HC Deb 05 April 1978 vol 947 cc432-3
20. Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total cost to date of repairs and maintenance on the elevated sections of the M6 motorway in the West Midlands.

Mr. Horam

Repairs and maintenance of the structure have so far cost about £300,000. In addition, about £150,000 a year is spent on day-to-day maintenance, for example, cleaning the roadway, drains and signs, and mending safety fences.

Mr. Rooker

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Has he made any investigation into the question why the elevated sections of newly-opened motorways—motorways opened within the last five years—have deteriorated so substantially, to the extent that many motorists consider that they are in a dangerous condition? Is there any come-back on the contractors for this massive amount of public expenditure that is now required to put their work right?

Mr. Horam

We are conducting a special survey of the raised sections, which are particularly extensive in the Midlands. We shall look carefully at the outcome. I do not think that it is a question of any come-back on the contractors. In one or two instances, there have been design faults, such as the question of buried joints, with which my hon. Friend will be familiar. This is something from which we shall have to learn for the future.

Mr. Eyre

Is the Minister aware that the programme of repairs for the M6 motorway in the Midlands, and the M5 motorway, will produce traffic chaos during the coming months? Will he review this programme of repairs to see whether it can be staggered in some way to lessen the economic damage and frustrations that are bound to ensue?

Mr. Horam

I do not agree at all with the hon. Gentleman that the programme of repairs that we now have in hand on the M5 and M6 will produce traffic chaos. None the less, I accept his fundamental point that we must look carefully at the phasing of the repairs to these sections of road, and I undertake to do that.

Mr. Ashley

Will my hon. Friend look at the crazy system concerning repairs on the M6 and, indeed, on many other motorways, where on any day of the week one or two lanes are cordoned off for many miles, well beyond the requirements of safety, causing congestion of traffic? Will he look into this matter to see whether something can be done to expedite the repairs?

Mr. Horam

There is a conflict between getting the repairs done as fast as possible and the convenience of the travelling public in the meantime. I take note of my hon. Friend's point, and I shall look into it.

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