§ 49. Mr. G. R. Straussasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proportion of the 400 miles of new, realigned or widened roads which he hopes to authorise this year and the following two years will have dual carriageways.
§ Mr. WatkinsonAbout 350 miles will have dual carriageways.
§ Mr. StraussIn regard to the other 50 miles, is it not ridiculous that when new roads are put down they have not all dual carriageways? Is it not wholly uneconomic to put down roads which are to be made later into dual carriageways at much greater expense, instead of putting them into that condition now? Surely this is very false economy and very foolish.
§ Mr. WatkinsonIn general, I agree with the right hon. Gentleman's view that a new road, and particularly a trunk or motor road, must have a double highway with a central reservation, but in this case, among the 50 miles are certain roads where new bridges are to be built. As this work is of a temporary or semi-temporary nature, a three-line highway is justifiable there.
§ Mr. StraussTo make three-line highways into dual carriageways later, as is intended, will cost far more money than if the work were done now. Surely this is a great waste of public money.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNot always. The roads will form one track of the double highway.