London Banter - View Single Post

Paul Scott · January 18th 10, 10:02 AM posted to uk.transport.london

wrote:
In article ,
(Richard J.) wrote:

The answer to your original question (any Highways Agency roads in
Greater London other than motorways) is "No".

Indeed. All the motorway box remnants (M41 and A102(M)) were demoted
some time ago. Was it in preparation for the Mayor and GLA or well
before then?

Apparently the roads were declassified in May 2000, the month before the GLA
started up. Various websites suggest it was because TfL were not getting
powers to look after motorways, and they would have had to stay with the
Highways Agency if left as motorways.

I don't think there is a consistent national policy on this though, because
there are definitely motorways elsewhere that are the responsibility of
local authorities, such as the M275 into Portsmouth.

It may have just seemed a convenient opportunity for DfT to drop the odd
isolated lengths into someone else's lap, ie the GLA. Maybe GLA wouldn't
take them initially, and the downgrade forced them to?

Paul S