HC Deb 08 December 1971 vol 827 cc1289-90
30. Mr. Madel

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects work to begin on the construction of a third lane on the M1 on the two-lane stretch of this motorway south of Bedfordshire.

Mr. Graham Page

My Department is still investigating the best means of providing additional capacity, or otherwise improving conditions for traffic, on this section of the M1. I hope to be able to announce my intentions soon.

Mr. Madel

The Government have gone to considerable expense to widen the M4. As this section of the M1 is the most overcrowded section of any motorway in Britain, will my hon. Friend accelerate his investigation programme and begin construction work as soon as possible?

Mr. Page

It is a complex problem to decide whether to widen the existing road or to lay a new road altogether. I hope to have the report before Christmas.

Mr. Longden

Has my hon. Friend received the representations from the Hertfordshire County Council about this stretch of road? If so, when will he be in a position to reply?

Mr. Page

I have said that I hope to have the recommendations of the experts on this before me before Christmas and I will then study them and hope to reply very soon. I have received representations from many people about this very serious part of the M1.