Posts Tagged ‘ring road’

4.2.1

Plain English Version

At the moment, traffic jams are mostly around the main junctions on the Ring Road and along the A38 (Bristol Road). The main areas for traffic problems in the centre are at Holloway Circus, Paradise Circus, St Chads, around the Bull Ring/Moat Lane and at Masshouse. While access by car is and will remain vital for the sucess and vitality of the city centre, we must cut the amount of traffic to meet carbon emissions targets, and less traffic will also be good for the city. It is essential that we improve the quality of alternatives to the car (see later sections). We must also deal with how the actual traffic and road network affects the development of the city centre and how nice it looks.

Original Document

Traffic congestion is currently related primarily to key junctions on the Ring Road, while the A38 corridor also continues to experience high levels of traffic demand. The main areas of congestion in the centre are at the junctions of Holloway Circus, Paradise Circus, St Chads, around the gyratory systems at Bull Ring/Moat Lane and at Masshouse. While access by car is and will remain vital for the success and vitality of the city centre, reducing traffic levels will be necessary if carbon emissions targets are to be met, while reduced congestion will also benefit the city. Improving the quality of alternatives to the car will clearly be essential (see later sections). The negative impacts of the physical traffic and highway infrastructure on the development and overall attractiveness of the city centre must also be addressed.

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4.1.1

Plain English Version

The inner and outer ring roads (the Queensway and the Middleway) made Birmingham easy to get around by car, but not so much by bus, train, walking or cycling. Some of the Queensway has been removed or changed, but to encourage walking, cycling and public transport more needs to be done. This might include better pedestrian crossings, more and better signs or removal of things that get in the way.

Original Document

Birmingham transformed itself in the 1950s and 1960s from a traditional city of streets into the “motor city”. A new inner road, later named “Queensway”, was built, forming a tight concrete collar around the city’s core. Major investment took place to create new or widened radials such as the Aston Expressway and Digbeth High Street. The ring road, “Middleway” was constructed further out as a route around the wider centre. The urban design consequences of these major transport investments have already been described. Whilst the concrete collar has partly been dismantled, enough of it remains – as part of the A38 corridor – to act as a significant barrier to movement within the city centre. At the same time the expectation of easy access into the centre by motor vehicle remains as a legacy of this era.

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Question CON3

Plain English Version

Should we change the Ring Road to be able to carry more traffic by improving some junctions where traffic jams are a problem?

Original Document

Should the traffic-carrying capacity of the Ring Road be increased by selective junction improvements (e.g. grade separation) where congestion proves to be a particular problem?

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Street local

Plain English Version

We think that Birmingham needs a plan that deals with all types of routes from the biggest to the smallest. This plan will make the most of the good access provided by the outer ring road and other main roads, as well as making sure that we link up new and existing places well with smaller roads.

Original Document

Birmingham needs a strategy that deals with all types of routes from the biggest to the smallest. This will make the most of the good access that the outer ring road and other strategic routes provides, whilst ensuring that at a local scale high quality connections are provided to link new and existing spaces.

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