by Flyingscot » Tue Oct 04, 2005 11:13 pm
Funnily enough was talking about the inner ring road today. I happened to work in traffic for a bit this year doing various bits and pieces. You have to say as "wrong" as it was Glasgow doesn't have as much traffic problems as some cities, at least congestion in Glasgow is predictable! I always like how the show all the drawings in sunshine- most things look good in thee sun, but it's a shame it isn't always like that- the true test is whether it looks good in the pissing rain! Hence the problem with public transport!
New road projects were effectively banned in the 1990's by Tories and Labour who made it hard to plan them. Now we are seeing that easing off now, and you can justify roads easier now. We have seen the much needed M77, GSO, and will see the M80 and M74 very soon. I'm almost certain they will happen and that protests will fail, they have planned too far now, and have other schemes like the Kingston Bridge Bus Lane, for when the M74 opens. The M80 already has it's service areas planned and trust me they wouldn't have given the KLR Kirky Link Road and the Auchinkilns the go ahead if they weren't extending it. It will not by-pass Cumbernauld either no matter how many people want it to- they spent money on Auchinkilns for a reason!
Actually GCC hasn't dropped the inner ring road yet either, but is too busy wasting money on Streamline and stupidly thought out bus priorities. With a bit of thought it could have proper roads!
Come to think of it motorists may be surprised how little is actually spent on improvements by councils. The majority of improvements, are actually done by developers! St.James Interchange, Butterbiggens Road, Berryknownes Road, etc. all private money!