HC Deb 20 March 1980 vol 981 cc309-10W
Mr. Fry

asked the Minister of Transport what sections of motorway have the 20 highest average daily flows; what the flows are on these sections; how they compare with (a) the design standard and (b) the design forecast flow for these sections; and what plans he has to alleviate any overloading.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Regular traffic counts do not take place on all motorway sections, but the following are amongst the busiest:

Motorway Section between junctions 1978 flow estimated average vehicles per day, thousands
M4 3–4 90
M1 7–8 89
M6 8–9 89
M4 2–3 85
M62 12–13 85
M1 8–9 84
M6 9–10 83
M4 6–7 78
M62 14–15 76
M62 15–16 76
M4 5–6 75
M1 9–10 74
M4 1–2 74
M4 4–5 74
M62 16–17 73
M1 10–11 71
M62 13–14 71
M1 6–7 70
M4 7–9 69
M6 10–11 68

The M1 between junctions 6 and 7 is a dual two-lane motorway for which the design capacity is 48,000 vehicles per day. The M4 between junctions 1 and 2, and part of the M4 between junctions 2 and 3, are dual two-lane urban motorways, for which the design capacity is equivalent to 60,000 vehicles per day. The remaining sections of motorway are all dual three-lane with a design capacity of 72,000 vehicles per day. Design capacity, relates to August traffic flows, which are generally higher than the annual average. The estimates of future traffic flows made for these sections of motorway at their various design dates cannot be produced without undue difficulty and expense.

Widening of the M1 between junctions 5 and 8 in Hertfordshire should start this year. The M25 scheme near Heathrow includes proposals to widen M4 between M25 and Junction 4. Pressure on other sections would be relieved by the Oxford-Birmingham route, by the Manchester outer ring and by the proposed orbital routes around the West Midlands. We are also considering possible traffic management measures to relieve the M6 in the West Midlands.

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