Changes to the old Ashford Ring Road (Breaking
Boundaries)
The nature of the old Ring Road is being changed significantly
over the next five years. To find out more about the changes see
the
scheme layout.
To find out more about parking in Ashford town centre please
visit the parking in Ashford map available on the
Ashford Council website (link opens in a new
window).
Pedestrian access to the town centre has been severely limited
by the busy Ring Road which surrounded it. The alterations will
improve, not just the access, but also the appearance of the
streets. These changes represent a major contribution to the
revitalisation of the town and to developments in the surrounding
area.
What has recently happened?
From January 2007 until November 2008 the old Ring Road will be
'broken up' and converted into a series of quality streets.
Kent County Council, as a member of the Ashford's Future
partnership, is responsible for arranging the work to convert the
road to two-way traffic and progressively resurface it with higher
quality materials.
In addition to changing the traffic flow from one-way to
two-way, there is the creation of:
- a new Elwick Street
- a new Elwick Square
- an improved Bank Street
- a West Street 'pocket park' between the carriageways.
Reducing speeds to 20mph or less and narrowing the carriageway
will result in better sharing of road space between pedestrians and
drivers.
On 1 July 2007 the old Ring Road was converted to support
traffic flowing in both directions instead of just in one direction
as it has in the past.
Jackson Civil Engineers were appointed as the contractor for the
High Quality shared space element of the alterations which started
with the Bank Street works. The work commenced on site on 10
September 2007 and was completed at the end of August 2008.
What will it look like?
Rather than the current wide strip of tarmac the improved road
and pavement surfaces will also be enhanced by taking away all the
road features that define it as a space for traffic only. Artists
have been employed to add distinctiveness to the streetscape and
the new streets will become 'shared space'. As a result drivers
will be encouraged to respect pedestrians more, particularly those
who are less able or with children. The new streets will then
become attractive, vibrant places enhanced with shops and
cafes.
'Shared space' seeks to change the 'mental maps' that drivers
create and alert them to a different environment in which
pedestrians and cyclists have equal priority. The keys to this are
low speeds, a narrow carriageway and the removal of the typical
visual clues for drivers, such as information signs and pedestrian
guard railing.
The 'shared space' philosophy builds on the work of Hans
Monderman in Holland and has already been used in changes recently
completed in Kensington High Street (link opens in a new
window).
Who is working on this scheme?
Three artists have been employed for various aspects of the
scheme:
(The following links open in new windows)
Additionally, Michael Pinsky will work on a temporary
artworks programme, 'The Lost O', to challenge and add interest
while the road changes are taking place.
Specialist consultancies have also been employed:
(The following links open in new windows)
Where is the money coming from?
As part of the Government's
Sustainable Communities Programme (link
opens in a new window) most of the £15.6m budget for the scheme
is coming from the Department of Communities and Local
Government. The rest of the funding is provided by:
- Kent County Council
- Ashford Borough Council
- European Union
- the SEEDA funded Channel Corridor Partnership
- the Arts Council.
What is the schedule?
The first phase is complete with Somerset Road, Wellesley Road
and Station Road converted to two-way and Elwick Road, West Street
and Forge Lane under temporary traffic management to provide
two-way working.
Bank Street - the work to reconstruct Bank Street is
complete.
Elwick Road - the work to reconstruct Elwick Road commenced in
October 2007 and is planned to be completed by mid November
2008.
Victoria Road/Beaver Road/Romney Marsh Road - the work to
realign the entrance to Victoria Road and to remove the roundabout
and replace with a signalized junction was completed in August
2008.
While work is in progress, access to all town centre car parks
will be available. Please follow direction signs where
necessary.
A DVD has been produced to inform all road users about the
concept of 'shared space' and includes information on puffin
crossings. It also helps to explain why the alterations have taken
place, highlights road safety issues and promotes the use of 'art
in engineering'. Views of the construction process along with
explanations of the innovative street design help educate all users
and assists in promoting Ashford as a great place to live, work,
visit and do business. The DVD is free and copies are available at
County Hall Maidstone, Ashford Borough Council Offices and many of
the retail outlets within Ashford Town Centre. Ashford's library
and Gateway centre also have copies. Alternatively the DVD can be
viewed on
Ashford Borough Council's website (link
opens in a new window). |