Yahoo News Hopes that upgrades to Park & Ride will ease years of roadworks on Army and Navy roundabout
A package of major plans to improve traffic in Chelmsford has been given the green light, but motorists are being urged to use park-and-ride services to avoid years of congestion during the construction of the new Army and Navy 'hamburger' roundabout. Expansion plans were proposed for Chelmer Valley Park and Ride, Sandon Park and Ride, and the new hamburger plans for the Army and Navy Junction, which aim to reduce city centre traffic and congestion.
Sandon Park and Ride is set to increase its 1,380 standard parking bays by 380 spaces. In addition, the existing terminal building and substation would be demolished and rebuilt. Chelmer Valley Park and Ride is set to expand from 500 spaces to more than 1,500 spaces. No changes are proposed to the existing terminal building, but the number of electric vehicle spaces is proposed to increase from four to 94.
All three elements are being planned as part of Essex County Council’s Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package, which the council says is needed to help accommodate a forecasted increase in park-and-ride demand of more than a third by 2041. The council says that by delivering a comprehensive package of measures that encourage increased walking, cycling, bus, and park-and-ride travel, alongside an improved Army and Navy junction, Essex County Council can provide a long-term and sustainable solution for Chelmsford.
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Traffic delays are expected while the Army and Navy junction is under construction, and people are being urged to use park-and-ride services to mitigate problems. Work is being planned to ensure there is enough capacity at Sandon and Chelmer Valley to accommodate extra needs while work at the junction proceeds.
Essex County Council planning committee Councillor Susan Barker said: “This has been on the cards for a long time. It’s not my preferred layout. My preferred layout would be an underpass coming through with a roundabout on the top. But I expect it was looked at and suspect it wasn't feasible or was too expensive. We are where we are and I do think we need to get on with this now.
"I am concerned that it is going to be two or three years of construction, and we need to do something to incentivise - particularly the Sandon park and ride - because we want to minimise as far as we can the traffic that is going around that junction while the works are going on.”
