Frequently Asked Questions

Relief road

What is the WERR project?
The Royal Borough, in partnership with consultants Atkins and contractors Birse Civils, is carrying out essential maintenance work on the Windsor relief road and Eton spur road, and redesigning the Clarence Road roundabout to help improve traffic flow through this junction.

How long will the works take?
The works started in late July 2010 and are due to be completed by April 2011 (well before the 2012 Olympics and the Queen's diamond jubilee).

Why are we doing the works?
The relief road is the busiest in the Royal Borough by far, carrying up to 22 million vehicles a year. It was built more than 40 years ago and was in need of this essential maintenance work to ensure the road remains safe for users and to bring it up to today's current standards.

What works are being carried out?
Essential maintenance work includes renovating and upgrading bridge parapets, replacing joints and waterproofing, as well as resurfacing and erecting safer barriers along the relief road. Most of this work will not be visible. This is also an opportunity to bring the road up to current standards with lighting, signage and landscaping being updated. Special road surfacing will reduce traffic noise and in addition acoustic barriers are being erected at Eton and Eton Wick.

We are also taking the opportunity to improve the appearance of this 'gateway to the borough', including the planting of trees.

Why are lanes closed on the relief road but I can't see anyone working there?
This is a common misconception. All works operate under 'permit' system so at no time are lanes closed unless work is being performed. Most of the works are carried out at night (7pm until 7am). However, some works are carried out during the day. This is a short shift (11am to 3.30pm) to avoid causing major disruption during rush hour.

1 There are numerous teams working on the road at any one time. A van collects then during the shift and takes them back to the site offices for breaks. You may have driven past during one of these breaks. These can be at different times depending on the task and shift.

2 Lanes may be closed for works preparation such as surveyors or engineers marking out works. This task still requires lane closures for safe working.

3 For safety reasons the cones are put out with the cone team reporting back that the lane is closed; only then are the works teams allowed onto the road. Once works are completed the works team is taken back to the site office and then, only once ALL team members have been accounted for, do the cones team remove the cones and signage. You may have driven past at the beginning or end of a shift when this was happening.

Please be assured that road closures are carefully planned and do not occur unless work is taking place. There is a cost associated with closing lanes and this is managed carefully. Safety for workers and road users is our priority and all efforts are made to minimise any road closures and resultant congestion.

What is the team doing about disruption?
Keeping traffic disruption to a minimum is a priority of this project.

Every effort is being made to minimise the effect of these works on residents and motorists. However, road works almost inevitably have an impact on traffic and we ask for patience as this essential work is carried out. If possible, do use an alternative route.

Most of the work is being carried out at night to minimise disruption to road users. Wherever possible, night works are completed and lanes reopened in time for the morning rush hour. However, on occasions a lane may need to be closed for specific day works.

A temporary speed limit of 40mph on the relief road has been implemented throughout the works programme for the safety of the site workforce, road users and the public. There is increased police presence to ensure compliance with the speed restrictions.

Why are the new safety barriers located closer to the road?
The safety barriers have been installed to protect embankments, lighting columns, signs and substandard bridge parapets. These items of street furniture were not protected by the previous barrier.

The specifications and design of modern safety barriers have significantly changed since the installation of the old barrier in the central reserve. This has meant that the available width of the central reserve is not adequate for the typical layout of safety barrier (single beam and post) to protect the lighting columns in the central reserve without huge expense. A solid steel barrier would be required and this would be an eyesore on the relief road which is the gateway to Windsor.

The lighting has been re-located to the verge for the following reasons:

Maintenance
This allows for maintenance of the lights to be less expensive. Only one lane needs to be closed in one direction. The old central reserve street lighting required lane closures on both sides. Verge mounted lighting is less disruptive to maintain but is also SAFER for maintenance operatives. The electrical cable supplying power to the lighting was also overdue for replacement.

Environmental
Lighting on verges is more energy efficient and less environmentally intrusive as light is directed inwards rather than outwards.

Safety
Design guidance is now to position columns on the verge. This is due to the fact that in a serious accident, a fallen column would not fall over live traffic, but into the verge area.

