"Colum Mylod" wrote in message
...

The smart way to reduce congestion (not that this expansion has it, 5%
of the area at most has congestion) is to close off zones and reduce
flow. Classic example Hammersmith bridge. Close it and traffic
"evaporates".

Er... not quite.

I remember a miserable afternoon spent trying to get from Barnes to Hanwell.
It should have been a doddle using Hammersmith Bridge, but it was then
closed for repairs (is it still closed, or closed again?). Using Chiswick
Bridge (the westerly nexus of the North and South Circular Roads) was
excruciating because Hammersmith Bridge was closed. The traffic certainly
does not "evaporate", even if the residents of the approach roads (some of
whom seem very self-centred over this issue) think it does. It simply goes
elsewhere (because it has to).

I remember a saying my grandmother frequently used - "full bellies never
think of empty ones".

JNugent wrote:
"Colum Mylod" wrote in message
...

The smart way to reduce congestion (not that this expansion has
it, 5%
of the area at most has congestion) is to close off zones and
reduce flow. Classic example Hammersmith bridge. Close it and
traffic "evaporates".

Er... not quite.

I remember a miserable afternoon spent trying to get from Barnes to
Hanwell. It should have been a doddle using Hammersmith Bridge, but
it was then closed for repairs (is it still closed, or closed
again?).

It's open, and has been IIRC for at least 4 years.

Using Chiswick Bridge (the westerly nexus of the North and
South Circular Roads) ...

Those two roads actually meet at Chiswick Roundabout, and the South
Circular Road crosses the river via Kew Bridge. Chiswick Bridge carries
the A316, the link to the M3.
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

"Richard J." wrote...

JNugent wrote:
"Colum Mylod" wrote:

The smart way to reduce congestion (not that this expansion has
it, 5% of the area at most has congestion) is to close off zones
and reduce flow. Classic example Hammersmith bridge. Close
it and traffic "evaporates".

Er... not quite.
I remember a miserable afternoon spent trying to get from Barnes to
Hanwell. It should have been a doddle using Hammersmith Bridge, but
it was then closed for repairs (is it still closed, or closed
again?).

It's open, and has been IIRC for at least 4 years.

Good - though I'm sure I recall a proposal that it should be closed again -
and a campaign by Castelnau residents that it should not be reopened after
those extenive repairs.

Using Chiswick Bridge (the westerly nexus of the North and
South Circular Roads) ...

Those two roads actually meet at Chiswick Roundabout, and the South
Circular Road crosses the river via Kew Bridge. Chiswick Bridge carries
the A316, the link to the M3.

Quite right - it was Kew Bridge I meant.

JNugent wrote:
"Colum Mylod" wrote in message
The smart way to reduce congestion (not that this expansion has it, 5%
of the area at most has congestion) is to close off zones and reduce
flow. Classic example Hammersmith bridge. Close it and traffic
"evaporates".

Er... not quite.

I remember a miserable afternoon spent trying to get from Barnes to Hanwell.
It should have been a doddle using Hammersmith Bridge, but it was then
closed for repairs (is it still closed, or closed again?). ... The traffic
certainly does not "evaporate", even if the residents of the
approach roads
(some of whom seem very self-centred over this issue) think it
does. It
simply goes elsewhere (because it has to).

No. Of course some goes elsewhere, but some evaporates too. People
choose not to travel or not to drive. The stats show it. The effect
increases over time as people move house or change jobs.

Similarly most of the traffic that now occupies the M25 didn't exist
before the motorway was built.


Colin McKenzie