South Wales Motorway

HC Deb 17 May 1961 vol 640 cc1371-2

41. Mr. Ridley

asked the Minister of Transport what are his plans for improving the A.40 road to South Wales.

Mr. Marples

The South Wales Motorway is planned as the major artery between London and South Wales. However, substantial improvements have been and are being carried out on the A.40 and others are planned—notably the High Wycombe by-pass.

Mr. Ridley

As my right hon. Friend has been to the by-pass at High Wycombe on this road, he must give it considerable priority in his mind. Will he have a look at the other towns and bottlenecks on that road which are causing considerable restraint, and, in particular, try to expedite the by-pass at Northleach, which is the worst bottleneck further to the west?

Mr. Marples

I will look at that particular case, but I am quite certain that when the motorway is built it will relieve this road in the same way that M.1 relieved A.5.

Mr. G. Thomas

Can the Minister say what degree of priority is being given to expediting motorway No. 2? Can he tell us whether he is able to hurry up operations on that dangerous part of the motorway between Chepstow and Gloucester, to which his attention has been drawn in correspondence?

Mr. Marples

I cannot answer the second half of the Question without notice. On the first part, we shall shortly let the viaduct over the Great West Road, which will form the first part of the extension from the Chiswick fly-over.