§ 36. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many pedestian bridges have been erected to date over thoroughfares in the Metropolitan Police area; how many have been removed or replaced by pedestrian crossings or underground crossings; and what is the average cost of erecting bridges and of constructing tunnels for pedestrians.
§ Mr. NugentEight publicly-owned footbridges have been put up across thoroughfares in the Metropolitan Police area and four have subsequently been removed. Of the latter, two have already been replaced by subways and the other two are to be replaced, one by a subway and the other by a new footbridge. The cost of a footbridge generally varies between £3,000 and £8,000 and of a subway between £20,000 and £30,000 depending on local conditions.
§ Mr. SorensenMay I ask the Minister whether some of these overhead bridges are to be replaced by permanent ones, as is the case in one or two places? Is it now the general policy not to go any further with bridges, whether permanent or temporary?
§ Mr. NugentGenerally speaking, bridges are not very popular. People do not like going up steps, and they do not like using them. The preference is to put in a subway wherever we can, but as the hon. Member will see from the figures I have given, unfortunately, they are very expensive.
§ Mr. PageMay I ask my hon. Friend if the press-button light signals are very much cheaper than either the bridges or subways? Have they not proved very satisfactory on some of the approach roads to London?
§ Mr. NugentNo, they are by no means as satisfactory. The only safe solution is the segregation of pedestrians and vehicles at different levels.