John Rowland wrote:
I've been spending some time in various parts of this area recently... apart
from a few small spots like South Kensington, which could maybe be solved by
redesigning the one-way network, is any sizeable part of it even the
slightest bit congested? Nearly all of the roads I've been down are
virtually traffic free.

Holland Park Avenue and St Ann's Villas are congested in the evening
peaks and on Saturdays, on the approach to Holland Park roundabout (as
is Holland Road, although that forms the boundary of the zone). I
imagine the CCEX will reduce this congestion (on weekdays), perhaps
allowing an adjustment of signal timings on the roundabout to favour
Holland Road.

Cromwell Road is frequently congested in the evening peaks (and on
Sundays!) westbound, and Fulham Road and King's Road appear congested in
the appropriate direction in both peaks, along with the appropriate part
of Beaufort Street on the approach to Battersea Bridge.

Brompton Road on the approach to Scotch House junction seems to get
congested throughout the day, which delays bus services significantly
(although once they pass through the junction, the approach to Hyde Park
Corner is swift, as is Piccadilly - which is great now in the day but
gets heavy traffic in the evenings and weekends!)

I used to frequently see long queues of traffic forming on Gloucester
Road's southbound approach to the Cromwell Road in the evenings when the
stop-start traffic on that road would always block the box junction. I
also cycle regularly along Marloes Road, where traffic queues form in
both peaks on the approach to Cromwell Road.

As regards the South Kensington one way system, Harrington Road is
always congested in the peaks, but I blame that on the school run to the
French schools. The rest of the system seems to perform OK-ish.
Incidentally, the whole one-way system will be rearranged if the
Exhibition Road plans go ahead, with Thurloe Place reverting to two-way
(and Thurloe Street closed to through traffic - an extremely sensible
move given the overcrowding in the area around the bus stops).

Congestion throughout the area seems to be concentrated on particularly
links, whereas other links appear traffic-free throughout the day.
Notably, Kensington Road is very rarely congested, along with Bayswater
Road, Sussex Gardens, Old Brompton Road and Pembridge Road/Westbourne
Grove amongst others. Kensington High Street is always busy throughout
the day, with traffic flowing slowly (as one might expect on a busy high
street) but rarely blocking up.

--
Dave Arquati
Imperial College, SW7
www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London