§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) What is the estimated cost of the Severn Bridge; (2) What is the estimated cost of the approach roads; (3) Which are considered to be the approach roads; (4) Whether such Toads would be twin-track roads; (5) What is the estimated cost per mile; (6) What would be the estimated time for completion.]
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, the estimated net cost of the proposed suspension bridge over the River Severn is £10 million. This, however, will merely provide a crossing of the River Severn between Aust and the Beachley peninsula. It cannot be used as a river crossing until the approach roads are constructed, including a steel girder bridge over the mouth of the River Wye, which flows into the Severn at the western end of the proposal suspension bridge. The Severn Bridge scheme therefore comprises the suspension bridge over the River Severn, with approach viaducts, the girder bridge over the River Wye (estimated to cost £1 million), and the approach roads from Crick, on the Welsh side, and Almondsbury, on the English side. The total cost of this scheme, including the cost of the necessary land, is estimated to be £15½ The approach roads will have twin 2-lane carriageways and are expected to cost, including the cost of the approach viaducts, about £4 million or £550,000 per mile.
Before the work can start, it will be necessary to make orders under Section 3 of the Special Roads Act to enable work to be done on the side roads and junctions and to acquire the necessary land. Once these preliminaries are completed the 514 bridge and approach roads will probably take about five years to build. To get the full value from the bridge and immediate approach roads, it would be necessary to extend the eastern approach from Almondsbury to Chippenham, to extend the western approach from Crick to Newport, and to build the section of the Bristol—Birmingham motorway between Almondsbury and the eastern end of the proposed Ross Spur. The total cost of the bridges and all the new roads would then be about £36 million.
§ LORD DYNEVORMy Lords, arising out of that Answer, may I ask the noble Lord if the suggestion is that, when the bridge is built, it should be built by direct finance, or by toll?
§ LORD DYNEVORCan the noble Lord say that the toll system will not be ruled out if direct finance is found to be too expensive?
LORD HAWKEI understand that my right honourable friend has been considering the question of toll, but I should not like to prognosticate the position of the matter.
§ VISCOUNT HALLMy Lords, may I ask whether the decision has been taken to proceed with the erection of this bridge?