§ Mr. Arthur Pearsonasked the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to seek tenders for the second section of the Cardiff to Merthyr Trunk road; and if he will make a statement on the progress being made with this road scheme.
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§ Mr. George ThomasThe contract for the first stage of the improvement of this road from Whitchurch bypass to Nantgarw has just been awarded to Messrs. Christiani Shand. The contract period has been shortened by four months from that envisaged in the original tenders and the road should be in use towards the end of 1971. I expect to invite tenders for Stage II from Nantgarw to Glyntaff towards the end of this year. Draft Orders under the Highways Act, 1959, for Stage III from Glyntaff to Abercynon should be published in March and a draft Compulsory Purchase Order for the land needed for this stage should be published in May.