Milton Keynes grid road system
The Milton Keynes grid road system is a network of national speed limit, fully landscaped routes that form the top layer of the street hierarchy for both for private and public transport in Milton Keynes, (ceremonial) Buckinghamshire. The system is unique in the United Kingdom for its innovative use of street hierarchy principles: the grid roads run in between districts rather than through them. These facilitate higher speed limits due to the absence of buildings close to the roads. High-speed motor traffic is segregated from pedestrian and leisure cycling traffic, which uses the alternative Milton Keynes redway system. All grid junctions are roundabouts, which are efficient at moving cars but disadvantageous to buses and HGVs.
The grid roads
The geography of Milton Keynes – the railway line, Watling Street, Grand Union Canal, M1 motorway – sets up a very strong north-south axis. If you've got to build a city between (them) it is very natural to take a pen and draw the rungs of a ladder. Ten miles by six is the size of this city – 22,000 acres. Do you lay it out like an American city, rigid orthogonal from side to side? Being more sensitive in 1966-7, the designers decided that the grid concept should apply but should be a lazy grid following the flow of land, its valleys, its ebbs and flows. That would be nicer to look at, more economical and efficient to build, and would sit more beautifully as a landscape intervention.
Marlborough Street
Marlborough Street or Marlboro Street can refer to the following streets:
See also
Marlborough Street, Dublin
Marlborough Street (Irish: Sráid Maoilbhríde) is a street in the city centre of Dublin, Ireland.
Naming
The street is named after the Duke of Marlborough, known for his victory at Blenheim during the 18th century. In the late 19th century it was for a time called Tyrone Street after Tyrone House. The lower part of the street was at different times called Union Lane, Ferryboat Lane, and Union Street.
Main Buildings
One of the principal buildings on this street is St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, designed by John Sweetman, and completed in 1825, the other is the Department of Education and Skills.
There is also what used to be a depot belonging to the Dublin United Tramways Company. Dublin Bus now use the premises.
Marlborough Street was the location of the original St. Thomas’s Church which was damaged in 1922.
Luas
Marlborough street will have a stop on the Luas Green Line when the Cross City extension is complete. Construction started in June 2013 with services expected to begin in 2017. Being near the Red line Abbey street stop it will be a key interchange point on the two Luas lines.
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