Bypass pleases residents but fails to stop town centre congestion
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• The Okehampton bypass, which opened in 1989, has failed to stop lorry traffic through the town centre, according to a study from the Transport Research Laboratory for the RAC.
The study on the Devon town tends to lend weight to environmentalists' claims that road building is not the answer to much of the congestion on the nation's roads. Despite this, the RAC still says that more should be built as soon as possible.
The report, one of the first to monitor the effect of a bypass on a local community, sought the views of 200 local residents to the bypass which was hoped to reduce tourist and freight congestion on the A30. However, 86% felt the bypass had not been very successful in reducing lorry traffic through the town centre. The study also found that a steep gradient on the bypass route made it unattractive to lorry drivers.
Dave Worksett, RAC director of public affairs, believes heavy traffic can be reduced if "local traffic management measures and traffic calming are introduced." But he is pleased that 80% of local residents feel that the bypass is a good thing for Okehampton. He says: "This confirms the environmental benefits and overwhelming public support for bypasses.