HC Deb 03 May 1960 vol 622 cc870-1
23. Dr. Dickson Mabon

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now estimate the date by which the present work of redevelopment of trunk road A.8, between Glasgow and Greenock, will be completed.

Mr. N. Macpherson

I assume the hon. Member is referring to work on the Laigh Hatton Diversion and the improvement at Bishopton Railway Bridge, both of which have just been completed at a total cost of over £116,000.

Dr. Mabon

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that other developments are taking place during the redevelopment of this road and that the slow, piecemeal work which has been done has been overtaken by the growing volume of traffic on the road? Will he pay attention to the complaints of my constituents and those of the Secretary of State for Scotland—through whose constituency the road runs—alleging that the redevelopment of this road has left it as narrow as it was prior to redevelopment, which is rather pointless in an industrial area of this kind?

Mr. Macpherson

Again, that supplementary question relates to the next Question.

24. Dr. Dickson Mabon

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for extending the dual-carriageway system on the Glasgow-Greenock section of trunk road A8.

Mr. N. Macpherson

There are at present no sections of dual carriageway on this part of A.8, but dual carriageways are ultimately proposed. I cannot yet say when it will be possible to authorise this work to start.

Dr. Mabon

I appreciate that the hon. Gentleman does not travel this road very often, but is he aware that between Shieldhall and Renfrew there is partly a dual carriageway—I suppose that we should be grateful to the City of Glasgow for providing that—and that we would like to see a dual carriageway throughout the rest of the road? Will he tell us how many lines of traffic the reconstructed bridge at Bishopton will have on completion or is designed later on to carry?

Mr. Macpherson

Again, speaking off the cuff, I think that provision is being made for a dual carriageway which it is hoped will be started early in the next road programme.