§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the economic benefits of a dual carriageway scheme on the A55 to the Mostyn dock and industrial estate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael RobertsImprovement of the A55 route will considerably improve communications in North Wales and between North Wales and the rest of the country. As a result the area generally will benefit, including Mostyn.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the start date, completion date, length and cost of construction of (a) the Hawarden bypass and (b) the Holywell bypass, Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael RobertsAdvanced works on the Hawarden bypass may be started in the autumn of this year. The main contract is scheduled to start in the summer 1981, subject to progress by the NCB in reinstating land affected by opencast mining. The bypass will be 6–71 miles long (10–8 kms) and will take 2 years to complete. On current estimates the scheme will cost about £17–6 million.
A public local inquiry into the revised Holywell bypass proposals will commence on 16 September next. Subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and the availability of funds, work could start in 1983–84 and will take two years to complete. The length of the bypass as revised is 5–98 miles (9.62 kms) and on present costs it will cost about £14–7 million.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion has been employed so far and what proportion is proposed for employment of local contractors and employees on the A55 Chester to Bangor dual carriageway scheme; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Michael RobertsContracts are awarded on the lowest acceptable tender basis. Of the 10 contracts for dualling the A55 so far let, nine contracts have gone to firms with main offices in North Wales and Cheshire. Contractors are not obliged to employ local labour, but in practice a large proportion of labour on any road improvement scheme is recruited locally.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the number of direct and indirect jobs that might be created by the A55 dual carriageway scheme Chester to Bangor; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael RobertsI would expect local labour, quarries and other supliers to be employed for a large proportion of the work, which would provide immediate benefits to the local economy. Precise numbers cannot be estimated.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest estimated cost of dualling the A55, Chester to Bangor; what is his estimated date for completion of the whole scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael RobertsIn the region of £350 million, of which some £22 million has been spent to date on completed schemes, schemes in progress and on preparatory work on schemes yet to start. Subject to the satisfactory completion of preparatory work and statutory procedures. I hope the improvement can be completed by about 1987 or 1988.