TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES
APPLICATION FOR ROAD CLOSURES FOR THE HOLDING OF EVENTS
AS PART OF THE 2015 NATWEST ISLAND GAMES
Purpose of the Report
To obtain ‘Ministerial Decision’ regarding approval of road closures and traffic restrictions for the purpose of hosting the 2015 Island Games to be held between Saturday 27 June and Saturday 4 July 2015.
In addition, to enable an instruction to be sent to the Law Draftsman requesting preparation of two Orders under Article 2 of the “Entertainments on Public Roads (Jersey) Law 1985” to facilitate the policing of road cycling events during the games.
Background
The Island Games is the largest sporting event the Island will ever have hosted, with in excess of 4,000 athletes, supporting coaches and staff visiting the Island for the week of the games.
While the number of visitor for the Games and to the various sporting sites will have an impact on traffic levels generally, the following specific events will have a significant traffic impact:-
Opening Ceremony – Saturday 27 June – Howard Davis Park (See Map A):
The opening ceremony (from 7pm – 9pm) will take place in Howard Davis Park. As part of the proceedings the athletes will muster and parade from Victoria College, starting at 7pm, onto Clarence Road and across onto Don Road. The parade will enter the park through the side entrance on Don Road. The parade is likely to take around an hour.
Once the ceremony has finished at 9pm the athletes will leave the park from both the main entrance and the side entrance and will be directed to their team coach waiting in St Clements Road. Coaches will be stacked facing the wrong way down St Clements Road during the ceremony. They will then exit onto La Route Du Fort under Honorary Police supervision.
The following roads will be closed between 6pm and 10.00pm: -
- Don Road from Francis Street to Georgetown junction. A single lane will be coned off to allow buses to come up and go down Mont Millais.
- La Colomberie from Mont Millais to Roseville Street will be closed.
- St Clements Road from La Route du Fort to La Colomberie.
- Hastings Road from St Clements Road to Cleveland Road.
It is Proposed that the event’s road closures be enabled under Connétable’s policing powers under the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956: Article 67, however the Minister’s endorsement is required.
Cycling Time Trial – Sunday 28 June (See Map B):
The Time Trial is taking place in the western parishes, starting and finishing on La Route Orange at the bus lay-by just west of Waitrose Supermarket (Red Houses). Course management will in general require no road closures, with junctions, etc. subject to temporary Honorary Police or Island Games officials control as competitors pass though. However, the start procedure will require the westbound closure of La Route Orange between La Route des Quennevais and La Rue de Sergente (La Moye Garages). Timings for the closure are as follows:-
- Women’s race: 8.45am – 9.30am
- Men’s race: 11am – 12.30pm
During the closure buses to La Corbiere (Route 12) will be permitted through, subject to short delays as riders are released from the start ramp. Otherwise residents along La Route Orange will be letter dropped by the Games organisers to forewarn of any impact the event will have on access.
Triathlon Cycling Phase - Sunday 28 June:
The Triathlon course (40km) has been trailed over the past two years and covers the west of the Island, starting and finishing at West Park (Jardin de la Mare).The race requires the closure of the westbound (seaward) side of Victoria Avenue and La Route de la Haule (as far as La Haule slip). The closures are necessary to allow the tightly bunched outward bound cyclists to ride safely without interacting with traffic.
Road closures will be from 4pm until 5.30pm. The rest of the course will be managed without road closures, using event Marshalls.
Cycling Road Race – Tuesday 30 June (See Map C):
The road races course (15km) will use the same circuit used for the 2014 Jersey Festival of Cycling and the 2010 Tour De Bretagne. The race requires a full road closure of all roads that make up the course and will therefore require an event order under ‘Article 2’ of the “Entertainments on Public Roads (Jersey) Law 1985” .
The start times for the two races have been set so as to create as little disruption to local residents as possible, whilst still providing a safe environment for the athletes to compete in. Course closure times are as follows: -
- Men’s race: 9am – 1pm
- Women’s race: 5.30pm – 9pm
Criterium – Thursday 2nd July (See Map D):
The men’s and women’s Criterium races are to take place in the town centre and follow the course of the annual ‘Town Criterium’ which takes place on Whitsun Sunday each year. The races requires a full road closure of all roads that make up the course and will therefore require an event order under ‘Article 2’ of the “Entertainments on Public Roads (Jersey) Law 1985”. Course closure times are as follows: -
- Women’s race: 12.30pm – 3pm
- Men’s race: 6pmm – 10pm
These times have been dictated by the need to:
- Maximise spectator availability as a Blue Ribbon event within the Games,
- Minimise PM rush hour disruption,
- Maintain daylight, which is needed for event safety.
The date of the event is set by the overall Games calendar and cannot be moved to a non working day.
