Consultation on Toft Hill and High Etherley bypass
The A68 currently goes through the village centre of Toft Hill and High Etherley. Following a successful Levelling Up Fund (LUF) Round 1 bid in 2021, we want to know your views on whether you think a bypass is needed and if so, your thoughts on the proposed route options.
Background
The A68 is a long-distance traffic route that connects Darlington to Edinburgh and runs north to south through the western part of County Durham. It serves a mix of both local and long-distance traffic and represents a key lorry route for both the county and the wider region. It carries more than 7,500 vehicles each day through Toft Hill and High Etherley. There are a number of issues, including:
- a busy A road going through a residential area
- the amount of traffic making it hard for pedestrians and cyclists to get around
- the effects of noise, vibration and air quality have on residents' quality of life
- the congestion making journey times longer
- a problematic road layout, which leads to:
- vehicles parking on the road
- a high number of properties with exits and entrances next to/on to the road
- vehicles travelling east along the A68 having to give way at the junction with Church Street
The desire for a bypass has been raised by local residents for a number of years. In 2021 we were successful in securing funding from the government's Levelling Up Fund (LUF) to create transport improvements across the Bishop Auckland constituency, including a proposed A68 Toft Hill and High Etherley bypass. The bypass is also part of the North East Transport Plan.
Benefits of the proposed bypass
The bypass scheme aims to:
- create a better place for local residents by removing through traffic, reducing noise and vibration, improving safety and improving access to local shops and services
- reduce the effect of transport on the local environment through lower vehicle emissions, improved air quality
- minimise the effect of the bypass on the local natural environment
- improve journey experiences, times and road links for local residents travelling to neighbouring towns, and for freight traffic and long‑distance journeys
- improve the experience and comfort of walking, wheeling and cycling journeys in the area
- reduce driver frustration due to the congestion and problematic road layout
The proposed options
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In order to deal with the identified challenges on the current A68 route, we want your feedback on proposals to develop a bypass and, if supported, to understand which option is your preferred one.
We initially identified 6 potential bypass options and assessed each in terms of their economic, traffic, safety, environmental and community impacts. As a result, we have ruled out Route B as it directly affects a number of residential properties. We now have 5 options under consideration.
Route A
The proposal is to widen and upgrade Hartbrigg Lane between the A68 and Ramshaw Lane, and build a new road between Ramshaw Lane and the A68 at the west end of Toft Hill.
A new roundabout would replace the existing A68/Hartbrigg Lane T-junction. Hartbrigg Lane would be widened to 7.30m for approximately 800m and link to a new roundabout connecting to Ramshaw Lane and the new road. From the roundabout, the new road would run north west for approximately 900m, and connect to the A68 with a new roundabout which would replace the existing A68/Toft Hill Lane T-junction.
The new bypass would cut the access track from the A68 to property associated with Garth House Farm. New access would be built from Toft Hill Lane.
A 3m wide footpath/cycleway would be built along the length of the route, on the south side of Hartbrigg Lane, and the west side of the new road between Ramshaw Lane and the A68.
Route B
We have ruled out Route B as it directly affects a number of residential properties.
Route C
The proposal is to build a new road which would be approximately 1,600m long and 7.30m wide. At its north-west end, the bypass would link to the A68 by a new roundabout which would replace the existing A68/Toft Hill Lane T-junction. At its south-east end, a new roundabout would connect it to the A68 approximately 80m north of the existing A68/Hartbrigg Lane junction.
The new bypass would cut the access track from the A68 to property associated with Garth House Farm and White House Farm. New access would be built from Toft Hill Lane for Garth House Farm, and new access would also be needed for White House Farm.
A 3m wide footpath/cycleway would be built along the length of the route on the north side of the bypass.
Route D
The proposal is to build a new road which would be approximately 1,600m long and 7.30m wide. At its north-west end, the bypass would link to the A68 by a new roundabout which would replace the existing A68/Toft Hill Lane T-junction. At its south-east end, a new roundabout would connect the bypass to the A68 approximately 80m north of the existing A68/Hartbrigg Lane junction.
The new bypass would cut the access track from the A68 to property associated with Garth House Farm and White House Farm. New access would be built from Toft Hill Lane for Garth House Farm, and new access would also be needed for White House Farm.
A 3m wide footpath/cycleway would be built along the length of the route on the north side of the bypass.
Route E
The proposal is to build a new road which would be approximately 1,600m long and 7.30m wide. At its north-west end, the bypass would link to the A68 by a new roundabout which would replace the existing A68/Toft Hill Lane T-junction. At its south-east end, a new roundabout would connect the bypass to the A68 approximately 80m north of the existing A68/Hartbrigg Lane junction.
The new bypass would cut the access track from the A68 to property associated with Garth House Farm. New access would be built from Toft Hill Lane.
A 3m wide footpath/cycleway would be built along the length of the route on the north side of the bypass.
Route F
The proposal is to build a new road which would be approximately 1,400m long and 7.30m wide. At its north-west end, the bypass would link to the A68 by a new roundabout which would replace the existing A68/Toft Hill Lane T-junction. At its south-east end, a new roundabout would connect the bypass to the A68 approximately 80m south of the junction with Greenfields Road. To the east of the new roundabout, approximately 300m of road would be built to realign Greenfields Road and link it into the new roundabout.
