A bold plan to increase road capacity on congested sections of UK motorways by adding an additional ‘first floor’ is under consideration by the UK government, just-auto understands.
A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told just-auto that modern construction techniques now made this the ‘obvious solution’ to problems of increasing congestion on the motorway network.
Go deeper with GlobalData
“We are running out of options at pinch points on the M25 and M1,” he said. “This sounds outlandish, but adding another ‘flyover’ 2-lane highway in the air above the existing road infrastructure really is the obvious solution to raise road capacity in a cost-effective manner.”
The official said that a task force in the Department of Transport has been examining ‘radical options’ to reduce traffic congestion over the past two years. “There’s a cost being imposed on the economy, so this could be a way to boost economic growth,” the official maintained.
“This will be sold to motorists and voters as a real enhancement to their driving lives,” he added.
“The flyover lanes will be for cars only as it will have to be weight restricted. So, no more heavy trucks blocking the way. Also, one suggestion is that there will be no speed restrictions on the flyover, just a ‘slow lane’ and a ‘fast lane’.”
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataThe latest research suggests that drivers react better to setting their own limits in certain circumstances and the thinking is that the two-lane highway will be a model for ‘self-regulation’ with drivers on a relatively narrow flyover not wanting to drive at excessive speed.
“And don’t forget, traffic underneath will be flowing faster, too,” the official said.
New construction techniques mean that the network could be created relatively cheaply and this has been the breakthrough development that triggered a feasibility study that will conclude a trial scheme is needed.
“This structure will not involve lots of expensive supporting pillars,” he said. “There will be a ‘state of the art’ cantilevered suspension bridge type arrangement so that the new road floats above the existing one but with the load bearing supports concentrated in the central reservation. And it will be a modular construction type subject to large scale economies and that will keep the cost down.”
But the question remains: how will this be paid for?
“Ministers think that ‘pay as you go’ is probably the way forward with this once constructed. The motorist will see the advantages in journey time and happily pay for that. There will also be special “fly-drive” government bonds which will help to raise some of the necessary capital ahead of construction.
“The Treasury is on board with this and attracted to the economic benefits.”
One strand of thinking is that these ‘roads in the sky’ could be straightforward and fast to construct so that they can also receive fast-track local planning approval for flexible application by local communities in response to particular local road-use issues. “This could be a way to resolve congestion on some trunk roads and even in built-up urban areas with a lighter weight construction solution employing the same techniques and engineering principles as the motorway flyovers.
“Policy-makers might be attracted also to dedicated raised lanes for certain classes of vehicle – say electric vehicles or even bicycles,” he said. “But that’s a little down the road.”
