The majority of vehicles serving the Four Ashes Industrial Estate travel via Vicarage Road to and from the A5. Many vehicles use Vicarage Road as a short cut between the A449 and A5. We understand that the existing junction where Vicarage Road meets the A5 causes problems. It has been suggested that traffic queuing back on Vicarage Road from the junction encourages drivers to “rat run” by turning right down the Straight Mile and through Calf Heath. The speed at which vehicles can enter and exit the Straight mile from Vicarage Road is of particular concern.

Local resident have expressed concerns that the development of the new waste facility will make the existing situation worse. After undertaking a Traffic Impact Assessment and listening to, and giving careful consideration to, the views of local residents, the council has developed solutions to improve these two junctions.

The Proposed Solutions The junction where Vicarage Road meets the A5 The solutions at this junction include: widening the junction so that there is enough room to introduce dedicated lanes for left and right turning traffic leaving Vicarage Road. This new layout would mean that drivers wanting to turn left would not have to wait for right turning traffic in front of them. This will reduce delays and congestion. providing an ‘extra lane’ on the A5 solely for eastbound traffic to filter into if they are turning right into Vicarage Road. This will help prevent congestion for traffic travelling towards Cannock. providing a slip road off the westbound A5 for traffic turning left onto Vicarage Road. This will help improve traffic flow in the direction of the M6. Detailed computer modelling of the proposed improvements has been used to show that these improvements will create more gaps in the flow of traffic using the A5, thus making the exit from Vicarage Road easier and safer. Even with the additional traffic created by the waste facility, these improvements will reduce delays and congestion at this junction, meaning drivers will have less need to ‘rat-run’ down local roads. The junction where Vicarage Road meets the Straight Mile The junction could be improved by: increasing visibility to the right at the end of the Straight Mile when turning into Vicarage Road making the junction tighter to make the right turn into the Straight Mile slower These changes to the road layout will mean vehicles travelling along Vicarage Road will have to reduce their speed before turning right onto the Straight Mile making the junction safer and at the same time less attractive as a rat run. This junction improvement scheme would also involve realigning and resurfacing a short section of Vicarage Road.

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