Written Answer to Jim Cousins re Traffic Levels in Newcastle

Jim has been asking about the traffic levels for the last few years on the various A1 interchanges around Newcastle. Unsurprisingly they are rising.

If Jim wishes to involve himself in local transport matters perhaps he could look at the problems currently happening in Newcastle city centre. Due to simultaneous roadworks appearing in and around the Swan House roundabout, Redheugh Bridge & the Quayside in addition to the huge amount of construction going on means that a journey that previously took 5-10 minutes from the West end of town to my house in the East end has averaged about 45 minutes each time. Multiply that time by the amount of people on the road in cars and buses then it's a lot of time being wasted, with the knock on effect of all those extra car fumes.

My suggestion would be to station a couple of traffic police at rush hour on the Swan house roundabout which would at least help to keep the traffic moving as it is absolute gridlock with vehicles abusing the rules on the yellow grids.

Read the Q & A here.