‘Soviet-style traffic lanes for Olympic elite will cause daily chaos on roads’

Published: 05 August, 2010
by JOSIE HINTON

PLANS for VIP traffic lanes running through Camden during the London 2012 Olympics have been attacked by motorists who fear they will cause traffic mayhem.

The Olympic Route Network, published on Friday, includes temporary “games lanes” to insure athletes and officials get to sporting venues on time.

Reserved exclusively for officially registered Olympic vehicles, the games lanes are designed to allow cars carrying athletes, umpires and journalists to whiz past traffic jams to the Olympic site in Stratford. Other motorists are herded into the remaining lanes. 

Compared by critics to Soviet-style “Zil” lanes used by high-ranking Communist state officials, the plans incorporate some of the borough’s most congested roads including Euston Road, Southampton Row and Kingsway. 

Drivers who stray into the prohibited lanes face a £200 fine.

But while the Olympic elite may get around the city without delay, the network has come under fire from motorists who fear it will cause daily tailbacks. 

Brian Coleman, who represents Camden on the London Assembly, described the plans as “completely unworkable”.

“Motorists will be furious when they are stuck in huge traffic queues whilst the occasional limousine zooms past them in an empty lane,” he said.

“What is even more frustrating is that the exclusive Olympic lanes on Euston Road and Southampton Row are only being created because the international media is staying in swanky Bloomsbury hotels. If all these journalists and broadcasters stayed closer to Stratford, there would be no need for any Zil lanes in Camden.”

Afrim Kurshumlaja, a minicab controller in Camden Town, added: “The Euston Road is always packed. These roads are congested as it is, so one less lane will make traffic a big problem. No one will take a minicab if it takes them longer to get somewhere.”

Concerns have also been raised over how the lanes will affect public transport at busy transport centres such as Euston Station.

But while some frustrated drivers have warned of dramatically increasing journey times, others say the problems will be outweighed by the benefits of hosting the games.

Colin Noble, who lives in Drummond Street and has recently registered to be able to purchase tickets, said: “There is obviously a need for special arrangements to ensure athletes get to where they need to be on time. 

“It would be a disaster if events were delayed because the umpire was stuck in traffic.”

And Gill Rimmer, a transport planner who plays for Camden-based ladies football team LLKA, added: “Organising a sporting event on that scale will necessitate some disruption but surely it is more worthwhile to have the Games on time and to schedule. 

“Perhaps the games lanes could be turned into something like cycle lanes that would benefit the life of Londoners – that really would be an Olympic legacy.”

Recent Games including Beijing, Athens and Sydney have all used a system of temporary Games Lanes. More than 80,000 people are expected to use the network, including 18,000 athletes and team officials, 5,000 judges referees and umpires, 20,000 broadcast media and 8,000 journalists and photographers from across the world.

John Armitt, chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, said: “We have been working closely with our partners to take our operational planning to the next level and will continue to consult with Londoners on the plans. 

“Where Games Lanes are required there will inevitably be some temporary disruption to everyday life, but we must give athletes the best chance to train and compete effectively. 

“That means ensuring they get to their events on time and minimising the time they spend travelling.”