The new bypass would cut the access track from the A68 to property associated with Garth House Farm and White House Farm. New access would be built from Toft Hill Lane for Garth House Farm, and new access would also be needed for White House Farm.
A 3m wide footpath/cycleway would be built along the length of the route on the north side of the bypass.
Key statistics
Traffic
| Factor | Route A | Route C | Route D | Route E | Route F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of vehicles removed from Toft Hill and High Etherley onto bypass (24 hour Annual Average Daily Traffic) | 6042 | 7139 | 7468 | 7505 | 7523 |
| Journey time savings for A68 through traffic, compared to current route through the village (morning peak 7.30am to 8.30am) (mins and secs) | 1m 24s | 2m 05s | 2m 06s | 2m 07s | 2m 02s |
| Journey time savings for A68 through traffic, compared to current route through the village (afternoon peak 4.30pm to 5.30pm) (mins and secs) | 2m 15s | 2m 55s | 2m 57s | 2m 59s | 2m 52s |
| Journey time savings for local traffic once through traffic has been removed (morning peak) (mins and secs) | 0m 34s | 0m 35s | 0m 36s | 0m 33s | 0m 28s |
| Journey time savings for local traffic once through traffic has been removed (afternoon peak) (mins and secs) | 1m 17s | 1m 18s | 1m 17s | 1m 17s | 1m 16s |
Land and property
| Factor | Route A | Route C | Route D | Route E | Route F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential properties within 50m of new road | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| Residential properties within 100m of new road | 14 | 18 | 22 | 13 | 21 |
Other factors
- Pedestrians and cyclists: All proposals would:
- significantly reduce traffic through Toft Hill and High Etherley
- make it easier and safer for the local community to move around by walking, wheeling and cycling
- provide a 3m wide footpath/cycleway along the length of the route of the bypass
- provide crossing facilities where Public Rights of Way exist
- Cultural heritage: None of the proposals will affect any cultural heritage assets
- Geology and soils: All proposals are near historic mine workings.
| Factor | Route A | Route C | Route D | Route E | Route F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural environment | Possible effects on local habitats, including Norton Fine Beck. Loss of hedgerows due to | Possible effects on local habitats, including loss of hedgerows at Route of the A68 would be close to the small woodland to the west of the A68 South Road. | Possible effects on local habitats, including loss of hedgerows at Route of the A68 would be close to the small woodland to the west of the A68 South Road. | Possible effects on local habitats, including loss of hedgerows at field boundaries. Route of the A68 would be close to the small woodland to the west of the A68 South Road than A, and would impact the copse to the west. | Route of the A68 would be close to the small woodland to the west of the A68 South Road. Possible effect on the protected group of trees on the west side of A68 South Road which are subject to a Tree Preservation Order |
| Air quality | Would provide the least air quality benefits as it would redirect the lowest amount of traffic onto the bypass away from the village centres. | Would provide slightly lower air quality benefits than E and F due to the route being closer to properties. | Would provide slightly lower air quality benefits than E and F due to the route being closer to properties. | Would provide the greatest air quality benefits given the amount of traffic redirected onto the bypass and the route away from the village centres. | Would provide the greatest air quality benefits given the amount of traffic redirected onto the bypass and the route away from the village centres. |
| Noise and vibration | Would provide the least noise and vibration benefits as it would redirect the lowest amount of traffic onto the bypass and away from the village centres. | Likely to provide slightly lower noise and vibration benefits than E due to the route being closer to properties next to the A68. | Likely to provide slightly lower noise and vibration benefits than E due to the route being closer to properties next to the A68. | Would provide the greatest noise and vibration benefits given the amount of traffic redirected onto the bypass and the route away from the village centres. | Would provide the greatest noise and vibration benefits given the amount of traffic redirected onto the bypass and the route away from the village centres. |
| Estimated construction cost (£ millions) | 12.1 | 12.5 | 13.1 | 10.3 | 12.1 |
| Estimated whole life cost (the estimated cost of building and maintaining the road over 60 years) (£ million) | 25.9 | 27.6 | 27.4 | 23.1 | 27.2 |
| Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) based on Gov.uk: DfT value for money framework | 1.01 | 1.13 | 1.19 | 1.43 | 1.23 |
| Value for Money (VfM) based on Gov.uk: DfT value for money framework | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Have your say
- fill in the survey for the Toft Hill and High Etherley Bypass
- register for an online event on:
- 13 November 11.00am to 12 noon
- 21 November 12 noon to 1.00pm
- 21 November 7.00pm to 8.00pm
- 24 November 3.00pm to 4.00pm
Contact Transport Projects by email if you want more information.
You will be required to provide your name and address to take part in the consultation. This is because we may be required to provide these details to comply with legal and operational obligations for a planning consultation.
The closing date for comments is 5.00pm on Friday 29 November 2024.
What happens next
Your responses will help inform the decision on whether a bypass is supported and on preferred route options.
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