§ 28. Mr. Kitsonasked the Minister of Transport what money has been allocated to the improvement of the A66 from Scotch Corner to Appleby in 1970 and 1971; what section of the road will be improved; and when it is planned to by-pass the village of Bowes.
Mr. Bob BrownAbout £lm. has been allocated to improvements of the length between Thorpe Cottages and Smallways, and at Browson Bank and Dunsa Bank, and to a by-pass of Brough. The Bowes by-pass scheme is in preparation but has not yet been included in the firm programme for a particular year.
§ Mr. KitsonIs the hon. Gentleman aware how many serious and even fatal accidents there have been on this stretch of the road? Will he not try to do a little more than that?
Mr. BrownI am aware of the accidents on this road and I naturally regret them. I cannot go further than I have gone in my Answer, but I can say that the consideration we are giving this road is being conducted as quickly as possible.
§ Mr. MaclennanIs my hon. Friend aware that this road constitutes the most important bottleneck on the main road between Glasgow and London and that it should have high priority for that reason?
Mr. BrownWhen the 35-mile length of the M6 from Carnforth to Thrimby is completed in August next year, the motorway will be fully open to traffic as far north as Penrith, with a further extension as far north as Carlisle due to beopen by December, 1970. Undoubtedly this route will be used by heavy and through traffic in preference to the A66. It istoo early to judge the full extent of the effect of the M6 on A66 traffic.