HC Deb 30 November 1976 vol 921 cc80-1W
Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle and pedestrian movements he normally requires before installing traffic lights at intersections; what are the numbers of each at the junction of the former A45 and All on the Bury St. Edmunds side of Newmarket; and whether, since the opening of the Newmarket bypass and the detrunking of the two roads that meet at this point, the traffic lights there are needed.

Mr. Horam

Decisions on the installation of traffic control signals at intersections are based on a variety of factors and each situation must be considered on its merits. Traffic flow alone cannot be used to justify control, but minimum traffic figures have been drawn up for general guidance. For an intersection such as that mentioned the figure would be an average hourly flow, taking the four busiest hours of any weekday. of 300 vehicles entering the intersection from all directions, including a side road element of 100 vehicles.

Where signals are justified, provision for pedestrians can be considered if turning traffic exceeds a rate of 700 vehicles per hour during the green period or the flow of pedestrians crossing any arm of the intersection exceeds 300 per hour.

My Department has no traffic information for the junction in question for the period following the opening of Newmarket bypass. Any survey to determine whether the signals continue to be necessary would be for Cambridgeshire County Council to carry out, since it is now the highway authority for the bypassed sections of A11 and A45 within its boundary. The county surveyor has the matter under consideration.