JUNCTIONS around Evesham could be improved by 2021 if the Evesham Transport Strategy is successful.

Results from the Evesham Traffic Survey have finally been published, some 18 months since it was completed.

Worcestershire County Council is working in partnership with Highways England, the body that manages the A46, to support two projects that could see the trunk road improved in the vicinity of Evesham.

The first project is the development of a funding bid that, if successful, would see the junctions around Evesham improved, in order to ease congestion, by 2021. The second is an investigation into the 'whole corridor' of the A46, to assess how it performs as part of the nation's Strategic Road Network.

Worcestershire County Council is supporting this investigation and is making the case for Evesham to be a focus for any improvements that might be proposed.

The Evesham Transport Strategy is a joint Worcestershire County Council and Wychavon District Council scheme.

Dr Ken Pollock, Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure, said: "We take very seriously the effect congestion has on everyone who lives or works in Evesham and that is why we are working through a methodical plan.

"We are assessing a number of options for making improvements within the town before we then look at more wide-ranging and longer-term measures.

"And we are doing all of this in close partnership with Wychavon District Council, not least because we want to make sure that the wider options fit, or better still support, the town's aspirations for the future.

"We understand people's frustrations but it is clear that there aren't any easy or quick answers. In common with much of the UK, travel demand has kept on growing in Evesham but the constrained nature of the town's road network makes the impact of this rising demand particularly keenly felt."

The results from the town-wide traffic surveys have been published on the County Council's web site (www.worcestershire.gov.uk/evesham) and this will be followed on July 18 by the results of the first stage of option testing.

A traffic model of Evesham, a computer-based simulation of the town's road network, based on the results of the traffic surveys to ensure it properly reflects 'real-world' conditions, has been developed and this will be used to assess those options that 'pass' the first stage of testing.

Councillor Bradley Thomas, Wychavon District Council's portfolio holder for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, said: "This is such an important project for Evesham and we are delighted to be working in partnership to help shape it.

"To this end we have also set-up a Stakeholder Group and we will look to hold a number of public exhibitions as the project develops."

Worcestershire County Council has also secured the funding to build a new walking and cycling bridge to cross the River Avon, somewhere between Abbey Bridge and Hampton Ferry, together with linking paths that will connect to the town centre.

Work is underway to determine the best location for the bridge.

Results from the survey have also been published with vehicle counts on the A46 at Badsey Lane reaching over 1000 vehicle movements in both directions between 8am and 9am on an average morning and similar from 5pm until 6pm in the afternoon.

Around 12,000 vehicle movements happen on an average day in this part of the A46 making it the busiest part of Evesham.