§ 14. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, as the Dartford-Purfleet Tunnel will have only one two-lane carriageway while the approach roads to the tunnel will have twin two-lane carriageways, what arrangements will be made to deal with the traffic which the approach roads were designed to carry.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe tunnel is designed to carry all the traffic which will want to use it, but not to provide the same facilities for overtaking, variations of speed, etc., as the approach roads.
§ Mr. DoddsCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether in his opinion and that of his advisers the tunnel will not, at peak periods, be a bottleneck, with many delays which will, of course, be costly?
§ Mr. WatkinsonYes, that is so.
§ 34. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made in grouting the soil in connection with the Dartford-Purfleet Tunnel; and when he now estimates the tunnel will be completed.
§ Mr. WatkinsonProgress with the grouting is satisfactory, and the necessity for it will not cause any delay to the tunnelling. The whole scheme should be completed by about 1962.
§ Mr. DoddsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that according to Cmd. 3513 the consulting engineers of the Economic Advisory Council of the Channel Tunnel Committee say that a Channel tunnel of 24 miles and three channels could be constructed in eight years? As the Dartford-Purfleet tunnel will have two channels and will be only one mile long, will the right hon. Gentleman say why the time for its completion cannot be reduced, in view of the great need for this tunnel?
§ Mr. WatkinsonWhen I go to see the work, in due course. I will certainly take heed of what the hon. Member has just said.