Full article in the Express here
SMART MOTORWAYS have been attacked by motoring experts once again, this time due to the roads’ unprecedented pollution rates.
More than 15,000 tonnes of extra carbon emissions were recorded just one year after a stretch of smart motorway was opened on the M3 in Surrey. The sudden rise was two thirds higher than had been initially forecast by experts.
Highways England said the rise was linked to an increase in Heavy Goods Vehicles using the road under its new guise.
However, experts have warned emissions are increasing at a time when the focus should be on “dramatically reducing them”.
Chris Todd, director of Transport Action Network, warned smart motorways would “create new traffic”, leading to increases in pollution.
He said: “New roads create new traffic and this increases emissions at the very time we need to be drastically reducing them.
Experts said the focus should be on ‘reducing’ emissions (Image: PA)
“With the M2 J2-4A Smart motorway, the reality is far worse than predicted. It has resulted in an increase of around 40,000 tonnes CO2 per year, instead of just over 20,000 tonnes.
‘If Highways England cannot accurately assess the impact that new roads are having on climate change, how can it say that the programme is Paris [Agreement] compliant?
“If we carry on like this, transport is going to continue to fail on climate change.”
However, Highways England said it is taking its environmental responsibilities “seriously”.
It told Transport Network: “This study found that in the first year the number of road users was lower than expected, but there was a higher number of heavy goods vehicles, which is a factor in calculating carbon emissions.
“This evaluation provides an early indication of the scheme’s outcomes and we will evaluate the longer-term effect before concluding the impacts of the scheme.
“We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and are proud of our track record of delivering vital road upgrades in a way that respects the environment.”
The findings were made by Highways England as part of a review into the M3 smart motorway one year after its launch.
Smart Motorways must be stopped they are simply not safe and never will be !
Transport Department are just killing people and wasting billions of public money !
SAVE LIVES STOP THEM NOW.
Grant Shapps must be dismissed from his position.
County Highways Departments would make far better use of money resurfacing our roads which seem to be a total disgrace in every county.