Challenges of Aire Valley Leeds - Case Study Example

AIRE VALLEY LEEDS By Location Table of Contents 0 3 2.0 Introduction 3 3.0 Analysis of the Challenges in the Areas 4 3.1 Clarence Road 4 3.2 Hunslet Riverside 4 3.3 Cross Green Industrial Park 5 3.4 Knostrop 5 3.5 Thornes Farm & Skelton Moor Farm 6 3.6 Bellwood, Skelton Grange & Stourton Riverside 6 3.7 Thwaite Mills 6 3.8 Stourton Corridor 7 3.9 Stourton North 7 3.10 Leeds Valley Park 8 3.11 Skelton Business Park 8 4.0 Conclusion 8 1.0 Abstract Aire Valley Leeds has various challenges that require transport and highway engineering solutions. The area has several regions that face the variety of challenges in transport and highway infrastructure. An analysis of the various challenges facing the eleven regions is tackled in this report. Reference of the problem is based upon real time data and the quest to establish the solutions to the problem. 2.0 Introduction The different area of Aire Valley Leeds faces variable transport and highway challenges. Engineering techniques can be applied to help solve the problem. Establishment of the required measures to solve the challenges first requires the identification of the challenges. It is crucial to keenly observe and relate the problems to statistical data such as population about a place. The solution should be long term with consideration of the changes that might take place. The various places and the challenges are discussed in this report. 3.0 Analysis of the Challenges in the Areas 3.1 Clarence Road The first place to be analysed in this report is Clarence road. It is located on the south-east side of the city centre with the River Aire on the east border and Hunslet road on the west side. The area around Clearance road has been undergoing a lot of changes commercially in consideration of the increasing population. The changes lead to a significant pressure on the available infrastructure. The available roads do not serve as expected as the design capacity has been exceeded by the population growth in the area. There is a requirement for the construction of foot bridges and cycle bridges over the river. The construction of the bridges should be followed by ample landing areas on land to avoid congestion on land by the bridge users (BLACK 2010). The increased population and commercial activities also require the creation of more footpaths especially near the recreational facility o reduce conflict between human and the increased number of vehicles. 3.2 Hunslet Riverside The second area in consideration is the Hunslet Riverside. The area i on the south of the South Accommodation road span through the riverside to the former Copperfield College on the northern side. Hunslet Riverside is faced with a similar challenge as the area around Clarence Road that is an increase in population and thus a significant increase in commercial activities around the place. The increase in population is evident by the proposed construction of 2500 new homes around the area. Transportation challenge is due to the increased amount of pedestrians and cyclists in the four that of the place. It has led to an increase in conflict between cyclists, pedestrians, and the vehicles. Construction of paths on the bridge across the river for cyclists and pedestrians is essential for the reduction of the conflict. Another important factor in the bridge construction is to ensure there is enough area for easy access of the bridge. Another issue in the region is the provision of access roads for to the east side. It is specifically after the consideration that the area has a high percentage of heavy goods vehicles. 3.3 Cross Green Industrial Park The third of analysis in this report is the Cross Green Industrial Park. It is a region located near the Osmondthorpe housing estate on the south west. It is an area that provides employment in the numerous businesses available. The employment creation in the region is estimated at 4700. The provision of employment encourages the movement of people to the area thus causing pressure in the existing infrastructure that was aimed at serving a lesser amount of population. Transportation and highway is one sector that needs improvement in the area. The access to Knowsthorpe site requires the extension of the highway for easy access of the site. An extension of the highway requires a construction of pedestrian paths to reduce conflict between pedestrian and the increased number of vehicles. 3.4 Knostrop The next area of analysis is Knostrop. It is a region located at the centre of Aire Valley Leeds. The major activity to consider in the region is the waste treatment plants managed by the Yorkshire. Presence of the treatment plants in the region means that heavy goods vehicles are common in the area. Expansion of the highway for easy access of Knowsthorpe and the water sites is paramount for efficiency to be attained in this case. The design of the highways should put into consideration the acceptable limits of weight and size which in UK is 44 tonnes for heavy goods vehicles. Provision of the route for the pedestrian and cyclists across the river for in Thwaite gate link is also important. The other problem is the bridge construction for public transport. It is crucial to construct this in order to ensure long routes are avoided thus economy on fuel and time saving factor can be attained. 3.5 Thornes Farm & Skelton Moor Farm The other area of concern is Thornes Farm and Skeleton Moor Farm. It is a place located on the south of Osmondthorpe. The area slopes down toward Knostrop that is further on the South. The slope makes it efficient for the design of drainage systems for the highways. The main issues in this area include; improvement of parking facilities to accommodate a maximum of 2834 vehicles, and expansion of the high to accommodate peak flow of cars. Data collected on trips made by vehicles indicates the need for expansion peak flow of 1197. 