Pedestrian Access: most footpaths adjacent to and within the course will remain open to pedestrians / spectators at all times. However, pedestrians will be restricted to crossing the course at designated marshal points, with crossing being permitted only when deemed clear (approximately every three minutes during racing). Some footpaths that make up the length of the course will be closed for safety reasons. Where this is the case pedestrians will be directed to suitable crossing locations by event marshals.
Access to Residences: Vehicles within the race area will be able to ingress and egress via the crossing points at the New Street Cut entrance and Le Geyt Street to Dumaresq Street cut subject to marshal control.
Access to Shops, Cafes and Pubs: The majority of shops will be closing around 5.30pm but most offices / cafes / restaurants and convenience stores will still be open. As the men’s race will not start until 6.30pm there should be sufficient time for those wishing to leave town after work to do so without being impeded by the road closures.
Access to Private Car Parks: A number of large private car parks particularly those with entrances on Commercial Street will have restricted access and vehicle movements will be restricted as the street is made two way.
Emergency Services: Primary response routes are not included among the proposed road closures with the main issue being access to the town centre. Should emergency access be required however, a command and control centre will be in place and racing quickly stopped.
Bus Service: Although the summer timetable is in use, impact on the bus service should be minor. However, services that normally return to Liberation Station via Green Street / Hill Street etc. (No. 1, 2 and 3) will instead return directly via the Tunnel missing a small number of stops. In addition the No.5 which normally goes along Broad Street / The Parade / Saville Street will instead access Rouge Bouillon via West Park. The 15 service which utilises Double Decker buses will not be able to terminate at Liberation Station due to the closure of the Esplanade outside the Pomme d’Or Hotel. The number 15 will terminate at a temporary bus stop on the Esplanade close to Castle Street. Any changes to services will be advertised on relevant routes in advance.
Taxi Rank: The taxi rank at Weighbridge Place will be closed between 10.30am and 10pm, although it is proposed that an alternative rank be set up in the Marina car park next to the steam clock. Whilst it is possible to keep Library Place taxi rank open with access via New Street (using marshal support at the junction of New Street / Union Street) current indications are that this is considered impractical by the Taxi Driver Association. Any changes to the location of taxi ranks will be advertised at current sites in advance.
Traffic: The proposed road closures to enable the event are significant, in particular the closure of Union Street and Hill Street. However the Ring Road itself will remain open throughout the event. Although being a trading day, efforts have been made to contact businesses and delivery companies so as to programme any deliveries for the day to be completed before the closure of the course at 12.30pm. In general the same traffic management in previous years has worked well.
Closing Ceremony – Saturday 4th July – Howard Davis Park (See Map A):
The closing ceremony will follow a similar format to the opening ceremony. The only differences are timings with the road closing at 6pm and reopening at 11pm.
Discussion
Road works embargo: To assist the smooth running of the games and the logistical problems organisers face in moving 4,000 competitors and staff between sporting venues and their accommodation, the Street Works Manager has implemented an embargo on all road work on or adjacent to TTS main roads. This will aid traffic flow across the island during the week of the games, and also help improve the aesthetic of the island infrastructure to visitors.
Transport: For the Island Games, there will be a dedicated bus service from Liberation Station for all accredited competitors and officials which will take them from their accommodation to the sporting venues as well as to the opening and closing ceremonies. There are also regular scheduled services which can quickly deliver spectators and sightseers where they want to go. More information on transport links will be available closer to the event.
Traffic Impact: Although the majority of the events occurring during the games are timed to take place outside of peak times (reducing the impact on commuters), there is likely to be disruption at times due to the proximity of some events to peak times and the number of spectators expected to attend certain events. However, it is hoped that the public will tolerate any additional disruption as the host community for the Games.
Conclusion
The Island Games is a huge island wide event taking place that week, and these events make up just a small part of what these games are. The games organisers and the race organisers have carefully considered the events and their timings to carefully balance the respective needs of the Island Games while minimising the impact on the Island as a whole.
Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to approve in principal the proposed Island Games 2015 Cycling events as constituted and the preparation of two Orders (‘Island Games Town Criterium 2015’ and ‘Island Games Cycling Road Race 2015’) under Article 2 of the “Entertainments on Public Roads (Jersey) Law 1985”.
Reason(s) for Decision
The proposed road closures and associated traffic management are reasonable and justified in the light of the importance of the Island Games to the Island.
Resource Implications
TTS Officer and Law Draftsman’s time.
TTS’ Road Signs and Markings Gang have been asked to assist the Honorary Police in putting out / moving traffic signs (Sunday 28 June, Tuesday 30 June and Thursday 2 July) and collecting signs after the event.
Action Required
Technical Assistant to forward a copy of the Ministerial Decision along with an Instructing Memorandum and the Promoter’s Application to the Law Draftsman.
Written by: | Technical Assistant, Traffic and Infrastructure |
Approved by: | Director, Engineering and Infrastructure |
Attachments: | Maps A, B, C, D |
gov.je