Jersey Triathlon 2016: Approval of Road Closures and Changes to Bus Service

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A decision made 27 June 2016:

Decision Reference: MD-T-2016-0058

Decision Summary Title :

3D Performance Application to hold the Jersey Triathlon 2016

Date of Decision Summary:

21 June 2016

Decision Summary Author:

Technical Assistant

Traffic and Infrastructure

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

N/A

Written Report

Title :

3D Performance Application to hold the Jersey Triathlon 2016

Date of Written Report:

21 June 2016

Written Report Author:

Technical Assistant

Traffic and Infrastructure

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

Public

Subject: The Jersey Triathlon 2016

Decision(s): The Minister approved the road closures and changes to the bus service for the Promoter to hold the Jersey Triathlon 2016.

Reason(s) for Decision: The Minister approved the proposed road closures and associated traffic management to be enabled under the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956: Article 67 (4) & (5) - Temporary traffic restrictions which enables the Connétable to restrict or prohibit the use of a road (including a main road) to vehicles if an event is occurring in the ‘vicinity’ of the road, without the need for an Order.

Resource Implications: DFI Road Signs and Markings Section to provide assistance to the Honorary Police in putting out traffic signs prior to the start of the event and collecting / storing traffic signs after the event.

Action required: Officers to forward a copy of the Ministerial Decision to the promoter and to the Parishes of St Helier and St Lawrence

Signature:

Position:

Minister for Infrastructure

Date Signed:

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Jersey Triathlon 2016: Approval of Road Closures and Changes to Bus Service

DEPARTMENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE

3D PERFORMANCE APPLICATION TO HOLD THE JERSEY TRIATHLON 2016

Purpose of the Report

To obtain a Ministerial Decision regarding approval of road closures and traffic restrictions for the purpose of holding the Jersey Triathlon on Sunday 10 July 2016.

Background

3D Performance (the Promoter on behalf of the Jersey Triathlon Club) has submitted details of its proposed road closures and traffic restrictions to enable this year’s Jersey Triathlon. The event which inaugurated in its current format in 2013 was incorporated into the Island Games last year. This year it is again a standalone event with the proposed addition of a full junior competition.

2016 presents a challenge for the Club because there are no early morning high tides between June and August appropriate for holding adult events. The tides dictate the start of the Triathlon and the earliest high tide they could utilise for a Sunday morning race is 11am on Sunday 10 July (usually the Club looks for high tides between 8am and 9am).

The event comprises three basic disciplines - a swimming circuit off West Park (which dictates overall timing of the event due to the need for a high tide), a westerly cycling course on public roads to which this application relates and a running course around the Waterfront site (administered by the States of Jersey Development Company).

There will be three races during the event: a junior race in the morning from 8.30am to 10.30am, a full adult Olympic race after the junior event has finished, and a further parallel “Super Sprint” race on Victoria Avenue during the Olympic event.

The senior events are expected to attract approximately 600 entries, in addition to an estimated 200 entries for the junior competition, including some from the UK and France.

It is proposed that the cycling stage, to which this report relates, be enabled under the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956: Article 67 (4) & (5). The event has the support of the Connétable of St Helier subject to the Minister’s endorsement. The Promoter has also consulted and is co-ordinating with the Emergency Services and DFI Parking Control.

Discussion

New Junior Event – Cycle Stage – Road Closures: 8am to 10.30am

The junior event is not constrained by the tides and will take place before the adult events. The event will consist of a short swim, a cycle on Victoria Avenue’s westbound carriageway and a run around the Elizabeth Marina. The main impact of the junior event is the extended closure time of Victoria Avenue’s westbound carriageway. However, the initial morning closure is limited to between West Park and First Tower and will allow free discharge back onto Victoria Avenue limiting delays.

Adult Events - Cycle Stages Road closures: 10.30am to 2pm:

The Triathlon course (see map 1) has been trialled over the past three 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 during both outbound and inbound legs. Also a short closure (10 minutes) of La Route de la Haule (as far as La Haule slip) at the start of the stage to allow the tightly bunched outward bound cyclists to ride safely without interacting with normal congested traffic.

What is distinct about this year’s event is that due to tide times the Victoria Avenue closure times have been pushed back to 10.45am though the Midday peak to 2pm (in 2015 the road closure was from 8.15am – 12.30pm with the Island Games operating the road closures between 4pm and 6pm). Whilst there will be an impact on westbound traffic, provided there is adequate advanced publicity and Police management of the West Park and Bel Royal junctions, queuing length and delays should be manageable.

The rest of the course will be managed without road closures, using event marshalls.

Traffic heading west from town will be diverted onto St Aubins inner road. Once at Bel Royal traffic will be diverted up St Peters Valley during the opening stages of the cycle leg of the Olympic distance race.
Once the final cyclists competing in the Olympic event have passed through Bel Royal, two-way traffic flow will be permitted through the bus lay-by at Bel Royal to enable east / west bound traffic to divert between La Route de St. Aubin and La Route de la Haule.
The section of St. Peter’s Valley from the junction of Rue du Haut to Bel Royal will be closed to all southbound traffic except for buses / HGV's. Traffic will be diverted along Rue du Haut to its junction with La Route de St. Aubin, thus relieving the Bel Royal junction.
La Rue du Haut (St. Lawrence) is to be closed to traffic travelling west from its junction with Le Mont Cambrai.
La Rue de la Ville Emphrie will be made one way westbound only from La Rue Des Pres Sorsoleil (Jersey War Tunnels) to La Grande Route de St Laurent.

Beach Access

Beach Access to be controlled by event marshals at West Park Slip for the safety of competitors and spectating members of the public alike.

Lay-by Closures

Lay-by 1 will be used as competitor parking so its closure will be required from Saturday 09 July at 6pm.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve the running of the Jersey Triathlon 2016 enabled under the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956: Article 67 (4) & (5).

Reason(s) for Decision

The proposed road closures and associated traffic management are reasonable and justified in the light of the positive benefits of the event to the Island. Although the Sunday peak traffic period (between 10am and Midday) extends through the proposed road closure period, provided there is adequate advanced publicity and Police management of the West Park and Bel Royal junctions, queuing length and delays should be manageable.

Resource Implications

DFI Road Signs and Markings section to provide assistance to the Honorary Police in putting out traffic signs prior to the start of the event and collecting / storing traffic signs after the event.

Action Required

Officers to forward a copy of the Ministerial Decision to the Promoter and to the Parishes of St Helier and St Lawrence.

Written by:	Technical Assistant, Traffic and Infrastructure
Approved by:	Director, Engineering and Infrastructure
Attachments:	Map 1 – Triathlon Course