragraph 15 above will commence including the first stage of consultation with statutory consultees on these specific matters. 
21. A Project Management Consultant is currently being procured to oversee the construction stage of the project. Part of their duties will be to work closely with the local community and local businesses to update them on the construction phase. A communication plan is being prepared to ensure those who may be affected by the works are fully informed in advance of the works taking place.
22. During the course of the project, further updates will be provided to Members via updates within HGIOS and further Technical Notes where appropriate.