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Rank metering
They tried lights on the slip roads at J11 (eastbound) and J7 (westbound) on the M27 a year or so ago and they rapidly caused big tailbacks at peak times. The upshot was/is that they were removed after a very short time. You're right, there must be a strong lobby given the number of actual lights you see at junctions. Near me there's a T-junction with 9 lights on the main road. It's the waste of fuel/time/electricity (they're on 24/7!) that should be addressed. Anyway thanks for your column, though it has been cut down, it's always informative and very readable.
Asked on 30 May 2009 by
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I'm amazed that having found ramp metering failed on the M27, ramp metering is seemingly still being installed on every sliproad in the country. This is a colossal waste of public money that taxpayers cannot afford to lose and the contracts for it should be thoroughly investigated, hopefully by Channel 4's 'Despatches' programme in a general programme on government waste and those who make big money out of it.
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