TrustNews Mar 21
Traffic Circulation and Reduction
I read with interest the articles in last year's issues of TrustNews, and would suggest that, unless some “outside of the box” thinking takes place about finding a solution, resolution will not be found by tinkering around with detail. Perhaps the following might stimulate some qualified, but original thinking:
there is, of course, a North/South path through Winchester, parallel with St Cross Road and Jewry Street - the railway line. In this day and age, creating a road over, or under a railway line, is neither impossible, nor difficult, and there are many examples all over the world. There are road/rail crossings at Stanmore Lane. Romsey Road, and Andover Road, where access could be provided by way of flyovers and slip roads.
the southern end could join the system in the area of the roundabout at the end of St Cross Road, and the northern end would access the A34 and, perhaps, on to M3 – filtering any northbound M3 traffic from the A34/M3 junction.
East/West lines are more difficult, but with a radical approach to North Walls/City Road and demolition of sections of the North side thereof, road widening would be possible to provide two way traffic and connecting, at the Durngate end, with the existing circulatory system out of the City.
Multi-storey car parks would be provided, available to those going to the City centre, with an electric tram service to and from the High Street - single track with a passing area - along Upper Brook Street [those dispossessed of car parking would have their vehicles accommodated in reserved spaces in the new Parking facilities, or in the Brook Street Car Park.
ideally, one would move the County Council to the periphery of the City - Bar End? - turning the vacated space into residential (where better to live if one commuted to London) and commercial office accommodation, reducing traffic at busy times. This would provide vibrancy and demand in the City centre, encouraging shops to open - one might even have a City centre butcher’s shop, or fishmonger.
George Street and Jewry Street would remain one way for local traffic, buses and deliveries only, exiting west up City Walls to the gyratory established there. It would not be inexpensive, certainly, nor would it be popular with all [making omelettes and breaking eggs applies], but something on those lines would resolve the problem.
John Seager Green