§ 34. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what will be the length of the Loughton by-pass on road A.5; when work commenced on this by-pass; and when he expects that it will be completed.
§ The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter)The length of the Loughton by-pass will be about two-thirds of a mile and includes a bridge and slip roads. Work started on 9th August, 1954, and is expected to be completed by April, 1956. The work, which is being carried out by contract, was, so the contractors inform me, held up by bad weather conditions last winter.
§ Mr. JohnsonMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is aware that the Alaska Highway, which is 1,600 miles long, was completed in seven months? Can he do anything to ensure that this two-thirds of a mile of road in this country is completed rather more quickly?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe Alaska Highway is a long way away. So far as this job is concerned, which involves considerable construction of embankments and of a bridge, the local authority thought that a contract date terminating in February, 1956, was reasonable. Owing to the weather last winter, the contractors will be about two months late with the contract.
§ Mr. M. LindsayIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is great disappointment all over the country with the extremely slow progress of his road programme?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThere is no disappointment at all among those who know what is happening.
§ Mr. LindsayIs my right hon. Friend aware that that is a very pompous reply?