§ 29. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the revised arrangements for the Birmingham to South Wales motorway, including the Worcester by-pass, and the total estimated cost of the whole project, with completion dates.
§ Mr. MarplesThe 22-mile Ross Spur from Ross on Wye to the A.38 south of Worcester should be open to traffic by next August. The Queenhill Bridge across the Severn will be completed in November but one carriageway will be in use in August.
Construction of the 28-mile extension towards Birmingham should be started next March. If it proves possible to get the work completed in two summers, this section will be in use by October, 1961.
The total cost of this 50-mile motorway is estimated at about £15 million.
§ Mr. NabarroWhat about the Worcester by-pass?
§ Mr. MarplesThat is another question, surely.
§ Mr. NabarroOn a point of order. My Question includes the words,
… including the Worcester by-pass …What I want to know is when the Worcester by-pass is to be tackled, having regard to the fact that Worcester is now probably the most heavily congested city in the Midlands.
§ Mr. MarplesI think a lot of people would consider that their own constituencies are more heavily congested. The point is that the 28-mile extension to Birmingham should be started next March, and if it is possible to get the work completed in two summers it will be in use in October, 1961.
§ Sir P. AgnewIn view of the early completion of the Ross Spur which my right hon. Friend has announced, may I ask whether he is aware that when that roadway comes into use the present heavy traffic conditions on the Bristol to Worcester road and beyond will be further exacerbated and that grave congestion will result? Can he, therefore, speed up the programme of the whole Bristol to Birmingham motorway?
§ Mr. MarplesThat is exactly why we are building the motorway—to avoid that congestion.