London's Huge Traffic Flow
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IN a report by the advisory committee of the London County Council on the Charing, Cross Bridge scheme, interesting information is given with regard
• to traffic statistics and similar matters. Westminster Bridge carries the heaviest traffic of any bridge over the Thames. A census taken on July 9th, 1929, showed that between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. 28,779 vehicles passed over this bridge, the next highest figure being' for Vanxhall Bridge. which carried 21,929 units.. In the case of Westminster Bridge, the number of vehicles increased from 17,204 in 1912, to 20,048 in 1924, whilst the number in 1929 represented an increase of 44 per cent, over that for 1924.
It appears that as regards four points in the city, the number of vehicles passing daily between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. increased from 94,777 in 1912 to 98,896 in 1924 and to 109,671 in 1929. At four centres in the West End of London traffic increased from 104,084 units in 1912 to 153,902 in 1924, and to 187,868 in 1929. The figures for 1929 represent increases of 11 per cent. and 22 per e'ent. respectively when compared with those for 1924, and 16 per cent. and 80 per cent., respectively, when contrasted with those for 1912.
Waterloo Bridge carries as much traffic as can be conveniently worked across it with its existing approaches. In 1912, 12,197 vehicles passed over the bridge during a period of 12 hours. The corresponding numbers for 1924 and 1929 were 12,995 and 15,596 respectively, representing an increase of 20 per cent. between 1924 and 1929.
The number of vehicles passing be
tween 8 a.m. and 8 pm. through Trafalgar Square was 34,897 in 1912, 48,577 in 1924, and 63,699 in 1929. The corresponding figures for (Elephant and Castle headway were 20,782, 30,597 and 32,219 respectively. Compared with those for 1924, the figures for 1929 show an increase of 31 per cent. in the case of Trafalgar Square and 5 per eent, in the case of the Elephant and Castle.
A census taken in 1930 showed that 22,968 vehicles passed St. George's Circus during a period of 12 hours.
The Ministry of Transport estimates that in 1940 the number of vehicles travelling through Trafalgar Square and crossing at the Elephant and Castle headway will have increased by approximately 40 per cent, as compared with the figures for 1929.