Axis was commissioned by Airbus to investigate congestion associated with shift changeovers at its Broughton manufacturing facility, helping develop a transport strategy to improve traffic flow, reduce pressure on the surrounding highway network, and support the long-term operation of one of North Wales’ most significant employment sites.
Airbus is a major aerospace manufacturer and one of North Wales’ most significant employers, supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs and generating economic benefits felt across the wider region and beyond.
The scale of manufacturing activity at the Broughton site attracts large volumes of staff traffic, particularly during shift changeover periods. This results in significant congestion on surrounding local roads and at key site access junctions, especially during early afternoon peak periods.
The transport planning team at Axis was commissioned to investigate the causes of this congestion and develop a strategy that could help Airbus improve traffic flow, reduce delays, support staff wellbeing and safety, and improve the overall efficiency of access to and from the site.
Axis undertook comprehensive traffic surveys across 10 junctions surrounding the Airbus Broughton site, alongside detailed on-site qualitative observations during shift changeover periods.
Using this data, the team developed capacity assessment models to better understand the operation of the local highway network and identify the root causes of congestion. A range of potential infrastructure improvements were then tested, including both on-site and off-site physical interventions.
Alongside these engineering solutions, Axis also assessed the potential impact of a series of behavioural and operational ‘soft’ measures designed to improve traffic management and travel patterns associated with the site.
The work forms part of a long-standing relationship between Axis and Airbus, with the wider team having supported the company across various projects for more than 25 years.
Axis continues to advise Airbus on a comprehensive package of potential transport and infrastructure improvements aimed at addressing congestion issues around the Broughton facility.
The work has provided Airbus with a detailed evidence base and a range of practical options that can now be considered and developed further to improve site accessibility, reduce pressure on the local highway network, support staff movement and wellbeing, and contribute to the long-term sustainable operation of one of the region’s most important manufacturing facilities.
Lee Kendall, Technical Director at Axis, commented: “Assisting Airbus has been one of the highlights of my professional career. Opportunities to investigate and solve transport challenges at this scale and level of complexity are rare, and working with such a significant employer has made the project particularly rewarding…
…What has been especially interesting is how the detailed analysis and on-site observations revealed several unexpected causes of congestion, which in turn helped shape a more targeted and effective package of recommendations. We look forward to seeing elements of the strategy taken forward in the future.”