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No relief from congestion

23rd February 2006
Page 16
Page 16, 23rd February 2006 — No relief from congestion
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

before 2015 at the earliest

Jams today and jams tomorrow — that's the message from the DfT

on the state of the road network. Bridget Carter reports.

TH F. GOVERNMENT needs to stop "studying to death" plans to ease traffic congestion, according to Freight Transport Association freight policy spokesman Malcolm Bingham. His comment follows a DfT report naming the roads with the greatest delays.

He adds that road-user charging, currently titnetabled for 2015 at the earliest, is essential if congestion is to be cut: The government doesn't want to rush into the scheme, hut they need to stop studying this to death."

The DfT study revealed that the A556 south of Manchester is the UK's most congested road. Despite this, the government has not allocated any money to improve it.

Manchester haulier Martin Nolan says he tries to avoid the M6 and uses the A556 at off-peak times. He agrees that another route is needed onto the Mosouthbound:" It gets to choking point."

Other roads on the DfT's congestion blacklist include the A404 in Buckinghamshire. the M26 in Kent and the A453 in Nottinghamshire. The report says drivers waste up to 26 minutes for every 10 miles they travel.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling says the study shows the need for congestion charging on the busiest roads. Over the next live years, tolls will be introduced in one area to evaluate the charging technology.


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