Buried Communications
Over the years numerous utility and communications lines have been laid in the verge areas, which are essential to Windsor's infrastructure. The location of these services would have made positioning the barrier further away from the kerb very expensive. The only suitable method would have been to construct a continuous concrete raft along the whole length of the road. However, we have had to use this method at the approaches to the bridges, where the line of the new barrier cuts across the buried services.

Some of these services are quite shallow and the area is a soft verge. Locating the barrier closer to the road protects these services from damage from vehicles running onto the verge.

CCTV and breakdowns
Additionally, the road is monitored by CCTV which is fed to Thames Valley Police. Any breakdown or stopped vehicle is monitored and the appropriate emergency or recovery service is contacted so the vehicle can be recovered as soon as possible.

What about noise during the works?
Every effort is being made to minimise potential disruption to local residents, including an acoustic barrier at Eton Wick (see below). The council's environmental health team has worked closely with the contractors to ensure that all the work is carried out as quietly as possible as stipulated in the works contract specifications. The contractors record noise levels at 10 locations each shift and submit a monthly report to the council.

What is being done to reduce noise levels generated by traffic using the relief road - I've heard there will be an acoustic barrier installed?
Reducing road noise is a key goal of this project. The road will be resurfaced with a low-noise surfacing material.

Surfacing works will be conducted at night and at the weekend to avoid congestion during week days. Every effort will be made to minimise noise and noise levels will be monitored. However, residents need to be aware that resurfacing is an intense activity - this will be particularly evident on the Eton/Eton Wick and Maidenhead flyover areas.

To complement the low-noise surface, an acoustic barrier was installed in late October/early November 2010. The barrier runs on both sides of the relief road from north of Common Ditch Bridge continuing to south of Eton Wick Bridge.

How has wildlife been taken into consideration?
An ecology report was undertaken in spring to ensure local wildlife was identified and measures introduced to minimise impact. There are no protected fauna or flora in the area of the works. In the final stages of the project, the the relief road and the roundabout will be landscaped, including extensive tree planting.

How can I find out further information about the project?
The website www.rbwm.gov.uk/werr provides comprehensive information on the project, including a weekly update of road works for the week ahead.

We are issuing regular newsletters which are available on the above website or, if you prefer a paper copy, email werr@rbwm.gov.uk or call 01628 683868 with your name and address.

Please feel free to direct any queries you may have to werr@rbwm.gov.uk.

Clarence Road roundabout

What is happening at Clarence Road roundabout?
The Royal Borough, in partnership with consultants Atkins and contractors Birse Civils, is redesigning the Clarence Road roundabout to help improve traffic flow through this junction.

How long will the works take?
The works started in late July 2010 and are due to be completed by April 2011 (well before the 2012 Olympics and the Queen's diamond jubilee).

What is happening about light sequencing now that phase two is under way?
The new layout has been in operation since Tuesday 14 December 2010. Construction continues until April 2011 and the current layout is only a temporary phase. As construction is ongoing, not all lanes are in use and the roundabout is at about 70 to 80% of final capacity.

During this phase there are no traffic sensors installed. These will be installed ready for the final fully operational layout and will allow the sequencing to adjust automatically to varying demand at each of the approaches to the roundabout. Judgement of the operational efficiency of the new layout cannot realistically be made until the layout construction is completed, sensors installed, sequences re-calibrated and journey times recorded.

It takes time for motorists to get used to a new layout. At the start of phase two some drivers were using the wrong route from the relief road onto Imperial Road and Dedworth Road, which affected flows of traffic entering the roundabout from Clarence Road East. This is reducing as users get used to the new layout and the roundabout becomes fully operational.

Modelling was undertaken before the lights were switched on. However, it was clear modifications to the sequencing were necessary. Traffic engineers were in attendance at the roundabout from 6am to 7pm for a number of days after installation and the light sequences adjusted to suit.

Why is the inside lane closed around the roundabout but I can't see anyone working there?
The inside lane has been closed since early September 2010 to allow for the completion of the drainage works; most below ground level. Site vehicles, delivery trucks and trucks removing soil etc need safe access. Also there is a legal requirement for there to be a safe working distance between workers and traffic. The new kerbline is to be laid within this area.