3.6 Bellwood, Skelton Grange & Stourton Riverside Bellwood, Skelton Grange & Stourton Riverside is the other area of that faces engineering transportation challenge. It is an area with high potential for development that will in turn increase the population in the area. The area has a record of 2500-3000 of new dwellers that are an added capacity to the available infrastructure in this case the roads. The main challenge is the expansion of the highway to ensure the increased number of vehicles can be accommodated by the available system. The other issue is the junction upgrade. The conflicts in the junctions around the area prove expensive in terms of time wastage and maintenance. Expansion of the highway would also need the upgrade of the junctions. 3.7 Thwaite Mills Thwaite Mills is another area in AVL that has transportation and highway challenges related to engineering. Pedestrian paths, river, and canal are common in this place. It is a region with unexploited resources and future development, and planning is necessary to encourage settlement in the area. The main engineering transport issue in the area is the construction of public transport routes that makes it easy to move through AVL (FWA 2006). The road network should allow clear intersections for the public transport vehicles going in different directions. The design standards are vital to ensure long lasting of the roads according to the British Standards manual for highways. The capacity must be known for one to know the thickness of the layers. The spacing of the bus stops is crucial to consider. In the central business district (CBD), the spacing should be 300-1000 feet. 3.8 Stourton Corridor Stourton Corridor is also an area in AVL that has engineering transportation challenge. It is located in the south-east side of AVL. The main roads in the region and the available railway line make it difficult for the people around the area to access riverside for the residential areas. A good road network is paramount to ensure easy flow of vehicles, pedestrians, and the motorists. The private ownership of the bridge is also another problem that needs addressing. Expansion of the size is essential to reduce congestion of the heavy traffic. The heavy commercial vehicles of about 30 tonnes in the area require design of roads with sufficient thickness of the layers (BROCKENBROUGH 2003). The surface carries the highest axle loads in the case of 6-axle heavy load vehicles. 3.9 Stourton North The ninth region of concern is the Stourton North region. It is an area covering an approximate of 20 hectares. It has few roads with the main transportation issue on the junction between the roads. The improvement of junctions is necessary to reduce the conflicts in the junctions that lead to wastage of time and high maintenance cost. Provision of roundabouts depending on the number of intersecting roads is vital. The acceleration and deceleration lanes of standard lengths of about 30metres is also important is sorting the junction conflict issue. The improvement of the pedestrian paths and the cyclists ways to access the residential areas is another issue in the region. 3.10 Leeds Valley Park The other area is the Leeds Valley Park. It is a region with high potential for development and space for expansion of various infrastructural facilities. The main transportation challenge is the provision of the routes for the pedestrians and the cyclists. Lack of appropriate facilities for this leads to a congestion on the main highways meant for vehicles. The improvement of junctions is also another issue of concern as seen in the preceded areas in AVL. Improvement of public transport facilities is also important with the key inclusion of travel and transport information about the various areas of the region. The top layers of surfacing taking approximately 60mm in thickness for stress distribution purposes. 3.11 Skelton Business Park The last area of consideration is the Skelton Business Park. It is an area occupying 72 hectares of land and located on the south-east of the M1 motorway. The main activity practised in this region is agriculture. The place is located on the edge of the green belt and near the Skelton Lake. The location poses a transportation and highway challenge in terms if construction. The base of the constructed road should be strong and well compacted to ensure enough strength to support the agricultural loads in the trucks. A thickness of 203mm on the base should be appropriate in consideration on the laws and regulations regarding the accepted wheel and axle loads. 4.0 Conclusion The issues around the area are related in one way or the other. Engineering solutions can be established with the consideration of the various challenges available in the different areas. The design and establishment of the solution require engineering research and measurements on things such as traffic magnitude, soil type, and climate among others. The establishment of solution to these challenges is attainable. References BLACK, W. R. (2010). Sustainable transportation: problems and solutions. New York, Guilford Press. BROCKENBROUGH, R. L., & BOEDECKER, K. J. (2003). Highway engineering handbook building and rehabilitating the infrastructure. New York, McGraw-Hill. FWA, T. F. (2006). The handbook of highway engineering. Boca Raton, Taylor & Francis. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (U.S.). (2011). Human engineering in transportation systems, user information systems, and highway safety issues. Washington, D.C., National Academy Press. Read More