§ 17. Mr. Juddasked the Minister of Transport whether she will give an up-to-date progress report on the construction and cost of the south coast trunk road.
§ Mr. SwinglerThe estimated cost of constructing the new South Coast Road between Chichester and Ower is £23 million. In Hampshire the first stage, the Havant By-pass, was opened to traffic in November, 1965. Work should start on the second stage, the Farlington and Cosham By-pass, later this year. It is hoped that work on the section from Portsmouth to Southampton will start about 1970. A scheme to extend this road further westward from Southampton to Ower is included in the preparation pool.
§ Mr. JuddIf we are to enter the European Economic Community, will it not be essential to give increased priority to this important road?
§ Mr. SwinglerVery high priority has been given to this important road, as will be seen from my Answer. This involves a very substantial investment.
§ Mr. CostainDoes the hon. Gentleman appreciate that one of the bottlenecks on this road is in the county of Surrey? Is he making arrangements for the improvements to be extended in this area?
§ Mr. SwinglerI am not sure to what the hon. Gentleman is referring.
§ Mr. CostainThe bottleneck on the A25 is in Surrey. What arrangements are being made to improve the road in this area?
§ Mr. SwinglerI have given the schemes which are now in course of construction and already programmed, but, of course, the hon. Gentleman will realise that this is connected with other schemes at both ends in order to get rid of a bottleneck.