The cones cannot be removed at night as the drainage has been laid in the closed area and remains unprotected until the final road surface is laid - so traffic cannot drive over it.

At the beginning of December 2010 the works on the roundabout entered phase two. This means the roundabout is in its final layout with works being conducted on the approach islands. There are temporary traffic lights, signage advising of the new layout and cones to mark lanes and control traffic. Users are becoming familiar with the new layout.

Why are we doing the works?
The Clarence Road roundabout is a key junction for local traffic and visitors to popular local attractions and when traffic is particulary heavy it can lead to traffic delays, congestion and increased air pollution.

The current design has been running, even before the works, at overcapacity. The new design will increase the capacity and improve traffic flow.

What works are being carried out?
The new roundabout will have a smaller centre island to allow for improved traffic flow.

In order to reduce impact on traffic, works that would require traffic management measures (such as closing lanes) and as a result affect traffic flow are being carried out at night. Work that can be conducted on the island without affecting traffic flow are being done during the day.

During the first phase (early September to mid-November 2010) the inside lane was closed.

From November 2010, at night, works moved on to construction of the splitter islands, the extension to the Imperial Road subway, installation of new traffic lights and road surfacing.

Trees were removed from the centre island following approval by the borough's environmental department. Extensive planting of mature trees will take place along the relief road and on the roundabout towards the end of the project.

What measures are being taken to minimise traffic disruption?
Windsor and Eton relief road and Clarence Road roundabout programme has been carefully planned to minimise the impact on residents wherever possible. For example, works that generate high levels of noise are conducted near houses earlier in the evening and then moved further from people's homes after 12midnight.

On the roundabout, measures include:
• Reducing the length of the works to 38 weeks (from an original 43 weeks)
• A requirement, built into the contract, for noise levels to be kept to well within legal limits
• Noise report submitted by contractor and reviewed by council monthly
• Creating a circuit for the excavator and trucks to minimise reversing and the accompanying bleepers (which are safety requirements)
• Applying quieter noise surfacing around the roundabout, meaning a long-term gain for residents close to the roundabout.

What measures are being taken for pedestrians and cyclists using the Clarence Road roundabout underpasses?
The council has listened to the concerns of residents and has factored in a number of improvements to the roundabout:

• better lighting and signage, and repainting of subways
• drainage improvements
• improvements to the subway ramp at Imperial Road
• design changes to the Imperial Road exit and entry to ease access to and from houses adjacent to the roundabout.
• after the project is completed, a survey of cyclists and pedestrians to find out what kinds of crossings would best suit their needs

While the size is being reduced, the structure of the roundabout is not changing and there is no scope in this project to rebuild the subway. This would be a huge new project requiring massive funding and major disruption to traffic.

What about noise during the works?
Every effort is being made to minimise potential disruption to local residents. The council's environmental health team has worked closely with the contractors to ensure that all the work is carried out as quietly as possible as stipulated in the works contract specifications.

We have deliberately minimised work conducted at night. However some night works are unfortunately unavoidable because if they were carried out during the day they would result in high levels of traffic disruption. Noise levels will be closely monitored and additional information specific to these works will be made available on the project website www.rbwm.gov.uk/werr

How has wildlife been taken into consideration?
An ecology report was undertaken in spring to ensure local wildlife was identified and measures introduced to minimise impact. There is no protected fauna or flora in the area of the works.

A number of people have expressed concern about the loss of trees from the roundabout and the impact on wildlife. This work is necessary in order to reduce the size of the centre island and redesign the lanes around it improve traffic flow. In the final stages of the project, the roundabout and the relief road will be landscaped, including extensive tree planting.

How can I find out further information about the project?
The website www.rbwm.gov.uk/werr provides comprehensive information on the project, including a weekly update of road works for the week ahead.

We are issuing regular newsletters which are available on the above website or, if you prefer a paper copy, email werr@rbwm.gov.uk or call 01628 683868 with your name and address.

Please feel free to direct any queries you may have to werr@rbwm.gov.uk.

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