HC Deb 11 November 1999 vol 337 cc690-1W
Caroline Flint

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the daily volume of traffic on the M18; what is the capacity of the motorway; and what is the projected traffic volume for 2000, 2005 and 2010. [98026]

Mr. Hill

[holding answer 10 November 1999]: As this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency, I have asked the Chief Executive, Mr. Peter Nutt, to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Peter Nutt to Caroline Flint, dated 11 November 1999: The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question. You asked "What is the daily volume of traffic on the M18; what is the capacity of the motorway, and what is the projected traffic volume for 2000, 2005 and 2010". The attached table shows the Daily Traffic Volumes, the Motorway Capacity and the projected traffic volumes for the years 2000, 2005 and 2010. I trust the information meets your requirements.

M18 Motorway: Daily Traffic Volumes and Motorway Capacity
Link J0–J1 J1–J2 J2–J3 J3–J4 J4–J5 J5–J6 J6–J7
Demand as percentage of capacity 117 101 127 86 91 66 60
2010 Daily traffic volume3 108,092 93,308 64,855 49,513 53,418 57,882 53,000
Average peak hour flow (one way) 9,188 7,968 6,648 4,476 4,765 5,163 4,717
Demand as percentage of capacity 133 115 145 97 104 75 68
1 Peak hour capacity assumes 2,300 vehicles per lane per hour based on the design capacity
2 The design capacity of the road is based on the bendiness, the gradient and the intended speed of cars with safe gaps between them
3 Assumes National Road Traffic Forecast 1997 rural motorways growth factors