Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many vehicles cross Craigavon Bridge, Londonderry, in a 24-hour period: what is the peak flow experienced; what, if it were not for the present security checks, is the estimated peak flow which the bridge can accommodate; what were the figures in 1972 and in 1968; what are the estimated figures for five years ahead; and what were the forecasts for the end of 1977 and for the early 'eighties in 1968 and 1972 or the nearest years to these in which forecasts were made.
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§ Mr. CarterNo counts of the number of vehicles using Craigavon Bridge have been taken for a 24-hour period, but in 1976 the volume of traffic crossing this bridge during a 16-hour period from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. was 17,291 vehicles. The peak hour flow was 1,803 vehicles.
Craigavon Bridge is estimated to be capable of carrying 6,000 vehicles an hour, under favourable conditions and assuming that there were no security checks.
In 1972 and 1968 the volumes of traffic crossing the bridge during a similar 16-hour period were 15,819 vehicles and 24,308 vehicles respectively. During the peak hour, 1,442 vehicles and 2,153 vehicles crossed respectively. It is currently estimated that the peak hour traffic using the bridge under favourable conditions, in 1983 will exceed 3,500 vehicles.
No forecasts were made for the end of 1977.
A firm of consulting civil and transportation engineers, employed by the Londonderry Development Commission, predicted in 1971 that by 1981 4,357 vehicles would use the bridge during the peak hour flow.