Major improvements to relieve congestion near Upton given the green light
The planning application submitted for major improvement works to relieve congestion at a busy rural junction near Upton has been given the green light to go ahead.
As part of Worcestershire County Council’s ongoing Relieving Congestion Programme, the congestion hotspot at the A38/A4104 staggered crossroad junction will see a big improvement now planning has been approved at the County’s Planning and Regulatory Committee.
The existing junction is made up of a staggered single-lane arrangement. The A38 in this location is a single carriageway road, which runs to the M50 Motorway and Tewkesbury in the south and Worcester in the north.
The A4104 is also a single carriageway road, which runs to Pershore to the north-east and to Upton-Upon-Severn and Little Malvern to the west.
The route is important for users travelling from the M5 Motorway and provides access to destinations such as the ‘Three Counties Showground’ and the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), as well as a number of events that are usually held within Upon-upon-Severn and the surrounding area throughout the year.
With the current junction arrangement, particularly during peak time traffic, queueing is generated on both the A38 and A4104. The County Council identified that the junction requires improvements to alleviate this problem and to provide more efficient traffic flows as well as providing a better junction for users.
The scheme will provide a new 4-arm roundabout to replace the existing staggered junction arrangement, with the western A4104 approach from Upton being realigned to tie into the proposed roundabout.
Facilities for non-motorised users will be improved with the provision of crossing locations on all arms of the roundabout and 3m wide shared footway/cycleways.
Councillor Alan Amos, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways said: “This major scheme just outside Upton will make a huge difference to those using the route, especially at peak periods of the day. The new roundabout will reduce queuing traffic on the A38 and provide improved access to the A4104 from the A38 and the improved shared walkway will also improve the area for those using alternative modes of transport.”
Work will continue in readiness for the main works set to start later this Spring following the outcome of the first stages of the scheme and completion of the archaeological and environmental surveys.
