HC Deb 25 November 1997 vol 301 cc483-5W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the peak traffic capacity of the Castledawson bypass; how many vehicles used it when it was first opened; what has been the number each year since opening on a daily basis; and what are the peak hourly flows this year; [17352]

PQ 1214—Traffic Volumes on bridges across the Lower Bann River
(1) Most recent surveys (2) 1992 surveys
Name of bridge Year Average daily traffic volumes Average peak hourly flows Average daily traffic volumes Average peak hourly flows
AM PM AM PM
Toome Bridge 1997 17,667 1,652 1,737 12,990 960 1,350
Agivey Bridge 1996 3,130 220 300 2,910 n/a n/a
Bann Bridge, Portglenone 1997 8,500 663 696 n/a n/a n/a
Sandleford Bridge 1995 20,720 n/a n/a 15,150 n/a n/a
Kilrea Bridge n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
n/a = Not available.

(2) how many vehicles pass over each of the bridges over the Lower Bann each day; in each case what is the hourly peak flow; and what were the figures five years ago; [17353]

(3) if she will list the daily number of vehicles and the peak hourly traffic flow (a) currently and (b) five years ago over (i) Swanns Bridge, (ii) Roe Bridge Limavady and (iii) Dungiven Bridge over the River Roe; [17354]

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the daily and hourly peak traffic flows along(a) Linen Hall Street and (b) Connell Street Limavady (i) were in each of the last five years and (ii) are at present. [17358]

Mr. Paul Murphy

Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Roads Service under its chief executive, Mr. W.S. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from W. J. McCoubrey to Mr. William Ross, dated 24 November 1997: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to respond to your recently tabled PQs about traffic volumes at various locations. PQ 1213—TRAFFIC VOLUMES ON CASTLEDAWSON BY-PASS The design capacity of the Castledawson By-pass, which opened in 1992, is 13,000 vehicles per day. Since then the average daily traffic volumes on the By-pass are as follows:

  • 1992: 8,800
  • 1993: 9,792
  • 1994: 10,580
  • 1995: 11,740
  • 1996: 11,860
  • 1997: 13,302
In 1997 the average peak hourly flows are: 1,040 (a.m), 1,169 (p.m). PQs 1214, 1215, 1219 Whilst the precise information requested is not available, I have provided details in the attached tables. I hope this information is helpful. There are five road bridges over the Lower Bann river. The following table provides details, where available, on the average daily traffic volumes and average peak hourly flows (a.m and p.m) on each of the bridges as determined by:
  1. (1) The most recent traffic survey carried out in each location; and
  2. (2) 1992 traffic surveys (where carried out).

The following table provides details, where available, on the average daily traffic volumes and average peak hourly flows (am and pm) on each of the bridges as determined by:

PQ 1215—Traffic flows—Swanns Bridge, Roe Bridge, and Dungiven Bridge
(1) Most recent surveys (2) 1992 surveys
Name of bridge Year Average daily traffic volumes Average peak hourly flows Average daily traffic volumes Average peak hourly flows
AM PM AM PM
Roe Bridge 1996 16,180 1200 1380 15,030 No figures available
Dungiven Bridge 1996 10,240 780 950 8,450 No figures available
Swanns Bridge No figures available No figures available

The most recent traffic data available in respect of Linenhall Street and Connell Street, Limavady are those of an 1991 traffic survey. Details, where available, are provided in the following table:

PQ 1219—Traffic flows—Linenhall Street, and Connell Street, Limavady
Most recent survey
Location Year Average daily traffic volumes Average hourly peak flows
AM PM
Linenhall Street 1991 18,874 933 951
Connel Street 1991 No figures available 748 1,065
1 Based on a 10 hour count 1989.