§ Mr. Pilkingtonasked the Minister of Transport what is at present recognised as the best width for trunk roads where traffic is greatest; and how many vehicles abreast is such a road expected to hold on one carriageway?
§ Mr. BurginGenerally I regard 120 feet as a suitable width for a road carrying heavy traffic. In addition to verges, footpaths and cycle tracks, this dimension permits of dual carriageways, each with two lanes of traffic, and affords opportunity for future widening, if necessary, to carry three lanes of traffic in each direction.
In some special circumstances a width of more than 120 feet is proposed as for instance where it is necessary in order to preserve an existing carriageway as one part of a dual lay-out. Similarly, my hon. Friend will appreciate that there are stretches of road where the achievement of a width of even 120 feet is not practicable.