So Tom and Michael.You are claiming that there is something unique about closing a bridge that reduces traffic? In which case should we close all bridges or just the ones in leafy suburbs that you like to walk or cycle over? Does it also apply to Hammersmith flyover or is that the wrong type of bridge?Of course, a coherent analysis would look at a range of factors. Remember, a lot of people dont 'need' to cross a bridge, although plenty do (to reach schools, hospitals etc.) Hence the unsurprising conclusion from the Bugle poll that locals still want the bridge reopening. I notice this is a poll that you dont comment on, presumably the wrong type of poll.Looking at the link from Tom, it shows for example on teh A4 over the Hammersmith flyover, delays increased in 2022 vs 2021 and 2020. There is no data for 2019. A lot of distribution routes will change so that they dont need to cross the river but are served from north or south. Similarly work and leisure/ shopping travel patterns may similarly adapt. Bridges are not entirely interchangeable in that regard. Remember also that in many cases, Chiswick bridge a good example, the actual bottlenecks are not the bridge themselves but approach roads. Numerous times I have crossed Chiswick bridge and its almost traffic free, whilst approaches on the south circular and Lower Richmond Road are heavily congested.I havent been through all the methodologies, it seems some rely on actual automatic counts and others extrapolations, so there may be differences in measurements. Then yes travel patterns have changed and we have COVID still impacting some of 2022. Bottom line though is I suspect changing travel patterns and congestion on approaches, that in turn reinforce changes. THere are too many vehicles in London and too much air pollution, I think most agree. But random road and bridge closures are not the answer, no matter how many times you post or distort.
Bill George ● 344d