The Highways Agency has published its plan for the next year, with an increasing emphasis on using technology to maximise capacity of the current road network – and with very few plans for road expansion schemes. New tech includes ‘Active Traffic Management’ – which has already been trialled on the M25 and M42 – plus queue detection systems and a planned increase in the number of message display boards that have already started to proliferate across the motorway network. Indeed, the 44-page report waits until page 31 to actually mention any major road improvement schemes.The good news is that the next three years should see 15 schemes, including widening the M1 between Junction 6a and Junction 10, and starting work building the four-mile Hindhead link, which will finally complete the dual carriageway between London and Portsmouth.The report also confirms the extension of the trial conducted on parts of the M42 and M6 to allow drivers to use the hard shoulder at peak times. The most sensible initiative is probably the proposal to restrict lorries from overtaking on certain heavily congested stretches of dual carriageway, something that has worked successfully in other European countries for years.
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Re: Road plan: more tech, less new tarmac
I think what's needed are roads that take people from A to B without forcing them to go via C and D. It doesn't have to be motorways (they should only be built in areas where there is a need for that kind of road and there isn't one already). Dual carriageways and decent smaller roads that actually go where people travel would ease congestion. I know that bypasses cost a lot of money, but they do mean people who are forced to commute through towns (since there is no reasonable alternative) stop gridlocking them. Build sensible, safe roads that allow people to minimise the travelling time - then you will reduce the traffic.
Re: Road plan: more tech, less new tarmac
I've only just joined up here, but I like you already mate!
Is it true that Red Ken doctored traffic lights in London to create congestion, just so he could bring in the congestion charge?
Where i live in Worcester, the (Labour) council are on about congestion charging on one of our main roads IF we reject their plan of putting a bus lane on this (narrow as it is) road.
I too hate the fact that Gordon Brown wasn't elected by us, but yet he and his cronies are making life worse in the UK. More people now than ever are moving abroad to escape this lunacy, just as well - it makes more space for the illegals.
Re: Road plan: more tech, less new tarmac
i think they have the right idea, in that they need to maximise the technology out there to give real time information and proper traffic management. However, this should also be done along with road improvements and expansions of certain stretches of the road network.
But you have to draw a line somewhere to the amount of expansion. Do we really need 16 line wide motorways up and down the country?? cause it'll head that way if they kept expanding!