If you’re heading to the popular JCT Traffic Signals Symposium in September, you may be forgiven for thinking that “half-hamburger and walnut whip” could be related to the welcome barbecue social evening or the gala dinner, but actually it’s the theme of one of the papers being presented.
The Symposium is known across the industry for its learned programme of latest innovations in traffic management, and “The A45 Chowns Mill ‘throughabout, half-hamburger, walnut whip, moon and sun’ roundabout” is one of the projects being explained at the two-day event.
Mark Roxburgh of National Highways will describe a forensic approach to tackling a problem five-arm roundabout located in North Northamptonshire. The junction was suffering extreme congestion and safety issues, including 31 injury collisions over a five-year period and sadly one fatality.
On Friday 15th September, he’ll describe to delegates how the solution initially looked at signalling options using microsimulation forecasting performance for a fifteen year horizon and included detailed cost benefit analysis. When grade separation was ruled out due to cost and environmental impact, it became clear that a more innovative solution was required, and after using deterministic modelling on a variety of concepts, the resulting proposal was a half hamburger with at grade cycling and pedestrian provision.
The Studies Team Leader at National Highways will explain how map signs turned out to be map signs which “are a work of art” as he takes you through a journey through a classic and thorough design process which encapsulates the ethos of the JCT Traffic Signals Symposium.
That session is strong on design, also hearing from 4way Consulting with a compendium of design ideas details of the Edgbaston Tram Extension.
It total, the two-day Symposium has 23 papers covering a wide range of topics, also including Research, Asset Management and On-Street intelligence, with a very strong offering on providing for non-motorised users. The keynote address is provided by leading behavioural scientist and commentator Rory Sutherland and his colleague Pete Dyson, who together authored the book Transport for Humans: Are We Nearly There Yet?
The 28th JCT Traffic Signals Symposium takes place on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 September at Nottingham Trent University, with the MOVA User Group and welcome barbecue the day before.
To book a place and find out more about the event, click here.
(Picture – National Highways/JCT)
