Airport could ban peak hour traffic on busy road
11.01.08
Commuters travelling to industrial estates near Aberdeen Airport could be banned from a busy road in order to cut congestion for passengers, the Evening Express reports. BAA is looking at closing off Kirkhill Road to ease congestion around the terminal, with reports that 70% of passengers around the airport at peak times are not travelling to or from the terminal.
Every day motorists try to avoid traffic queues through Dyce by taking alternative routes to and from Kirkhill Industrial Estate. BAA says that this causes big problems for their passengers, particularly during the evening peak hours, when drivers cannot get out of the airport because motorists heading for the A96 make it difficult for vehicles to get onto the Argyll Road.
The proposal is part of a wide range of measures aimed at improving access for air travellers. It is included in the airport's new Surface Access Strategy, which also proposes a major switch to public transport over the next 5 years.
BAA wants to create a bus lane from the A96 Aberdeen - Inverness road and to allow more taxis to pick up at the airport. The airport will also consider shutting Kirkhill Road at the junction of Forties Road at 'peak times to non-airport traffic'. Under the proposals airport traffic would still be able to use the road route, however, airport bosses have not yet disclosed how they would enforce the closure on other drivers.
Airport managing director Kevin Brown told the newspaper: 'This is a controversial proposal but one that we and our partners will investigate. An independent study has shown that, at peak times, an enormous proportion of traffic on the airport's road network - up to 70% - is attributed to the surrounding industrial estates and not to passengers.'
'This heavy concentration of non-airport traffic generates distinct peaks, with a detrimental effect on those specifically travelling on our roads to or from the airport. Traffic is backed up trying to get onto the Aberdeen - Inverness road. It all stems from the A96.'
'The purpose of the strategy and these proposals is to improve access to and from the airport for all road users - including private cars. In addition a large number of additional airport parking spaces are planned for those flying from Aberdeen.'
However, Conservative Councillor Alan Donnelly, who works at the airport, said: 'Closing these perceived rat-runs around the airport is not the answer. All it will do is displace the traffic somewhere else.'
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