Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Minister of Transport how many journeys were made in 1966, and how many are expected to be made in 1986, by rail, by 783W private cars, by commercial vehicles and by public road transport, respectively, in the North-West region; what will be the effect on the figures if the M66 Middleton to Denton link is built; what will be the effect if it is not built; how many journeys are expected to be transferred from other routes to the M66 link; and how many additional journeys will be generated by its provision.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe information about journeys in the North-West region in 1966 and 1986 and about the effects on those journeys of building or not building the Middleton to Denton section of the proposed M66 is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Traffic forecasts produced for the recent public consultation indicated that in 1986 between 27,000 and 53,000 vehicles would transfer to the M66, Middleton to Denton section, depending on the particular stretch of road considered. However, as the hon. Member knows, all traffic forecasts for this scheme are currently being revised.
Very few additional journeys are expected to be generated by building the Denton to Middleton section and for practical purposes this effect can be ignored.