The NewburyToday 2012 Legolympiad: Odysseus against Hercules, Make Parkway bridge two-way for all traffic Options

[Simon Kirby]

The Games of the NewburyToday 2012 Legolympiad: Odysseus against Hercules

The proposition is: Make Parkway bridge two-way for all traffic.

Arguing for the proposition is Odysseus, and arguing against the proposition is Hercules.

When the heros have completed their contest a poll will open in this thread, so please vote for the hero you feel argued their position the best. The thread will be open for comments then too, though please try not to comment until the debate has finished. Many thanks.

[Simon Kirby]

Odysseus says:

When the Bypass was opened, there was an assumption that the old route would loose all its traffic and consequently what was thought to be local traffic would want to desert Northbrook Street our ages old arterial highway. What traveller wouldn't? Essentially leaving a tarmaced cart track for a private mini motorway. It might just have worked.

In the meantime, Thatcham's growth in commercial terms turned on becoming a distribution centre; a hub for heavy lorries. Couple that with the population growth accelerated by Government dictat and traffic levels come back almost to where they were. Worse, the rise in fuel prices meant that for heay haulage every mile counts. The A34 traffic wanting to get to Basingstoke and the M3 would naturally use the old route - its less in mileage ande therefore cost. An effect made even worse because for whatever reason have failed to improve the connection between West Berkshire and Basingstoke.

This all means local commerce and domestic life is hindered. On an individual basis its still a challenge to go from one end of the town to the other. Newbury is, by tradition, a loing straggling town! Newbury is also a hilly, small market town - with a large rural hinterland. Public transport and cycling is notr an option for many.

This is not only delays caused by weight of traffic. The lack of alternative river crossings means that any blockage causes major disruption. There is no other viable route. However, even if the existing bridge arrangements in Parkway was avaliable to all traffic - this would provide some relief at least.

That such a scheme is viable is demonstrated by the rationale behind the original construction in 1940. A means to avoid Newbury Water bridge. That bridge, then and for many years after, carried the whole of the North / South traffic, but was one way. Arguably the same situation exists today - the 1940 solution was clearly correct!

[keithholleran]

must do research on this im not familiar with this

[Simon Kirby]

Welcome to Newbury Today keithholleran, very pleased you joined us.