Ashridge Interchange  

   "The Ashridge Interchange Movement ('AIM') is a non-party organisation that exists to promote the
   best possible traffic solution for Wokingham for the least overall environmental impact."

                Traffic Flows 

These traffic estimates show that the Ashridge Interchange will divert major flows from the town centre, the Reading Road and London Road, all of which are suffering chronic congestion, noise and air pollution.

Estimate of morning peak-time traffic which may divert to use the Ashridge Interchange

It is possible to make a broad estimate of traffic which would otherwise have used the Ashridge Interchange had it existed, based on data from the 2001 Census and listed in Table 2.2 of the Transport Infrastructure Appraisal published by Mouchel Parkman in November 2005.

Although the Census only measures total flows into and out of Wokingham District, it should be possible to take a percentage of this traffic which would start or end its journey in Wokingham Town and its hinterland.

Based on assumptions listed below, here is an estimate of traffic that would either join or leave at the Ashridge Interchange in the weekday morning peak (i.e., around 6:30 to 9:30 a.m.). 

In each case, these percentage shares need to take into account all of the possible exits and entrances.

Taking Wokingham District to London as an example, we must exclude the following flows:

1                     All traffic from north of the M4 (e.g. Earley and Woodley);

2                     All traffic from the north of Winnersh village; 

3                     All traffic from south-west of Reading (e.g. Swallowfield or Riseley, which would still use Junction 11);

4                     All traffic from south of Wokingham which currently avoids Wokingham Town Centre;

5                     That proportion which would use the M3 to get to London (most of the M3 traffic would be heading for Surrey, the M25 or the outer suburbs, not London itself).

6                     The estimates should also take into account those travelling to work on shift, and who would not be travelling to work in the morning peak.

It should be possible to refine these estimates using known traffic flows along the Reading Road and London Road out of Wokingham.

We would need to take the traffic flowing from Reading Road northbound from Winnersh eastbound onto the A329(M) link road, excluding the proportion which hen uses the Bader Way, the Cinema Park and Ride and Winnersh Triangle.

Likewise, we would need to take the traffic flowing from Wokingham eastbound along the London Road and turning left onto the A329(M). These would provide a reality check for the estimates based on the 2001 Census.