CARPOOL LANE ON THE CARDS FOR THE M25

30 Mar 2005 10:15 AM

A new congestion-busting carpool lane on the M25 is being considered by Transport Secretary Alastair Darling.

He has asked the Highways Agency to look at whether such a lane could be installed on the M25 between junctions 12 - 15 (M3 - M4), to encourage drivers to share cars, reduce congestion, and help the environment.

The UK's first trial motorway car pool lane is already planned for the M1 between junctions 7 and 10 St Albans to Luton.

The section of motorway under consideration is already being widened to provide either five or six lanes in each direction and the carpool lane could help make the best possible use of this additional capacity.

Widening is expected to be completed by December 2005.

Mr. Darling said:

"I am determined to make the best possible use of the road network. Carpool lanes have an important role to play in making best use of road space, as well as helping the environment and reducing congestion. They work in the US and there is no reason they can't work here."

"The Highways Agency will undertake further consultation and detailed investigation and design work before any final decisions are made."

Note to Editors

1. In December 2004 Alastair Darling announced plans to introduce the country's first motorway High Occupancy Vehicle lane on the M1 between junctions 7-10. This site is due to become operational by 2008. If it proves successful it is anticipated that the lane will be extended to Junction 13 (Milton Keynes) when that section of motorway is widened.

2. The Agency is also carrying out further investigations into introducing car sharing lanes on M61 (in the Manchester area) & M62 (in the Leeds area).

3. The Agency has also been asked to consider carpool lanes as part of a package of measures to manage demand around the M25. These would initially focus on those areas of the M25 to be widened over the next decade and, if implemented, could provide significant lengths of carpooling lane that could greatly increase their attractiveness to drivers.

4. The Agency plans to widen a significant proportion of the M25 over the next decade through the following schemes:
* M25 Junction 16 (M40) to Junction 23 (A1M)
* M25 Junction 23 (A1M) to Junction 27 (M11)
* M25 Junction 27 (M11) to Junction 30 (Thurrock)
* M25 Junction 1B (Dartford) to Junction 3 (Swanley) (M20) * M25 Junction 5 (Chevening) to Junction 7 (M23)

5. Carpool lanes are already used in Leeds and South Gloucestershire, as well as other countries including America and Australia.

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Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk