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THE Department of Transport has granted Gloucestershire County Council £14.1 million towards the cost of a new 1,000 park and ride scheme at Elmbridge Court.
Dubbed the "Elmbridge Transport Scheme" the grant covers most of the £16.5 million scheme which will see a raft of measures to improve traffic flow to the eats of Gloucester.
The scheme involves:
• A new straight on lane between A40 Golden Valley bypass to A40 Gloucester Northern bypass, improving capacity
• A 1,000 space Park and Ride site, adjacent to the Elmbridge Court Business Park with access off the A40 Golden Valley bypass
• Changing the access to Elmbridge Business Park so it can be accessed via the Park & Ride site rather than directly onto the Elmbridge Court Roundabout
• A 10 minute frequency Park and Ride Service from Elmbridge Court to Gloucester City Centre
• Five bus priority schemes including:
o Bus lane on Gloucester bound approach of A40 Golden Valley bypass to Elmbridge Court from the proposed park and ride site
o Bus lanes on Cheltenham Road East, Churchdown in both directions from Commerce Way to Staverton Cross Roads
o Bus lanes on the Staverton Lane and A40 (Gloucester bound) approaches of Arle Court junction, Cheltenham
o Bus lane on the A40 (Cheltenham bound) approach on Princess Elizabeth Way
o Bus lane on the A40 (Gloucester bound)
It does not include a Parkway Railway Station, which was originally looked at in 2005, but has now been completely dropped.
The Elmbridge Court junction is one of the busiest in the county with congestion impacting on drivers and businesses in both Gloucester and Cheltenham.
The Elmbridge Transport scheme is designed to address that and make travelling between the two destinations quicker and easier.
Figures from a Gloucestershire County Council report show there have been just under 100 accidents on the roundabout between January 2004 and November 2009 – meaning that on average an accident happens on the roundabout more than once a month.
Announcing the Government funding Transport Minister Norman Baker said: “We think it hits the Government’s two targets in transport – to help growth and cut carbon.”
Tory MP for Gloucester Richard Graham said: “I am delighted with this £14 million investment for a new park and ride service, which is evidence the Government is improving transport infrastructure for our city.”
Cllr Chas Fellows, cabinet member for economy and environment, said: “We’re delighted that this scheme has been accepted and that we are in line to receive almost the entire cost of the scheme.
“The Elmbridge scheme will greatly improve transport for cars, buses and cyclists by making congestion busting improvements to the road, including a new park and ride.
“It’s simply about making things better at one of the busiest and most difficult junctions in the county.
“Gloucestershire County Council is committed to making transport work and this scheme will make a real difference to people travelling in this part of the county.”
If all goes to plan, the park and ride site and improvements are likely to be complete by 2015.
Costs over and above government funding would be met primarily from developer contributions.
For more information on the scheme, click here
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Massive-new-park-ride-scheme-Gloucestershire/story-14134426-detail/story.html