The Earl of Munsterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether alternative peak-hour traffic flow is to be introduced in the Kingsway tunnel; and if not, why not.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)The Kingsway Tunnel is a local road for which Westminster City Council are the highway authority. It is for them to decide whether the introduction of alternative peak-hour traffic flow would be desirable. I understand from the city council that the northbound traffic flow is concentrated over a short period in the morning, and so the underpass helps reduce queuing on Waterloo Bridge, whereas the evening flow southbound is over a longer period and therefore similar delays do not arise in Kingsway. The council also say that the cost of works to introduce a tidal flow system would be considerable. They would include
The removal of barriers at tunnel entrances and rearrangement of the road layout to allow southbound traffic access and egress.Replacement of the existing traffic signs.Introduction of restricted height detectors at the northern entrance.Removal of banking at bends in the tunnels, which keeps northbound traffic away from the walls.Provision of removable barriers to prevent traffic entering the tunnel against the tidal flow.It is the council's view that the costs outweigh the advantages of a tidal flow system.