HC Deb 23 January 1980 vol 977 cc416-7
15. Mr. Rooker

asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of motorways he expects to be opened in 1980.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

About 40. The widening of five and a half miles of the M5 should also be completed this year.

Mr. Rooker

Will the Minister tell us how many of those 40 miles will be elevated section? Will he assure the House that those elevated sections will not involve the catastrophic problems that arose in the West Midlands, because of the failure of the road joints? As the Minister knows, those road joints have caused considerable problems on the M5 and the M6.

Mr. Clarke

To the best of my recollection, not very much elevated section will be opened this year. I am familiar with the problems that have arisen on the long elevated section in the West Midlands. There are design defects and technical problems that were not foreseen. I have seen the work that is being undertaken to replace those joints with joints which, it is hoped, will be of better wearing quality and more suitable for the traffic.

Mr. Higgins

In view of the problems and costs that are now arising due to the short design life of surfaces on the original motorways, how does that compare with the design life of roads now being constructed?

Mr. Clarke

Fortunately, the present standards of paving on motorways are designed to meet modern levels of traffic. However, we face many years of difficulty, because the early motorways were built on expectations of traffic load and vehicle weight that have been far exceeded.

Mr. Straw

Will the Minister look beyond 1980 and tell us when he expects to publish the long delayed White Paper on the Government's plans for future motorways? How much longer will the people of North-East Lancashire have to wait for the M65?

Mr. Clarke

The White Paper will be published after the Government's White Paper on public spending programmes. I can only estimate that it will be published some time in April. I am familiar with the anxiety felt in that part of Lancashire to get on with the motorway and, fortunately, we have recently made some announcements about the Burnley section.

Sir Anthony Meyer

Will my hon. Friend tell us whether those 40 miles include the completion of the M56 as far as the Welsh border? There is a great need in that area for improved communications, as job losses are becoming severe.

Mr. Clarke

Unfortunately, it does not include the completion of that part of the motorway, as that section has been delayed by a strike. However, those sections are important and they will probably be opened next year.