§ 1. Mr. Duffyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the repairs to Tinsley Viaduct on the M1 to be completed.
§ The Minister for Transport (Dr. John Gilbert)It is expected that the modifications to the upper deck of Tinsley Viaduct carrying the M1 will be completed in spring 1978.
§ Mr. DuffyDoes the Minister accept that the expectation in his Department was that the repairs to the whole bridge—not merely the top deck to which he referred—would have been completed by now? Is the delay to be found in the design processes? Does not the Minister think that this delay in restoring the bridge is an undeserved embarrassment to a steel city like Sheffield?
§ Dr. GilbertMy hon. Friend is right in saying that there have been delays. They have been as a result of changes in the design proposals, and I shall be happy to write to him if he wishes to have further information. The savings from the refined design for strengthening the bridge will exceed the congestion costs arising during the process of planning and making the repairs.
§ Mr. WrigglesworthIs my hon. Friend aware that even when the Tinsley Viaduct work is completed it will still not be possible to go by the M1 or any other motorway system to the north-east of England because of the absence of the Pudsey-Dishforth link? Will the Minister 1660 say when the whole network will be completed by the building of this link?
§ Dr. GilbertI am aware of the concern expressed by my hon. Friend because his area of the North-East is not linked to the national motorway, but he will be aware that because of expenditure constraints it may be some time before we can do all he hopes.