Traffic Assessment Proposed Extension of Gravel Pit Production

Traffic Assessment

Proposed Extension of Gravel Pit Production

Gillespies Road, Nabowla FOR

Simon Pullbrook S U B M I T T E D B Y :

T E R R Y E A T O N

T r a f f i c E n g i n e e r

2 9 C a r e y ’ s R o a d

B r i d g e n o r t h T a s 7 2 7 7

T E L / F A X : ( 0 3 ) 6 3 3 0 1 5 1 0

N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

Traffic Assessment – Proposed Extension of Gravel Pit Production - Gillespies Road, Nabowla 1

By Terry Eaton

C O N T E N T S

Page

1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 2

2. THE SITE ..................................................................... 2

3. THE PROPOSAL ......................................................... 3

4. GILLESPIES ROAD ..................................................... 4

5. TRAFFIC DATA ........................................................... 4

6. ASSESSMENT............................................................. 5

7. CONCLUSION ............................................................. 6

ATTACHMENTS

1. Proposed Access

2. Rural Property Access Layout Guideline


By Terry Eaton

1. Introduction

A proposal is being advanced to extend the gravel extraction activity for Simon

Pullbrook at Gillespies Road, Nabowla.

The Dorset Interim Planning Scheme requires a traffic assessment as per Section

E4.0 Road and Railway Assets Code.

This report, prepared by Terry Eaton, an experienced traffic engineer, is provided

for that purpose.

Preparation of the report has included a site visit and discussions with the applicant

2. The Site

The gravel pit is located within Mr Pullbrook’s rural property, with access from

Gillespies Road some 1.5 km from the Golconda Road junction.

The site is a large rural holding developed as pasture with the gravel pit site in the

south western sector of the land. The pit resource covers some 40 hectares, with 8

hectares worked to date.

Access to the quarry is via an internal lane junctioning from the main drive into the

residences on the land.

The gravel driveway some 4.0 metres wide junctions with Gillespies Road near the

northern edge of a road curve. The

driveway junction is constructed with a

throat width of some 35 metres with a

17.0 metre taper from the north and

curve toward the south (radius some

15 metres).

The junctioning driveway is relatively

flat.

Secondary driveway – proposed gravel pit access


By Terry Eaton

Sight distance at the junction was measured at some 105 metres, to the north is

some 90 metres but 75metres to the rear of any stored right turner due to the

curvature of Gillespies Road at this location with an embankment on the inside of

the curve.

A secondary access is located some 50 metres south of the main access connected

by a laneway some 3.5 metres wide to the main access some 120 metres from the

main driveway junction with Gillespies Road. Sight distance at this junction is some

155 metres to the north and 260 metres to the south.

The present operation licence for the gravel pit is for 30,000 tonnes per annum

extraction.

Land uses in proximity to the site are a mix of agricultural land (pasture) and forest

areas with the Lavender Farm recognised as a desirable tourist attraction just north

of the Pullbrook holding.

3. The Proposal

Indications are that annual demand for the gravel is increasing such that an update

of the annual extraction is being sought to increase the licence from 30,000 tonnes

to 60,000 tonnes per annum.

It is not intended to increase the present delivery from an average of 12 loads per

day, but rather increasing the number of days for the activity.

View to south View to north


By Terry Eaton

4. Gillespies Road

This road is considered as a rural access road junctioning with Golconda Road and

connecting to Jacobsons Road. The uses are for general farm transport activities

plus staff and tourist visitors to the Lavender farm.

In the vicinity of the site the road is constructed with a 6.0 metre sealed pavement

with grass verges, an open drain is installed within the verge on the opposite side of

the road to the site some 1.0 metre from the edge of seal within a 16 metre wide

road reserve.

The road alignment is curved, approaching from Golconda Road is a tight left hand

curve some 60 metres radius with tangent point close to the main driveway for the

site, a straight section some 100 metres long to a reverse curve toward the right.

Advisory curve warning signs are installed for both curves with the left hand curve

advisory speed of 35 km/h and the following reverse curve advisory speed signed at

45 km/h. The roadside opposite the site is formed as an embankment some 1.5 to

2.0 metres above the road level.

The road profile is an upgrade from the south of some 8% to a crest near the centre

of the left hand curve followed by a 5% downgrade to a low point some 30 metres

north off the main driveway with a 5% upgrade further north.

The secondary access junctions with Gillespies Road some 15 metres north of the

crest.

5. Traffic Data

Gillespies Road

Tourist activities to the Lavender farm suggests seasonal variations in the traffic

use of the road. An indicative traffic volume of some 200 to 250 daily past the

site increasing to some 300 to 350 vehicles per day for the seasonal demand is

considered realistic.


By Terry Eaton

Gravel Pit

Advice from Mr Pullbrook is that the present demand is an average of 12 loads

per day with 95% of cartage toward Scottsdale.

The present fleet is 2 vehicles with GVM’s at 22.5 tonne and 48 tonne

respectively, based on 50% cartage for each vehicle, cartage of 30,000 tonne

covers some 160 days per year. Increasing the pit capacity to 60,000 tonne will

increase cartage at the present rate for an annual period.

The pit operation proposed use of 2 employees with external servicing a daily

traffic volume at 10 two-way trips has been adopted.

Average traffic generation for the pit at a 60,000 tonne annual supply is

estimated at some 34 two-way vehicle movements per day.

6. Assessment

Assessment in accord with section E4.0 of the Road and Railway Assets Code indicates:

E4.6.1 A3 The proposed quarry activity is to extend the days of operation

rather than increase the daily traffic movements.

E4.7.1 Not applicable.

E4.7.2 A2 The suggestion is that the vehicle movements associated with the

gravel extraction and cartage be accommodated by using an

upgraded existing southern (secondary) junction.

The junction to be upgraded in compliance with Dorset Council

requirements and generally in compliance with figure 6.61 Rural

Property access with driveway width widened for two-way use

within the property for a distance of some 30 metres from the edge

of seal - deemed to comply.


By Terry Eaton

E4.7.3 Not applicable

E4.7.4 Sight distance at the proposed access junction:

Sight distance to the south is in excess of the Table E4.7.4

requirement for a 100 km/h speed zone - complies.

Sight distance to the north of some 155 metres meets Table

E4.7.4 requirements for a 75km/h approach speed. The road

alignment at the access junction with the driveway on the

outside of a tight curve advisory signed at 35km/h indicating

a negotiating speed well below the available sight distance

- deemed to comply.

7. Conclusion

A traffic assessment for extension of gravel extraction from Mr S Pullbrooks land

with access to Gillespies Road indicates compliance with Section E4.0 Road and

Railway Assets Code of the Dorset Council Planning Scheme provide access is via

the secondary access with that driveway upgraded to meet Dorset Council

requirements.

Terry Eaton

S PULLBROOK’S PROPOSED

DRIVEWAY UPGRADE

Rural Property Access

Layout Guideline

Documents

Traffic Assessment Proposed Extension of Gravel Pit Production