Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Freeways and induced traffic

Though freeways are often seen as a cure for traffic congestion, the opposite can be more true. For a short time after they are built, freeways can indeed reliveve traffic on parallel roads. However their existence encourages more and longer car trips, so congestion eventually gets as bad as it was before the freeway was built.



High Riser discusses a local Melbourne example, where he compares traffic in Waverley Rd before and after the South-Eastern freeway was built.



More detailed discussions of induced traffic appear here and here and here.

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