Experts examine bypass noise data (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Experts examine bypass noise data

DATA collected from recent noise surveys carried out on Cirencester's concrete by-pass is now being analysed.

Experts will use the information gathered to prioritise the re-surfacing of the road, one of 17 opened since June 1988.

The survey also included the bypass of Latton near Cricklade, and both bypasses form part of a six-mile stretch of new dual carriageway opened in 1997.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said this week that there were about 150 trunk road sections of concrete road across the country which were part of the Agency's network.

"The number of roads means prioritising is no simple task," he said.

"An announcement will be made as soon as all analysis is completed and a priority list is confirmed, but these details are yet to be finalised."

It's now two years since deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced that all concrete trunk road sections would be replaced by 2010, in line with the Government's 10-year transport plan.

But the order in which the work will be done will depend on criteria which includes the number of people affected by road noise, how the results of the surveys compare with predicted noise levels forecast at the public inquiry, and whether the re-surfacing can be timed to coincide with normal road maintenance.