Mr. Wm Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the present numbers of vehicles crossing Craigavon bridge in Londonderry each day; what are the forecasts for 1985 and 1990; what were the numbers five and 10 years ago; and what forecasts were made five years ago and 10 years ago for the present time, 1985 and 1990.
§ Mr. Carter, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13 March 1979; Vol. 964, c. 142], gave the following information:
No census has been made of the number of vehicles crossing Craigavon bridge over a 24-hour period. However, approximately 26,000 vehicles were recorded during a 16-hour period from 588W 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. in August 1978. In 1968 and 1974 there were approximately 24,300 and 15,900 vehicles crossing the bridge during similar 16-hour periods.
No traffic forecasts were made in 1974 and 1969 but forecasts in 1971 for 1981 and 1991 were that the flow of traffic would be approximately 4,400 and 5,500 vehicles per hour at peak hours in those years respectively. These forecasts assumed that a proportion of cross-river traffic would be carried by the new Foyle bridge. Daily traffic flow is usually between eight and ten times peak hour flow.