Gailey freight hub: Traffic could increase on A449 say developers
Traffic could increase by up to 41 per cent on roads around a planned rail freight hub in Staffordshire – but reduce by 15 per cent on others, developers have revealed.
The estimates have been unveiled by Four Ashes Ltd, the company behind the proposed 700-acre West Midlands Interchange near Gailey.
The biggest increase in traffic would come between a new roundabout at Gravelly Way and the turning for Station Drive at Four Ashes on the A449, according to analysis by the firm.
They say between 8am and 9am, 2,000 vehicles will use the stretch – an increase of 831 on expected levels in 2021 and equivalent to 41 per cent.
Traffic could also rise 34 per cent on the A5 between the site and junction 12 of the M6 with 600 extra vehicles at peak times.
But developers say a new link road through the site connecting the A449 and the A5 will reduce traffic levels at current pinch points.
Traffic would decrease by 15 per cent along Station Drive and Station Road – a popular cut-through – down by 170 vehicles an hour.
The developers are currently proposing axing the right turn into Station Drive at the Four Ashes Inn from the northbound side of the A449.
They also claim there will be a reduction in traffic levels by five per cent between the Gailey roundabout and the A5 – down by 90 vehicles an hour.
While they say there will be a further decrease of four per cent in traffic between the Gailey roundabout and the proposed new roundabout at Gravelly Way.
Peter Frost, managing director of Four Ashes Ltd, said: “There will be an increase in traffic, we have not hidden away from that.
“I know there is scepticism but the roads are designed to cope and have the capacity to cope – it is hard to argue against that.
“Because of our link road, we are reducing traffic are several key pinch points at the Gailey roundabout and Station Drive which will help the flow of the traffic.”
The project estimates there will be 18,000 new lorry, car and van journeys every day, but the developer’s analysis says traffic levels going north on the M6 will increase by one per cent and southbound traffic will increase by four per cent.
Campaigners say the traffic will become unbearable if the scheme goes ahead.
