§ LORD FERRIERasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied that the steps outlined in their Written Answer of 30th January, 1967 (Hansard, col. 882), have proved adequate in the light of the continued accident toll at Wandel Bridge, and to inquire whether or not the time has come either to provide a temporary duplicated bridge to take North-bound traffic or, alternatively to restrict the use of the existing bridge to South-bound traffic, diverting Northbound traffic via the A73 and B7055 roads.
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND (LORD HUGHES)Responsibility for this bridge at present lies with Lanarkshire County Council. Proposals are soon to be published for trunking the section of A702 including Wanda Bridge, and in anticipation of their acceptance, engineers of the Scottish Development Department have begun to consider the cost and technical problems involved in improving the bridge, although major reconstruction is unlikely to be possible for some years. The feasibility of a temporary duplicate bridge is doubtful, but this possibility will be examined. Traffic over the bridge is not sufficient to justify one-way working.
House adjourned at half past eight o'clock.