M25: fourth lane furore
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• Department of Transport proposals to squeeze a fourth lane out of the existing threelane M25 motorway have been received with extreme reservations by the road haulage industry.
Transport Secretary Cecil Parkinson announced the scheme last week as an emergency measure pending a full-scale road-widening project.
A report by engineering consultants Rendel, Palmer & Tritton also recommends a 50mph (80km/h) speed limit, more HGV crawler lanes and improvements inside and outside London's orbital link.
The report will form the basis for consultation with interested organisations, and the Dip plans to take action before the end of the year.
Graham Eames, chairman of Transfrigoroute, says the scheme is "crazy". "I cannot see how it will work, or how it will be safe," he says. "Not enough consideration has been given to the practicalities of the job — there must be other things that can be done."
RHA's director-general Bryan Colley welcomes any sensible temporary alleviation of congestion, but has reservations about reduced road width lanes: "When they are used at road works and special sites such as the Severn Bridge, there is the potential to increase the number of accidents." he warns. "Also, most drivers seem reluctant to observe the 50mph speed limit. In accident situations, access via the hard shoulder for emergency vehicles is essential and it appears this proposal intends using part of the hard shoulder for normal traffic. This is not a sensible or practical solution."
John Guttridge, south-east regional director of the Freight Transport Association, says the motorway would have to be re-signposted which could take between three and four years to complete. "It's not a question of going around with a pot of white paint — the entire road traffic management system would have to be redesigned," he says.
Tim Inman, in charge of the RHA's heavy haulage division, says the new scheme would obviously affect wide loads.