§ 3.11 p.m.
THE DUKE OF ATHOLLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government why it is necessary for two lanes of the south-bound carriageway of the M.l to be closed for distances of up to three miles when repairs are being made only to the slow lane and when these repairs have not even been commenced for much of the distance.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, the signposting of obstructions on motorways is carried out in accordance with the "Traffic Safety Code for Roadworks and Emergencies on motorways" which was drawn up after consultation with representative organisations to ensure that uniform and consistent methods are applied on all motorways. To allow the safe passage of contractors' men and vehicles, both the middle and slow lanes 976 of a three-lane highway must be closed while any work is in progress on the slow lane. The middle lane is opened to traffic when work is suspended at night and at weekends.
Surface-laying machinery proceeds faster than the removal of defective carriageway material, and to complete the surface laying in one smooth operation it is necessary first to remove all the surface material in each length. While it might appear that no work is being done after removal of the material, this method achieves the best results in the shortest time. Where two lengths of lane under repair are separated by a short distance it would present traffic with an additional hazard if the intervening length were left open.
Subject to the weather, we hope to complete this season's work on the slow lane within two weeks.
THE DUKE OF ATHOLLMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply, but I should like to ask him whether, if this happens again, the repairs could not be so phased that there would be sufficiently large distances between the various parts being repaired to make it worth while to allow at any rate the middle lane to be used for traffic. I should also like to ask whether, if the same thing occurs on a two-lane motorway, the whole motorway will have to be closed while these repairs are being done.
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, the authorities who are our agents try to phase the repairs so as to present the minimum inconvenience and delay to traffic. It is not always possible to split them up as widely as one would perhaps like, because the whole art of putting on a good surface, as I have said, is that the surface-laying machine shall get the longest possible run in one go to make it as smooth and as free from joins as possible. Naturally the problem involved with a two-lane motorway is a different one, and in certain circumstances it might be necessary to close one side of it, according to the repairs to be carried out. It might be possible in others to make different arrangements.