Motorways (Traffic Flows) (Hansard, 11 June 1986)

§ Mr. Chapman
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list his Department's forecasts of traffic flows, vehicles per day, in 1985 on the assumptions that the present planned Channel tunnel is open, and not open, respectively, for (a) M2 motorway, junctions 3 to 8, (b) M2 motorway, junctions 1 to 3, (c) M25 motorway, junctions 2 to 3, (d) M25 motorway, junctions 28 to 31 and (e) M25 motorway, junctions 27 to 28.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
The Department has no forecast of traffic flows on M2 in 1995. The forecast flows per 16-hour average day for sections of the M25 in 1995 are:

(000s)

Junctions 2 to 3 68–89

Junctions 28 to 31 39–50

Junctions 27 to 28 56–80

Completion of the Channel tunnel would be likely to lead to a reduction of up to 1,000 vehicles per day in the average daily flows on M2 and an increase of up to 1,000 on the sections of M25.

§ Mr. Chapman
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the latest traffic flows in vehicles per day on each opened section of the M25 motorway; and if he will compare these with the original departmental forecasts of flows.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
The information requested is set out in the table. The latest flows shown are 16-hour average daily flows for April 1986. The original forecasts given are those presented at public inquiries during the 1970s for each section. Continuous traffic counts are not taken on all sections. Some further installations will be coming into operation by the end of the year.
193W

Section Junction numbers Forecasts Original Flows for 1987 Updated (1984) Latest flows

(000s) (000s) (000s)

M26/A21–A22 5 to 6 50 to 60 56 to 64 65

A22–M23 6 to 7 50 to 65 56 to 69 72

M23–A217 7 to 8 50 to 60 56 to 64 —

A217–A243 8 to 9 40 to 50 44 to 53 69

A243–A3 9 to 10 45 to 55 50 to 58 72

A3–A320 10 to 11 55 to 75 60 to 80 87

A320–M3 11 to 12 65 to 80 72 to 85 100

M3–A30 12 to 13 60 to 75 67 to 80 —

A30-Airport Spur 13 to 14 70 to 80 78 to 85 —

Airport Spur-M4 14 to 15 70 to 80 78 to 85 —

M4–M40 15 to 16 60 to 65 67 to 69 87

M40–A412 16 to 17 55 to 60 61 to64 71

A412–A404 17 to 18 55 to 65 61 to 69 —

A404–A405 18 to 19 65 to 75 72 to 80 —

A405–A41 19 to 20 45 to 55 50 to 58 Not Open

A41–M1 20 to 21 45 to 50 50 to 53 Not Open

M1–A6 21 to 22 30 to 35 33 to 37 Not Open

A6–A1(M) 22 to 23 40 to 50 44 to 53 Not Open

A1(M)-A111 23 to 24 50 to 55 56 to 58 —

A111–A10 24 to 25 40 to 45 44 to48 —

A10–A121 25 to 26 45 to 50 50 to 53 58

A121–M11 26 to 27 50 to 60 56 to 64 56

M11–A12 27 to 28 50 to 60 56 to 64 —

A12–A127 28 to 29 35 to 40 39 to 42 —

A127–A13 29 to 30/31 35 to 40 29 to 42 58

A13-Dartford Tunnel 31 to 1 50 to 60 56 to 64 64

	(000s)
Junctions 2 to 3	68–89
Junctions 28 to 31	39–50
Junctions 27 to 28	56–80

Section	Junction numbers	Forecasts Original	Flows for 1987 Updated (1984)	Latest flows
		(000s)	(000s)	(000s)
M26/A21–A22	5 to 6	50 to 60	56 to 64	65
A22–M23	6 to 7	50 to 65	56 to 69	72
M23–A217	7 to 8	50 to 60	56 to 64	—
A217–A243	8 to 9	40 to 50	44 to 53	69
A243–A3	9 to 10	45 to 55	50 to 58	72
A3–A320	10 to 11	55 to 75	60 to 80	87
A320–M3	11 to 12	65 to 80	72 to 85	100
M3–A30	12 to 13	60 to 75	67 to 80	—
A30-Airport Spur	13 to 14	70 to 80	78 to 85	—
Airport Spur-M4	14 to 15	70 to 80	78 to 85	—
M4–M40	15 to 16	60 to 65	67 to 69	87
M40–A412	16 to 17	55 to 60	61 to64	71
A412–A404	17 to 18	55 to 65	61 to 69	—
A404–A405	18 to 19	65 to 75	72 to 80	—
A405–A41	19 to 20	45 to 55	50 to 58	Not Open
A41–M1	20 to 21	45 to 50	50 to 53	Not Open
M1–A6	21 to 22	30 to 35	33 to 37	Not Open
A6–A1(M)	22 to 23	40 to 50	44 to 53	Not Open
A1(M)-A111	23 to 24	50 to 55	56 to 58	—
A111–A10	24 to 25	40 to 45	44 to48	—
A10–A121	25 to 26	45 to 50	50 to 53	58
A121–M11	26 to 27	50 to 60	56 to 64	56
M11–A12	27 to 28	50 to 60	56 to 64	—
A12–A127	28 to 29	35 to 40	39 to 42	—
A127–A13	29 to 30/31	35 to 40	29 to 42	58
A13-Dartford Tunnel	31 to 1	50 to 60	56 to 64	64