EFFECTS OF THE OPENING OF THE AMSTERDAM ORBITAL MOTORWAY. FINAL REPORT PHASE 1

The objective of this study was the measurement, quantitative analysis, and determination of the nature and size of the effects on traffic, travellers and good flows in the region of Amsterdam as a result of the opening of the Amsterdam orbital motorway A10 by completion of the Zeeburger tunnel on 28 September 1990. The effects of the opening have been studied by means of before and after studies between March 1990 and June 1991. The study gives an insight into the old and new traffic situation. Solving bottlenecks in the trunk-road network often causes a one-off growth of the traffic by car on that bottleneck location during the peak hours. Most of the additional traffic at the bottleneck, however, can be explained as shifts in time-of-day, that is a return to the most preferred part of the peak period, as well as a shift in routes used. Special attention is given to an explanation of this 'latent demand' phenomenon through measuring and modelling changes in departure time, route choice, mode as well as destination choice of the car and public transport users. The orbital motorway has properly accomplished its function of improving the accessibility of Amsterdam and the Province of North Holland north of the North Sea Canal. Loss of time due to congestion in the area has been reduced by 20% and a considerable amount of travel time has been gained. The quality of traffic flow in the whole region has improved considerably because of the opening. The orbital motorway is attracting traffic away from the Amsterdam city main road network, including the IJ tunnel and the Schellingwouder bridge. Progress is being made on a number of aspects of the environmental quality (traffic safety, reduction of emissions of pollutants). The orbital motorway is functioning as a creator of conditions for the economic development of the region because of improvement in accessibility. The quantitative effect of this will be visible in the longer term. There is also a Dutch version of this publication, titled: 'Effecten van de openstelling Ringweg Amsterdam: integraal eindrapport fase 1: definitieve versie'.