§ 10. Mr. Yeoasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider upgrading the A12 to motorway standard.
§ Mrs ChalkerNo, Sir. When schemes now under construction and programmed are completed, the A12 will be a high standard dual carriageway from London to north of Ipswich. We could not justify the cost in money and the effect on the environment of upgrading the road to motorway standard, which would include providing a separate facility for non-motorway traffic.
§ Mr. YeoIn view of the tremendous increase in trade through east coast ports to the EC and elsewhere—reflecting the success of other Government policies—and the huge increase in the volume of traffic using the A12, will my hon. Friend undertake to make a fresh study of traffic levels to establish whether there would be any justification for upgrading that important road to motorway status?
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe have taken the factors involved into account—including the growth of the east coast ports—in assessing the need for improvements to the A12. By the end of 1986 we shall have completed all the improvements except one small one, which is scheduled for the end of the decade. After 1986 there will be a continuous dual carriageway from the southern end of the A12 to the north of Ipswich, and that will help.