TRANSPORT STRATEGY
With an international airport terminal, more shopping space than Bluewater, a thriving business hub, Europe’s largest yacht marina, significant commercial space, 3500 hotel rooms, thousands of homes and extensive cultural & recreational facilities, the Shoebury-Wix Lagoon is bound to attract a substantial number visitors from a wide catchment area
A multi modal transport
strategy is therefore required to deal with the anticipated capacity,
and this should incorporate new rail, road and water links. However, whilst
the airport will attract visitors by rail, it is probable that most will
arrive by car, especially if travelling from Essex or Kent. Therefore
a realistic approach to traffic management has been taken.
AIRPORT PARKING
The short-term car park that serves the air terminal has a capacity for 1000 cars. Longer term airport users and workers will use the primary airport car park which has 2400 spaces. Both facilities are underground and directly accessible from the mainland through a dedicated tunnel, thereby ensuring that the airport visitors do not cause local congestion. Those using the medium term car park will ride the final 800m to the terminal using an extensive and frequent tram network.
PUBLIC PARKING
In all, there are 12,000 underground parking spaces to cope with the anticipated capacity. Once on the Islands, there would be little point in travelling by car since there will be a comprehensive tram & monorail network.
Each of the 20 plots reserved for the Build LONDON Live 2009 competition will be a multi-use development and it is a requirement that underground parking spaces be provided for all office, hotel, retail and residential buildings. In addition, each plot must make provision for an extra 100 fee-paying spaces ring-fenced for public car parking. This will create a further 2000 public car parking spaces across the master plan.
There is a dedicated car park with 800 spaces located adjacent to the marina. All buildings within the residential zones will have underground parking and ample visitors' spaces.
RAIL LIKS TO LONDON & EUROPE
Under construction - please visit again
MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM
Under construction - please visit again
ROAD NETWORK
A six lane immersed tunnel connects the mainland to the lagoon at Thorpe Esplanade and continues underground to all the key destinations and car parks in the scheme. By having an extensive tunnel network, through traffic is minimised since vehicles will not 'surface' unnecessarily and contribute to congestion. These direct routes will enable commercial traffic and heavy goods vehicles to access the industrial zone without causing congestion elsewhere.
SHARED SPACE
Roads above ground are modelled 20m wide with a generous central reservation for tram stations, safe crossing and cycle paths. In many cases a 'shared space' concept will be created.
