§ 35. Mr. Holtasked the Minister of Transport what stage has been reached in the construction of the M.6 between Birmingham and Preston, and between Preston and Lancaster; and when these lengths will be finished.
§ Mr. MarplesWork started on three major viaducts of the Birmingham-Preston motorway in 1959, and on four rail bridges earlier this year. A contract was let in June for the Stafford by-pass and contracts for a further nineteen miles in north Staffordshire are about to be let. Tenders have been invited for the 26-mile section between Preston and Warrington, and I hope that construction will start early next year. The Cheshire section will follow shortly afterwards. I hope that the whole motorway from Dunston, south of Stafford, to Preston will be completed in time for the main summer traffic in 1963. The line between Preston and Lancaster has been fixed, bur further statutory 2334 processes and land acquisition have to be completed before construction can start.