HC Deb 14 November 1983 vol 48 c601
12. Mr. Madel

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the time scale of improvements and repairs to the M1 between the junction with the M6 and London; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

Existing works on the motorway are proceeding according to programme. We are phasing the works so that disruption to traffic is kept to a minimum.

Mr. Madel

Can my hon. Friend confirm that widening between Hemel Hempstead and Watford will be completed by 31 December? Will she assure us that the MI from Northamptonshire to London will be fault-free for several years, after so much effort has been put into modernisation and repair? Can we now have an end to the appalling congestion that we have suffered for the past five years?

Mrs. Chalker

I expect the M1 widening to be completed on time—not by the end of the year but by the end of this month — with the exception of some night-time closures on the northbound carriageway for a couple of weeks thereafter. I remind my hon. Friend that however much we improve the specifications to which we build roads, it will always be necessary to replenish the surface for skid resistance purposes. There will also always be a need for improvement when lighting columns and crash barriers must be replaced or repaired after they have been hit by motorists. We cannot ignore these matters. We must get on and do that work when it is necessary to do it.