§ 3.5 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how long it is anticipated that the road operations in the Perivale area of the Western Avenue will continue, and if anything can be clone to hasten them in view of the very great bottleneck which they constitute on one of the main arteries of traffic leading out of the London area.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, I assume that the noble Earl refers in his Question to the construction of two subways under Western Avenue at Horsenden Lane and Medway Parade. The duration of the work, which affects the dual carriageways of Western Avenue, has been reduced to the minimum. I expect that the full width of the carriageways will be open to traffic again in about three months time. I regret that no further speeding up of work is practicable.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, I hope that the contractors or the Ministry will keep up to the date, because it produces an awful bottleneck in a very important arterial road. It is important to get on with it.
§ LORD CHESHAMYes, My Lords, I do, of course, know that. It was for that reason that within the full contract 286 time of nine months it was specified that the work that actually affects the carriageways should be done in five months.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords which is worse: a very great bottleneck or a very narrow one?