Great Benefits from Motorway
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A VOLUMINOUS report on the 1–lbenefits expected from the LondonBirmingham motorway was issued yesterday. It has been prepared by the Road ; Research Laboratory and Birmingham University.
The report is based on a survey carried out in 1955 to determine the origins and destinations of traffic using existing routes which might be affected by the motorway. Calculations and predictions are based on that investigation.
Next year's volume of traffic is estimated to be 30 per cent, above the 1955 levels. An overall average of about 18,000 vehicles a day is expected to use the motorway on weekdays in June and July next. On the busiest section near Luton, some 26,000 vehicles a day are expected.
The A5/A45 route from London to Birmingham will provide most of the motorway traffic and it is estimated that 6,000 to 8,000 fewer vehicles a day will use the old route. A substantial amount of traffic from the A41 road is also likely to be transferred to the motorway. The re-routing of journeys will cause traffic to increase on roads giving access to the motorway, particularly on A45 between c24 Birmingham and Dunchurch and on A41, the Watford by-pass south-east of Aldenham junction. .
The time saved by the use of the motorway is placed at about 1.6m. vehicle-hours a year. Reduced congestion on existing roads should save another 400,000 vehicle-hours a year.
It is estimated that, through traffic transferring to the motorway, about 600 casualties, including 25 deaths, will be avoided next year, There may be slightly more accidents on the other roads because of higher speeds.
Taking into account time savings, benefits from the reduction of accidents, economy in fuel, reductions in vehicle fleets and other advantages, it is calculated that the net rate of return next year on the'Capital cost of the motorway would repay the original capital cost, plus interest, in six to eight years.
About 44 per cent, of the traffic on the motorway is expected to consist of medium and heavy goods vehicles. Light vans and coaches would account for 8 per cent.
By using the motorway instead of the A50.45 route, a medium goods vehicle travelling from central London to Birmingham would save 20 minutes and a heavy goods vehicle 12 minutes, although covering another two miles Per journey. The saving, compared with the journey on A41, would be 30 minutes for a medium . goods vehicle and 20 minutes for a heavy lorry, with one extra mile travelled. By using the motorway instead of the A40 route, a medium lorry would save 28 minutes and a heavy lorry 18 minutes, and the distance would be reduced by five miles.