Designing London’s future road systems

Streets Ahead exhibition by New London Architecture and Transport for London glimpses at a future when London’s road system will be a connected environment serviced by driverless cars and drones. Here are some of the best ideas…

London’s Future Roads – Visual Concepts © Arup
London’s Future Roads – Visual Concepts © Arup

Dozens of schemes have been unveiled which could help reduce congestion, improve safety and give people a better quality of life in London’s civic spaces.

The ideas have been floated by architects and designers working with New London Architecture, which is curating an exhibition with Transport for London to imagine the future of London’s road network.

Ordinary cars driven underground

The broad vision is one where ordinary cars are literally driven underground in cut and cover road tunnels, leaving driverless cars to roam above ground as part of a connected city.

Reductions in road deaths and injuries, and more efficient traffic flow are cited as good reasons to do this.

Reclaimed green space above ground

By moving traffic underground TfL estimates that traffic could be reduced by up to 20% and while air quality would be improved and noise levels reduced, there would also be opportunities to create green public spaces above ground where the roads used to be.

Other above ground options would be shops, cycle routes, public transport routes and new housing.

Drones replace delivery vehicles

Freight and service traffic would be reduced by allowing drones to inspect utilities and deliver small packages.

More than 80% of all journeys in the capital take place on the road, and over 90% of all freight is transported by road according to TfL.

NLA chairman Peter Murray says: “Streets define the character and quality of a city and are key to the health and wellbeing of its citizens. We must keep this in the forefront of our minds as we face a period of major change in the way we use our roads.”

Streets Ahead: The future of London’s roads runs from 27 January – 24 February at the NLA Galleries at The Building Centre, Store Street, London, W1E 7BT. 

Visualisation by Foster + Partners
Visualisation of elevated “London Skycle” by Foster + Partners
How drones might look in the capital
How drones might look in the capital

 

Foster + Partners
A shopping centre transport scheme proposal by Foster + Partners
Foster + Partners
Visualisation of a driverless car shopping centre scheme by Foster + Partners
A proposed Cycle Superhighway
A proposed Cycle Superhighway
Acton Main Line Crossrail visualisation
Acton Main Line Crossrail visualisation

 

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