Month: August 2023

HS2 will be undertaking works on a gas main (as part of the wider project) passing under the A40 between Gypsy Corner (North Acton) and Hanger Lane.

Woks will commence on Monday 21 August and continue until mid-November 2023 and will result in a contraflow of one of the eastbound lanes and an overall reduction of the road to two lanes in each direction.

Summary of dates 

Programme Phase	Start date	End date
Phase 1-Civil Works	21/08	11/09
Phase 2-Final Contra-flow Opening	12/09	13/09
Phase 3-Gas diversion works, contra-flow in operation	14/09	26/10
Phase 4-Civil Works	27/10	17/11

Details of the Works

21 August to 11 September 2023 – contraflow build

• Lane three closures in each direction
• Some overnight (22:00 to 05:00) works closing lanes 2 & 3 in each direction

Night: 22:00 12 September to 05:00 13 September 2033 – overnight eastbound diversion

Eastbound A40 will be closed under Hanger Lane. The diversion route will be ‘over the top’ at Hager lane before re-joining the eastbound carriageway – diversion shown in yellow below.

13 September to 26 October 2023

• Two lanes in each direction, with lane 2 eastbound contraflow
  • Please note: This eastbound contraflow lane must not be used by large vehicles (2m width restriction in place).
• Lane 2 in each direction will be narrow
• Recovery will be in place 24 hours
• The Mansfield Road turnback/U-turn facility will be removed for traffic but the pedestrian facility will remain
• A 20mph speed limit will be in force

27 October to 17 November 2023

• Return to normal operations

TfL have requested that A312 The Parkway and the M4/A4 corridor are kept clear of planned works during this time.

Further Information

Copy of letter sent to local residents

 

A new coach drop-off and pick up point has recently opened in Durham City, replacing the former site at Freeman’s Place.

Coach drop-off and pick-ups are now provided at Framwelgate Waterside (DH1 5TA). From Framwelgate Waterside passengers can either walk up to the city centre, or catch the Durham Cathedral Bus, which operates from the bus stop adjacent the coach drop-off point (https://bit.ly/45wseYZ). Durham County Council have also produced a Coach Drop-off point wayfinding map (https://bit.ly/3E5ujik).

Once passengers have been dropped off, coach parking is located at the Belmont Park and Ride site (DH1 1SR), on the A690, approximately 300m east of Junction 62 of the A1 and just 10 minutes from Durham City centre. 30 spaces have been provided; parking is free and coach drivers have access to toilets and facilities for cleaning coaches. The fuel station, which has a ‘Costa’ facility, is approximately 100m east of the coach park, on the A690. Coach drivers also have free travel in and out of Durham City centre from the Belmont Park and Ride site on the Durham City Park and Ride service (07:00 to 19:00, Mondays to Saturdays).

 

Deputy Chair of Frinton Residents Association (the FRA), Dave Hamilton, has written to the UKCOA to inform the industry the town is unable to accommodate any long-term coach parking due to the town’s small size and lack of infrastructure.

Frinton welcomes coach parties, having a marked, designated coach drop-off/pickup bay, which is close to toilet facilities and nearby step-free access to the beach.

It then asks coaches to park in the neighbouring town of Walton-on-the-Naze, approximately eight minutes away. Walton has a designated coach parking area. See the local council website for more information.

Some coaches park across multiple car parking bays with their engines idling. The FRA has already written to several coach companies about this issue, although problems persist.

We want coach operators visiting villages, towns and cities across the country to be seen as good neighbours, especially where facilities for coaches have been thought through. Please do assist your drivers before they leave for the day so they know where to park.

 

There are several important dates for the implementation of the smart tachograph version 2 (or second-generation smart tachograph):

August 2023
According to the new tachograph rules, the second generation of smart tachographs must be installed in all new registered vehicles with a permissible weight of 3.5 tonnes or more by the 31 August 2023. 

December 2024
From 31 December 2024, all international road transport vehicles weighing 3.5 tonnes or more must switch to the latest smart tachograph version 2 for improved tracking and safer roads. This also includes vehicles equipped with an analogue or digital non-smart tachograph.

August 2025
By 18 August 2025 the vehicles equipped with a smart tachograph version 1 will need to replace and install the second generation of this smart technology.

July 2026
By 1 July 2026 all new vehicles above 2.5 tonnes in international road transport or cabotage operations will be equipped with a smart tachograph version 2 (second generation smart tachograph).

Further information can be found here.

 

There will be lane restrictions on Buckingham Place Road southbound just prior to the Eccleston Bridge junction overnight. Bus stands Z4 and Z12 will be closed.

21:00 to 02:00 on the night of Monday 21 August going into Tuesday 22 August 2023.

The right turn into Eccleston Street (for access to the VCS Arrivals Terminal) will be open but with restricted lane capacity. Therefore operators using Buckingham Place Road southbound and accessing the VCS Arrivals Terminal are advised to route:

Ahead Buckingham Palace Road, left Elizabeth Bridge, left Bulleid Way, left Eccleston Bridge, ahead Eccleston Street.